I just got back from vacation today and found that my charger was waiting for me. I carefully wired it up (so as not to blow a fuse like I did the first time) and it worked. This made me about as happy as my first run driving this car. The only problem I have now is the ammeter isn't working correctly. I was driving it highway speeds and the needle would move a little when I accelerated but it wouldn't get past 50-60 amps. From what I have heard I think it should be at least 200-300 amps going highway speeds, so unless I have the most efficient electric vehicle ever the gauge isn't getting the correct information, so I have to figure out what is going on with that wiring. I still have to wire the voltmeter and battery indicator, I hope these don't do the same thing. We are going to try using air springs for $80 from ebay instead of expensive replacement springs, I will keep you all posted on that project.

Check for loose connections. including the shunt.

I have been driving my car around, it will go about 30 miles on a charge. I drove it 23 miles to work, plugged it in the parking ramp, worked 8 hours, then came out to a fully charged electric car, and drove it home. I have found that range and speed have an inverse relationship. It is fast, it will break the tires loose if you put the pedal down and will go at least 80 mph, but that kills the range, if you go slow it will go a lot further. If I went 35 miles an hour I think I could go at least 60 miles but that is pretty slow. I put the electric emblem on my trunk right under the Saturn logo. Also I put ELECTRIC in white lettering on the top of the back window, washed and waxed it, see the pictures. When I am driving my full range I accelerate slowly so that I know I will get there and back using minimal amps, but people drive like impatient jerks around here. However I also feel like now that I am advertising my vehicle is electric I have a reputation to uphold that electric vehicles are not the slow, gutless vehicles they used to be. I got the ammeter working, my wiring diagram said to connect both shunts to the ammeter somehow, but I took off the small shunt wires and it works now, but that means my accessory power use isn't being displayed. My brakes weren't powerful enough so I pumped up the switch to the brakes to 22 inches of vacuum. It brakes great now but the electric vacuum pump is running almost constantly. I will have to turn it down now. My speedometer and odometer still aren't wired yet. I used GPS to find out how fast I was going and at 60 mph my vehicle uses about 180-200 amps in 3rd gear. That is about the fastest I go, if I have to go faster I will shift up and then the amps go up significantly from there. This electric vehicle has been very well received, everyone I know is very impressed. I have a few more things to do on it, still need a stronger rear suspension, wire gauges, install and wire the heater relay and core.

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The electric car that I put over $11,000 and over 350 hours of hard labor into was totaled by an unlicensed, uninsured driver who failed to yield at a stop sign and drove his SUV right into me. This was 2 weeks ago and this has been two weeks of hell for me. Anyone know where I can get an estimate on an electric car? Any resources would be greatly appreciated, as I am pursuing a case in small claims court.

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oh damn that's sucks , hope your ok. on the estimate any auto shop would give a repair estimate if they do framework , because their isn't any difference outside of what kind and how much batteries would be if you had some up there that were damaged. but dont think small claims maximum wouldn't be near. i think our states bout 1500 max.

I have been building a second electric vehicle, it is a silver 2002 Saturn sc2. The body looks much better, but the conversion has been almost identical to the 1996 Saturn sc2. All I have left to do is to finish the wiring. I think I only have a couple wires left to the potentiometer and to the keyswitch. Last time I just cut off all of the factory wires, But this time I was smart enough to just unplug and label all the wiring harnesses. In the car crash I was in there were two batteries that were just demolished beyond recognition and then three more with battery terminals broken off so they needed to be replaced. I guess the us battery 8 volt gchc's are special order and it's gonna be a while before I get them. But I still have nine good batteries so with those I'm hoping for an 18-20 mile range highway, maybe 30 city but we will see. The controller and motor got sprayed with sulfuric acid from the crash and I had to repaint them. I will have photos up shortly but I'm sending this from an iPhone and I don't think it will let me paste photos in.

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Most of the conversion from removing the old parts to welding in metal, installing components, motor, batteries.

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This is the car in its almost completed state.

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