Owner Name: Jim Stack Occupation: Renewable Energy Employee. Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 1986 Pontiac Fiero 2ME, SE Solar Edition, 2-passenger, mid engine, it was a 2m6 (6 cylinder) Placed in Service: March 2004. Production Vehicle or Conversion: Conversion. Motor Specifications: 9” diameter Advanced D.C. series-wound motor. Batteries:168 V (2 strings of 84), 1.2 vdc Nicad wet cells, 550 lbs., Military BB600, 30 year life, not affected by cold. Controller: Curtis 1221 72-120 vdc 400 amp, with fan for cooling. Charger: On-board K&W Engineering transformerless charger, 120AC input. Inverter/Converter: Sevcon 128 to 12 Vdc (no starter battery). Drivetrain: Factory 5-speed manual transmission directly coupled to electric motor via adapters, rear wheel drive via factory drive shaft and differential. Range: 20-30 miles per charge. Charging Time: 1-2 hours on 120 VAC input at 20 amps. Economy: 500 WHrs/mile (estimated). GVW: Vehicle weight 2600 lbs original factory, now about 2700. Cooler/Heater: Sun roof, evaportative KarKool, no heater needed in AZ.
Notes: GM had plans in 1982 to make the Fiero as an electric with a front drive motor and 70 small rectangle batteries similar to my wet cell Nicads. I call my vehicle the EV0 (zero) instead of the GM EV1 thay made. Electric vehicles are 90 % efficient and a gas car (ICE) is only 30% efficient with 70% going out as heat and friction. The only thing holding back EV's has been the battery capacity and life. With Lithium I believe that will all change.
My Other Car Is: 2003 Honda CIVIC Hybrid 40-70 mpg ulev, mountain bike 50 mpm What I Like Most About My EV: GM was going to make it electric but didn't. I have the pictures and notes from their plans in 1982. What I Use My EV For: Driving to work when I don't bike 14 miles each way. How Owning an EV Has Changed My Driving: I love not using gasoline. What I Dislike About My EV: That I can't afford a T-Zero yet. What I Would Like To See Improved: The range with Lithium batteries. The Most Fun I Have With My EV Is: Going to EV shows and EVents. My Favorite EV Trip Is: To the mall for a free charge.
