Electric Car Instructional DVDs
This video is now available as a digital download at: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/electriccar
The whole idea is to be able to make your own electric car, for not a lot of money, and to be able to do it yourself!
The instructional video is almost two-hours of “hands-on” style instruction, taking the viewer through all the aspects of building an electric car, using the Electro-Metro as an example. As a companion to the video disc, also included is a computer DVD-ROM disc with 50 YouTube videos and over 600 high-resolution photographs of the project.
The DVDs debuted at the 2010 MREA Energy Fair where they quickly sold out!
Build Your Own ELECTRIC CAR
If you think an ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE might be more up your alley, check out our MOTORCYCLE DVD!
What people are saying:
“It was “Who Killed the Electric Car” that got me interested in EV’s, but it was your instructables with the Geo that got me thinking, hey, this is a real thing. I could *actually* do this! Thanks for what you’re doing, and keep up the awesome work!”
– Kyle W.
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{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not seeing anywhere here about how much it cost to convert a car, only $29 for the disc on how to do it.
How much it cost to convert a car depends on many factors. Mine cost $1300, including buying the car in the first place. I know some other folks who have converted a Suzuki Swift for $700 (a 48V town run about) about $2000 for a VW bug, and about $2500 for a Fiero.
It is a two-disc set. The first disc is a DVD-Video, which will play on your television DVD player. The second disc is a DVD-ROM, a computer disc of files, JPEG photographs, and .MP4 videos, and more for viewing on your computer.
The DVD-Video is NTSC format, but has no geographical limitations on it. Most European DVD players will play this disc just fine. Also, all computer DVD drives will play back video DVDs just fine, no matter what country they come from. I have sent copies to the UK, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, etc, and have not had any complaints about not being able to view the disc.
Hi,
Just a quick question. The DVD that you are selling, is it a DVD Rom or the type that plays on the TV. If it is a TV type do you have a UK compatible version as or course we have a different TV format to the US.
This seems like a really interesting project, at first look it seems impossible to build a DIY electric car, but after reading bits of your blog it actually seems doable.
Thanks
Jim
Ben,
I am a big fan of yours and I have seen most of your online videos.
As support and also of interest in the subject I would like to order your dvd-videos, however in the past I have messed up with paypal and none of my cards work there. Can I just send you 30 dollars in an envelope? I live in the Åland islands.
If you don’t wish to use PayPal, you can mail a check in U.S. Dollars to:
In-House Media, LLC
N64W38018 Lac La Belle Dr.
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
United States of America
Please include your mailing address and contact information, name, e-mail address, and any other special instructions. Once the check clears the DVD will be on its way to you!
-Ben
Hi,
Before I purchase, I was wondering how far can this car design go on a charge? Also, what kind of speed does it reach? Would it be reasonable to take it to work and back on the highway (say a 50 mile round trip) and not be scared its going to die?
The car used as the demonstration project in the video was only designed for short range – about 20 miles. To build a vehicle that will go farther, all you need is more batteries, all the other ideas and design principals are exactly the same. 50 miles is about as far as you can reasonably go on a lead-acid battery vehicle. To go farther than that, it’s best to go with a different battery type, which does get expensive quick.
Hi.
I want to say that this an awesome thing you are doing during your free time.
I am trying to build a series-type hybrid electric vehicle, which is required to be fast and light. I am aware of the maximum acceleration I require and the approximate weight of the car, so can I somehow estimate what should be the specifications of the electric dc motor i should be using? I also have constrained gear ratios.
Please help me with this, I am really having a tough time.
Thankyou
Surojit,
Hybrids can get complicated fast.
I did an experiment with adding a hybrid system to my electric car.
You can see that at Instructables.com
If you need to make some calculations on gearing, range, what motor size, etc., try an “EV Calculator” such as the one at:
http://www.evconvert.com/tools/evcalc/
Hi Ben,
I have been looking all this over in amazement for the last week and convinced that this is something I need to do. Just one thing… Rather than buy another car I’d like to convert a truck I already have that does not get much use and wondering what additional steps will I be faced with in using an automatic transmission? Does your video cover this too? Or where can I find good easy to follow information from people who have converted cars with automatic transmissions?
