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.: 2800 miles on electric Corvette conversion

   Finding the range on a single charge.

• Surprise surprise. Driving the speed limit and not hammering the throttle really ups the range.
• I got 25 miles on the car and still had some reserve, so I think I'm good for 35+ miles
• At 32 miles on a charge, I limped home another 3 miles. I had seriously depleted the batteries below "empty". Each battery measured around 9.5 volts!
• Changing the battery pack configuration:
  • Two packs in parallel with 11 batteries each
  • After a full charge, 140 volts, with 125Ah
  • Should nearly double the range - Previous configuration was 300 volts, 62Ah
  • Large "jumpers" will allow quick change to have a 280 volt, 62Ah pack.

.: mechanical updates

• Aluminum Front coil-over shocks - QA1

• Tubular upper control arms - Vette Products

• Parking brake
  • Relocated, leather parking brake lever
  • Enhanced holding power (very important considering an electric motor has no holding power when turned off)

• A/C converted to R134
  • Eliminated VIR
  • New electrically driven Sanden compressor

.: major components needed for conversion

• Motor - NetGain WarP 11 series wound DC motor

• Motor Controller - Zilla 2K; 300 volts, 2000 amps

• Batteries - Odyssey PC1500 absorbed glass mat. Twenty-three batteries in series

• Battery Charger - Elcon 3kW and 2.5kw

• Motor & Transmission Coupler - Clutchless, but spring dampened

• Bracketing
  • Motor Rear Crossmember - machined 6061 aluminum
  • Front Battery Pack - welded 6061 aluminum

.: upgrading to computer control

• PC based LCD touchscreen computer interface
  • All accessories - except windshield wipers - are now computer controlled via a touchscreen interface
  • Creating the GUI and integrating everything was not trivial

.: updating a 1976 corvette

• Electrical
  • LED gauge lighting
  • LED courtesy lighting with vehicle exit delay
  • Headlights - touchscreen interface
  • Heat & A/C - touchscreen interface
  • Vent control - touchscreen interface
  • Battery & energy status - touchscreen interface
  • Windows - touchscreen interface
  • Key-in & headlights-on warning chimes instead of buzzers
  • Integrate the original Corvette tachometer
  • Gear selector indicator
  • Corvette schematics

• Interior
  • Updated dash design
    • A/C ventilation
    • LCD touch screen for system monitor
    • Glove box
    • Center console
    • Speedometer and Tachometer hybrid
  • Door panels
  • DIN receiver with CD

• Transmission
  • Aluminum case Borg Warner 4 speed
  • Spring dampened coupler