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Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/04/2007 2:34 PM

I'm looking at converting a porsche 914 to an all electric vehicle. What are the advantages of an ac motor over a dc one (maybe the other way around. This vehicle will be used for commuting with speeds to 65 but would love to race it too. And suggestions?

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#1

Re: AC or DC motor for electric vehicle

12/04/2007 2:40 PM

DC what other way would you go right I mean you have the torque and the high speeds a good DC Induction motor with a PLC and a feed bakc system would ROCK!! What are you going to use for power Batteries or Fuel cells ?

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#2

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/04/2007 6:10 PM

This has been done before with the 914. My friend just finished a MR2 conversion. I will see what he is actually using, but he has done exhaustive research on this before he started.

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#3

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/04/2007 10:25 PM

AC is the way to go, but is more difficult, that is why there is a lot more of DC cars around.

Look here:


http://www.metricmind.com/ac_honda/main2.htm

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#4

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/05/2007 12:11 PM

Hi,

My colleague said AC is the better route if you want to do regenerative braking. Also, he recommends that if this is your first conversion that you just buy a kit. Kits run about $14,000.

This website sells everything you need. There is a picture of a 914 conversion on the front page, too.

http://www.electroauto.com/

Good luck!

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#5

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/05/2007 2:23 PM

contact www.calcars.org they can tell you an even sell you the parts. you will need dc motor.

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#6

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/05/2007 3:12 PM

DC is the common way to go. Brushless DC motors of the size required are very expensive, so you are probably stuck with brushes.

AC can be a slightly better alternative (from the standpoint of performance and maintenance), and Tesla motors has a white paper on the subject which makes a good case for AC. See their website.

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#7

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/05/2007 6:04 PM

I would go with a DC motor fo rthis app, but personally I wouldntdo this to a Porsche9144.

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#8
In reply to #7

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/05/2007 7:21 PM

I agree with you... I hate to see a classic like a 914 destroyed just to make an electric car. Use a Honda or Toyota or Nissan in which there are millions of them out there. Restore the 914 to like new condition and use it as a show car. It would be worth alot more in the end.

Of course it is his car and his decision.

Bill

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#9
In reply to #8

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/05/2007 8:23 PM

How times change. When the 914 first came out, I would have said: "Sure, convert it... anything would be an improvement." I was a Porsche nut then, and the 914 was the first Porsche that had a VW* engine -- so it didn't seem like a real Porsche. But now, I think they are pretty neat. I suppose if I had one now, I'd do a fairly thorough clean up and mechanical restoration, and maybe leave the rest clean but not fully restored, and drive it with the VW engine (which are still easy to get parts for). There seem to be so few of them that keeping it original would make sense. Older Miatas are cheap -- it might be fun to make a mini Tesla.

*if you ignore the fact that the VW itself was a Porsche design.

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/05/2007 9:11 PM

...the 914 was the first Porsche that had a VW* engine -- so it didn't seem like a real Porsche.

*if you ignore the fact that the VW itself was a Porsche design.

And if you ignore that the 914 version of the engine was significantly different from the VW Type IV from which it derived. Some of the changes were due to going from true rear-engine to mid-engine layout, and there were several displacements at least in the Type IV derivatives (including the bus from about 1972 up). Heads, especially, differed to handle the exhaust routing requirements. And if he is starting with a 914-6 the penalty shuld be far more stringent!

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#11
In reply to #10

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/05/2007 10:50 PM

And if he is starting with a 914-6 the penalty shuld be far more stringent!

Indeed! We'd have to cut his arms off, I'm afraid.

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#13
In reply to #11

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/06/2007 3:59 PM

I had better watch myself. My choice is a run down 914-6. I hope the sports car restores can over look this discression. She was headed for the junk pile and now she will have a new life with an electric engine that I hope will do 90+ in the 1/4. more than the origional 90 hp in her.

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#14
In reply to #13

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/07/2007 6:45 AM

The 914-6 probably has more than 90 hp, or is it really the 6-cyl 911 engine or the 4-cyl?

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#15
In reply to #14

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/07/2007 7:15 AM

According to what I've read, the 1.7 liter 4 had 80 hp; the 1.8 had 79, and the 2-liter had 95 bhp. The flat six was rated 110 hp. See http://auto.howstuffworks.com/porsche-914-pictures-specs2.htm.

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#12

Re: Converting a Porsche 914 to an All-Electric Vehicle

12/06/2007 9:03 AM
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