OwnerScott Swoboda
LocationCamden, Arkansas United States map
Email email image
Vehicle1995 Ford Contour
Red
MotorAdvanced DC FB-4001A Series Wound DC
DrivetrainManual FWD transmission
ControllerCurtis 1231C-8601
Batteries20 US Battery US-125 XC, 6.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded
242 Ah at 20 hour rate for each battery
System Voltage120 Volts
ChargerQuick Charge SCPX1220
Off-board SCPX1220 220VAC Home Charger
On-board SCO12010 120VAC charger
On-board Battery Tender Plus! for 12V
HeaterCeramic 120VDC replacing heater core
Ceramic 120VAC on timer to pre-heat cabin
Three foot-warming sheets to heat batts.
DC/DC ConverterElcon 80-120VDC
30A @ 12V DC
InstrumentationWestach 80-160V range Voltmeter
Westach 8-16V range Voltmeter
Westach 0-400A Ammeter
PakTrakr 800
Motor Overheat buzzer and lamp
Top Speed60 MPH (96 KPH)
50 mph up hills, 60 mph on level ground, and 70 mph downhill.
AccelerationNot quite as quick as a yellow school bus at a traffic light. My 120V pack especially does not like hills.
Range62 Miles (99 Kilometers)
With on-board 120VAC opportunity charging, I drove sixty-nine miles one day. There was still plenty of power to spare, but it was a little less perky than at full charge. It took about 12 hours to recharge using the 220 VAC home charger.
Watt Hours/Mile480 Wh/Mile
The 120V pack cruises at 50 mph and draws 200A on level terrain.
EV Miles
Start:129,087 Miles (207,700 Kilometers)
Current:136,775 Miles (220,070 Kilometers)
Total:7,688 Miles (12,369 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity2 adults
Curb Weight4,080 Pounds (1,854 Kilograms)
Not quite finished; will re-weigh at the scrap yard when done. GVWR is 4318lb, and Coil Spring Specialties had to take some extra time to design and build the rear springs since all the batteries are in the back seat and trunk.
TiresSumitomo HTR200 205/60HR15
Conversion TimeOver 600 hours. Next time it'll take less, since I had to design everything from scratch on CAD and disassemble everything at least once to fix something.
Conversion Cost$21,628.86
Additional FeaturesElectric Air Conditioning with Masterflux SIERRA00055/SIERRA 05-0982Y3 compressor and 025F0062-01 Digital Controller. Window tint was replaced. One PakTrakkr module failed, and since there is no replacement available I am working on a replacement based on the Arduino micro-controller architecture.
Had to replace the original instrument cluster to get a working odometer, and the wiring that supplied speed and odometer data had to be replaced in stages, so I had to estimate that I have driven over 4000 miles since it hit the road in November 2010. I have purchased a HID kit and a Battery Tender Plus! to keep the 12V battery in top condition. By the end of Summer 2012, several cells had experienced thermal runaway. I am designing and building battery boxes over the winter to better maintain battery temperatures during charging and discharging.

code by jerry