The demonstration vehicle in the video uses a clutchless manual transmission. You CAN covert a car to electric with an automatic transmission, but it won’t be as efficient. I’ve heard of guys using automatics where they remove the torque converter and lock the tranny in a single great. Remember that in a front-wheel drive car the transmission and differential are one unit which houses all the gears AND splits the power out to the two front wheels. You still need the transmission in there to connect the power of the motor to those front wheels.
There are single-speed gear boxes that would replace the transmission available for some cars and motors. http://www.electroauto.com/catalog/graphics/AT1200.jpg
Of course that is going to be more expensive than the transmission that already came with your car.
Many cars were available with automatic or manual transmissions. You could always go to a salvage yard and get the manual tranny for that car.
Hey ive been thinking about buying this dvd to help me with my project, buat i cant find anny forklift engine what other engine i can or what kind of engine would do the job do you have the specs of the one you got?
thankssss !!
You want a MOTOR not an engine. Engines have combustion – motors are electric and create magnetic fields and motion.
You CAN buy a brand new motor from an electric vehicle parts dealer (just web search “EV motors”…) but that’s going to be more expensive.
Just call up your local salvage yards. I would be very surprised NOT to find at least one junked electric forklift there. Also, check a telephone directory – there are places that specialize in forklifts. Ask them where you might be able to find a used/salvaged motor.
were can i get a parts list and scamatic ‘s on that bigger dc to dc controller ?
Information on the Open Revolt controller is included on the DVD-ROM. It’s also available on-line (which will always be the most current version)
Parts list, schematics, and more are all available at:
Open Revolt Wiki
What is the cost to have ‘Build your own Electric Car’ disc set sent to me here in Australia. Our gas price from the pump is about twice what you pay in the States. Cheers, Robert
Shipping is included in the cost of purchasing the DVD set – even shipping to Australia!
hello were i can buy the DVD?
Just click the BUY NOW Paypal button near the top right column of this page and I will mail one to you!
Hi Ben! Just got the DVD yesterday from the p.o. and watched it yesterday evening. I’m neither a mechanic, nor an electrician, and still I understood everything. Nicely done, thanks a lot, it’s worth paying 30$ for your effort to bring this matter closer to the public. Thanks a lot for making the DVD!
Greetings from Transylvania!
Hi Ben.
Thanks for the dvd. I found it very informative and kinda a nice summary of what I’ve already been researching. I have unfortunately found that very few of the parts I need are available here in South Africa. Infact, even the used cars are way over priced. Parts that are, are very expensive. But I’ll keep hunting. The cost of fuel these days is making it difficult even to get to work and back.
Best wishes with all your future projects.
Scott.
Hi.Love the idea of building my own electric vehicle. Do you now if a Ford Focus has been converted? I’m worried about battery space. Thanks.
Hey Ben,
I am wondering if you have any ideas or experience with also putting solar panels on the car. Here is a DIY solar panel site which appears to be that you get individual fuel cells which you can somehow put on the car itself which also creates DC power. The trick I guess would be how do you cover the cells with a lightweight clear coating other than glass.
Any thoughts?
http://getyourreviews.com/green-diy-solar-panels
Certainly a person could put PV cells on their car. My only caveat is that many people think that one or two small PV panels will somehow magically keep their car continuously charged. That’s far from the truth. However, some solar panels could help add a bit of charge. You could at least use them to run a small fan to help keep the vehicle cool on hot days.
Just yesterday, I saw a home-built PV array a friend of mine made. He used some sort of a self-leveling, clear rubber-like material. It seems to have held up well, and is not clouding or turning yellow. That might be great stuff to use to build an array of PV cells that match the shape of the car. (I don’t remember what the product was called. I try finding out.)
I know that the SPIRIT OF DC plug-in hybrid had a fair number of small PV panels on it last I saw that car.
PS: I just found out about that clear solar stuff. It’s called Dow Corning SYLGARD 184. Do a search for it on the web.
