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Chapter 4: The Best Electric Vehicle for You 87truck. The van weighs more, and the car is typically the most time-consuming conversion(less room to mount EV options increases the problem of getting parts to fit).The internal combustion vehicle pickup truck chassis is actually an outstandingelectric vehicle conversion choice because:• A single cab model pickup truck’s curb weight, minus its internal combustionengine components, is typically not much more than a car, yet it has considerablymore room to add the extra batteries that translate to better performance.• A manual transmission, no-frills, 4- or 6-cylinder internal combustion enginepickup truck used to be one of the least expensive new or used conversionplatforms you could buy.• The additional battery weight presents no problems for the pickup’s structure.Its sturdy frame is specifically designed to carry extra weight and extra orheavier springs are readily available if you need them.• The pickup isolates the batteries from the passenger compartment very easily,an important safety criteria not found in car or van conversion platforms.• The pickup is much roomier. The engine compartment and pickup box or bedspace offer flexibility for your component design and layout, and a front-wheeldrivemodel gives you additional flexibility for battery mounting.• A late-model, compact, or intermediate pickup offers frontal-area comparableto equivalent-sized cars, yet front grill and engine areas can be more easilyblocked or covered to reduce wind resistance and engine compartmentturbulence.The pickup truck can be made into an instant hybrid—just load a portable emergencyelectrical generator and one or more five-gallon gas cans into the back (Figure 4-13).Fi g u r e 4-13 A pickup tr uck conversion is the best alter native over a car or van.