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Chapter 4: The Best Electric Vehicle for You 89Table 4-2 presents all the dimensions of the conversion trade-off: chassis, motor,controller, batteries, and charger versus OK, ideal, best, and unlimited moneyalternatives. If money is no object, you customize your chassis, add the latest powerfulAC induction motor with custom controller, and tool around the countryside poweredby nickel metal hydride or lithium polymer batteries towing your power-boost trailer.The rest of us have to take it a bit slower; our movement toward the best categorycan only proceed as fast as our pocketbooks allow: a pickup, readily-available series DCmotor, Curtis PWM controller, lead-acid batteries, and an onboard 120-volt, 20-ampcharger. Actually, anything from the OK or ideal column is acceptable. And while I amobviously prejudiced towards pickups, that doesn’t mean you have to be.The point is, use what’s available. DC motors, Curtis controllers, and lead-acidbatteries are with us in abundance today and at a reasonable price. While not state ofthe art, they are proven to work, available from many sources, and you can get lots ofhelp if something goes wrong. By starting with known quantities, your chances of initialsuccess and satisfaction are very high. You can get up and running quickly. When you’reready for your next conversion, you can experiment a bit, “push the outside of theenvelope,” etc. You know what it’s all about, what’s working, and where you’d like tomake the changes.The ProcedureChapters 5 through 9 introduce you to chassis, motors, controllers, batteries, andchargers, and Chapter 12 provides you with some sources to get you started. In Chapter10, you’ll look over my shoulder while I convert a Ford Ranger, following step-by stepinstructionsyou can adapt to nearly any conversion you want. Chapter 11 shows youhow to maximize the enjoyment of your EV once it’s up and running.Use the Chapter 12 sources—don’t just take my word for it. Join the EAA andsubscribe to their newsletter. Read all the books, magazines, and research material youUnlimitedWhat OK Ideal Best moneyChassis Van Pickup truck Car Custom-builtStarshipElectrocr uiserMotor DC series DC series DC compound ac induction19 hp 22 hp 30 hp 50 hpController Curtis Custom Custom Custom acMOSFET PWM IGBT PWM IGBT PWH + IGBT PWM +RegenRegenBattery Pack 96 volts – 120 volts – 144 volts – 120+ volts – NiCd,16ea 12 volt 20ea 6 volt 6 or 12 volt NaS, LithiumLead-Acid Lead-Acid Lead-Acid PolymerCharger 120 volts, 120 volts, 240 volts, 240 volts,20 amps 20 amps 50 amps 50 amps+ Onboard + Onboard + Power boosttrailerTa b l e 4-2 Electric Vehicle Con version Decisions Compared