Tom’s EV Dodge Neon

My friend Tom is an electronics engineer who runs a computer recycling company. He got a pallet of new old-stock batteries and then used a salvaged industrial AC motor and drive to convert a Dodge Neon to electric. There’s about 28 batteries in the car, each with its own 12V battery charger, to get to the voltage needed for a 240VAC motor to run off DC power. It’s a very interesting project. Take a look at the videos!

Playlist of videos about my friend’s AC Dodge Neon project.

{ 4 trackbacks }

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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Mike November 30, 2010 at 4:17 pm

AC drive system.

That’s a first for me.

I’m looking forward to this.

2 Rob May 6, 2011 at 1:23 pm

It’s 2011 what ever happened to this great car?

3 Thank You November 25, 2011 at 11:14 am

Thank you. Thank you for being a true Patriot. Thank you for being someone who actually does something, instead of complaining like the rest of the sheep, but not actually doing anything to remedy the problem. Thank you for being a true American! Only in Wisconsin 😀

I mean, I would never drive a Chrysler product ever again, after almost being killed in a low speed collision! But I would drive Tom’s Neon in a heartbeat. They refuse to make EV’s readily available replacement to gasoline, so we make them ourselves! Rock on!

4 Phoenix Roberts February 29, 2012 at 10:08 pm

I want to do this to my 1992 Toyota pickup. I live in Tennessee, and most of those vehicles are lifted for farm utility trucks and for teenagers to go muding in. Mine isn’t like that. Its pretty much a Camry with a truck body. I have been looking around for a motor to replace the gasoline one with, but I keep finding 72 volt motor. What are the specifications of the motor you used, and where can I get one?

5 DakotaEV March 21, 2012 at 6:24 pm

Excellent project Tom. I’ve been considering going all electric, and have recently decided it’s time to do it. Can you explain the benefits of an AC drive versus the typical DC? Some downsides?

6 admin July 3, 2013 at 8:57 am

Tom is still using and driving this car. I’ll try making a video sometime on his latest updates.

7 Steven Piper November 30, 2014 at 3:24 pm

Any further updates? I noticed in the videos of driving around he’s in the Milwaukee area. I’m in the Milwaukee area and I’m a neon enthusiast. Would love to learn more and maybe get some pics of this build if possible.

8 admin December 2, 2014 at 9:58 am

Hi Steven,
The owner/builder of the EV Neon is Tom G. He hangs out at the Milwaukee Makerspace. Stop on over and say hello! http://www.milwaukeemakerspace.com

9 t August 14, 2015 at 3:29 pm

You probably want an electric forklift motor or the like

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/electric-forklift-motor

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