In 2007 I retired from the military and sold my car. I had to pay for insurance, parking, license fees, and gas, which was getting too expensive, and since I didn't need to get to the Nation Guard Armory anymore, I decided to let my ride go. I also have a notorious dislike of ICE vehicles (that's Internal Combustion Engine) for their emissions and dependence upon non-renewable resources. To be short, I loved that car but I didn't miss it.
Fast forward to 2009, and I find myself wanting a vehicle again. I want it for different reasons this time, namely racing and not commuting, perhaps autocross. It wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that most production cars are still ICE. What's an eco-conscious budding "Stig" to do?
The answer is the EV, or Electric Vehicle. Essentially, it's a car powered by an electric motor. The EV is as old as the ICE is, but with a higher energy density they've been kept off the market. With oil disappearing fast and battery technology improving however, the tables are turning.
An EV powered by an electric socket which derives its energy from wind and/or solar would be the a true zero emissions self propelled vehicle. That is a concept that I can live with. Unfortunately, road worthy EV's are few and far between these days; and even then most are tuned towards efficiency and look rather ridiculous.
I want a car that I can use to whip about on the weekends and perhaps even autocross. Even if the GM EV1 ever made it into production, it wouldn't be the car for me.
Luckily Tesla Motors has decided to change that. Their new roadster has shown me that EV's can be sporty too. This beast hits 60 in 3.7 seconds and can outperform its cousin the Lotus Elise! This power comes with a price (100,000 to be exact), but a price worth paying.
While I'm not ever going to have the cash on hand to afford such a super car, I would be able to settle for something a bit less showy. Backyard EV conversions have been going on for decades, and it's process that really excited the mechanic in me. I would much rather build a car than buy it, and a quality EV conversion can cost as little as 20,000 USD!
Thus I have given myself yet another project: Once I have the assets and workspace, I will begin constructing an electrical monster to tear up the race track - or at least the motorway. Stay tuned to this blog for updates on my project.
