GaugesUnder hoodBattery fluid windowsstickersmotor
OwnerAl
LocationChaplin, Connecticut United States map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1993 Dodge TEVan
Caravan
MotorGeneral Electric Separately Excited DC
DrivetrainTwo speed. Chrysler bell housing modified with Gear Vendors planetary gear reduction. Electric switching. Similar technology to Volvo 240 overdrive. Clutch used only between first and second.
ControllerGeneral Electric
Martin-Marietta of New York. High voltage DC seems to affect relays.
Batteries30 Eagle Picher NIF-200, 6.00 Volt, Nickel-Iron (Edison)
200 ampere hour
System Voltage180 Volts
ChargerGeneral Electric
Single phase 240 volt 20 Amp
or
3 phase 208 volt 40 Amp
Heater8.8 kw. Toasty. Fast. I preheat the cabin with a small space heater to increase range.
DC/DC ConverterGeneral Electric
InstrumentationMotor temperature
State of charge
Low battery warning
Amperes
Top Speed72 MPH (115 KPH)
Well balanced weight! Super low center of gravity. Observed top speed of 72.5 on flat.
AccelerationPretty good to 30 then slower to 70. Thought I would annoy people, not really, just stressy the minivan driver and tuner boy. Poor acceleration in "limp home mode," Loses speed up steep hills.
Range62 Miles (99 Kilometers)
61.7 with four hour opportunity charge in summer. Full charge is 12 hours. This is probably the pack's limit. 16 mile range in sub-freezing weather. (typical of NiFe batteries)

Added KOH in April 2009 and seems much better.
Watt Hours/Mile380 Wh/Mile
Averaged, I sincerely hope that did the math right. (!)
EV Miles
Start:6,010 Miles (9,670 Kilometers)
Current:8,500 Miles (13,676 Kilometers)
Total:2,490 Miles (4,006 Kilometers)
 
    As of 11/15/2009
Seating Capacity5 adults
Curb Weight5,200 Pounds (2,363 Kilograms)
TiresNational XT4000. What can I say? We were out for breakfast and had a tear style flat. Happened to be next to a tire shop, they had them in stock. Rated for 40,000 miles. Cheap.
Conversion Time0, plugged it in, repaired a couple doodads and took it for a toot.
Conversion CostMore than a used internal combustion engine car, less than a new one.

$120,000 new. Beat that Tesla!
Additional Features-Regenerative braking in 1st gear
-Automatic battery watering
-Driver's air bag
-6 cup holders
-Air conditioning
-AM/FM Stereo (Forget AM radio in an EV, motor interference)
-Did I say six cup holders? It should come with a urinal with that many cup holders.
-Low battery warning light and bell
-Removable back seat
-Huge anti-sway bars, Huge four wheel disk brakes
-Power brakes
-Power steering
-Manual windows
-Child safety door lock
-Big cargo area, spacious interior
-Guttered roof for sturdy roof racks
I'm in disbelief at how easy it is to work on this car relative to an ICE, how nice it drives, how simple the design.

Has the ground clearance of a Maserati, (will clear all speed bumps, 4" puddles are a no-no.)

Bummer that Dodge abandoned support for it. (A parts list at least?)

5 passenger EV with a 70 mile range?

I was going to do a Volvo V70 2wd with side impact air bags, Siemens AC motor, a lithium ion battery, and a Zilla controller when this turned up on the trading post.

Saved ten grand and a couple bottles of aspirin.

This is THE electric vehicle for the average American family.

All electric vehicles should be garaged.

Someone should make a digital controller.
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Doesn't it make you sad to think how far we could be by now if Dodge had only continued this project?

code by jerry