Sure, you can convert nearly anything to electric. Here’s an example of a Focus: http://www.evalbum.com/3493 For any car, you can go to the EV Album and do a search on whatever make of car to see what people have already done – http://www.evalbum.com/type
Visiting the EV Album can give you lots of great ideas for your own project, and might give you a hint as to which battery, motor, and controller you would like to use on yours!
Do you have a DVD for the hybrid system like you do for the Electric Car Instructional DVD or is it just in the PDF form on the instructable website?
The experimental hybrid project is documented on Instructables.com and through my YouTube videos.
I am still planning on converting the pickup truck to diesel/bio-diesel/veggie oil, and I have some ideas on making that project into a hybrid as well. If I do, I will make that project into a full-blown instructional DVD.
Are you going to make a DVD set for the motorcycle project as well? I am more interested in that.
A motorcycle instructional video is in the works RIGHT NOW!
-Ben
How far can your car run on a single charge?
Hi
Nice presentation at the Energy fair in Custer! I was wondering what to use in my own project and will use your idea on a forklift motor for torque and build it up. Thanks again! Keep up your inspiring others to get away from the Oil cartel!
Kevin
Hi! With your DVD, it shows us how to ‘CONVERT’ your car to electric. But could it be useful to build a car out of nowhere ? Thanks!
-Sam
Hi Sam.
Correct, this DVD shows you how to convert a gas vehicle to a battery electric vehicle. To build a vehicle from scratch is a bit beyond the skill set of the ordinary Joe, but converting a car to gas can actually be pretty straight forward. By converting, you already have a VIN, and license, registration, and insurance are very straight-forward. Without the VIN, make, model, and year all of those things are a lot more problematic. If you really want to build an EV from scratch, it would be easy to do as an off-road only vehicle, or maybe as an enclosed moped like Mark King did. The best way to do it is likely as a custom motorcycle. One of the nicest I’ve seen is the XR-3 hybrid. It could be build as battery-electric only, and could qualify as a motorcycle. You can order plans for that at:
http://www.rqriley.com/xr3.htm
Ben:
Does the DVD show how to connect a throttle box to a controller? And then the controller to the motor? I am having a hard time grasping that part of the process. The mechanical aspect such as adapter plate and coupler all make sense to me but not the wiring part
-Richard
Hi Richard,
Yep, we show that. Throttle to controller is simple. It’s just two wires. Controller to motor is pretty simple, but the easiest way to grasp it is with a wiring diagram. When you buy a controller, it comes with a manual that shows the wiring diagram. Also,you can go to Alltrax or Curtis, and they have nice diagram files you can download. That’s a good way to start to wrap your head around it.
Thanks Ben. Just ordered the DVD’s
Thanks Ben ! I ordered your two disk DVD ; the first one was great but the second one entitled”Electric car conversion Supplemental Materials” would not play. I tried it on two different players. Could you send me another one quickly as I want to build soon or what do I do?
The second disc is a DVD-ROM – it’s a data disc for your computer, NOT a video disc to watch on your TV.
It includes JPEG photos, my YouTube videos, and other computer files for you to look at.
Please put that disc in your COMPUTER and enjoy!
I enjoyed your videos and I’m thinking of converting or electric car, but would like to know if the price of the DVD includes transportation to Spain.
A greeting and thanks for everything
Me ha encantado tus videos y estoy pensando en convertir ni coche a electrico, pero quisiera saber si el precio del DVD incluye el transporte hasta España.
Un saludo y gracias por todo
Yes, the cost of the DVD set includes shipping, even internationally.
Si, se incluye el transporte hasta España.
-Ben
I’m interested in buying your dvd but the paypal was acting weird so I canceled the virtual number I used. Do you accept money orders?
Yes, we take checks and money orders!
Please make one out to IN-HOUSE MEDIA and mail it to:
In-House Media
N64 W38018 Lac La Belle Dr.
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
United States of America
Please include your name, your e-mail (legible!) and/or telephone number, your full mailing address, and which DVD it is for (We now have one on electric cars, and one on electric motorcycles!)
If a check, DVDs will mail out once the check clears.
Hi Ben,
Do you know approximately how long the DVD will take to ship to the UK?
Thanks
Regular shipping from the United States to the United Kingdom and eastern Europe is usually around 14 days.