Redy with passengersGabe & Aiden
OwnerMatthew Craig Childers
LocationDavis, California United States map
Vehicle1992 CityCom City-EL, Series II?
3-Wheeled production EV from Denmark (now made in Germany)
MotorThrige-Titan Compound Wound DC
DrivetrainFactory multi-vee belt,
(but with factory aluminum pulley upgrade)
ControllerCurtis Factory installed unit is a Curtis 1204X-4201
36-48 Volts
275 Amps (but the factory stock setting is much lower...maybe only 100 amps)
Batteries3 East Penn EV31, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded
Gave up on Trojans...

these East Penn (Deka) flooded EV31 batteries are the best flooded batteries I've tried so far (and I've tried quite a few!)
System Voltage36 Volts
Charger
Stock factory CityCom charger
Heatercan defrost a small bit of the windshield...sometimes...
DC/DC Converter
Stock factory installed CityCom DC-DC converter
InstrumentationFactory stock, but with an added digital voltmeter.
Top Speed32 MPH (51 KPH)
...but it seems much faster when you're in a City-el!
Range15 Miles (24 Kilometers)
My commute to work is ~14 miles each way, and she does this fine as long as I can charge up at work.
Watt Hours/Mile~250-300 AC whr/mile (DC whr/mile is much better)
EV Miles
Current:16,000 Miles (25,744 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity1 adult...but room for quite a bit of cargo (>6 bags of groceries)
Curb Weight650 Pounds (295 Kilograms)
TiresVery special low-drag Continental tires designed specially for the City-EL!
Additional FeaturesI had to upgrade the rear springs and install the new & improved factory aluminum drive pulley kit (the original steel pulley does not last long).

This U.S. City-EL is also equipped with a very durable (and expensive) aftermarket fiberglas top made by Pacific Electric Vehicles (you'll notice it's slightly different in appearance from the Euro-ELs)

Other than this, 4126 is very much a factory-stock City-EL that gets me to work. Mileage currently at ~14,000 (maybe much more- odometer has been having troubles)

Owner's other EVs:

[1] Ford Think City (undergoing restoration...might be the only FORD Think City in the U.S.)
[Several] other City-ELs,
[1] Solectria from original first batch of Forces,
(AC drive)
[1] Zappy scooter (shared with girls),
[2] Messerschmitt KR-200s undergoing "conversion therapy",
[1] AeroVironment "Charger" Electric Bicycle
[1] Sinclair C5
...and my wife KC has a GEM with 18,000 miles!

code by jerry