Local man converts pickup to run on electricity
In January 2007, Lococo purchased a 1999 Ford Ranger, and during the next year, he converted the fuel system to battery electric...."We have traveled from Winter Haven to Lakeland to Bartow and back to Winter Haven on a single charge," Lococo said. "We have traveled 60 miles in a day with a two-hour charge before returning. ... "Most people want to buy a car that can be driven to California, when much of their actual driving is done within a much more limited range," he said. ...
He also publishes an extensively researched website (linked below)
I skimmed the long front index page, David, and though I haven't read each of them in-depth, I am very impressed with this guys web-site!
I am very angry after reading the links concerning GM and Chevron buying up the patents to restrict large-format NiMH battery packs. They should be steering the bulldozer (embracing change) instead of trying to stop it.
Do you recall the fight over Sony's Betamax format video recorder, and the Panasonic VHS format? Video rental stores had to stock movies in both formats. When it became obvious that Panasonic couldn't outspend Sony in signing format partners, Panasonic went to their "fallback" position and allowed anyone to use the VHS format for pennies per unit.
This led to mass-production of dozens of VHS competitors with lower prices and a variety of features in VHS. My uncle had a front-loading Sony Betamax that was $800 with no remote or scan (to zap commercials). VHS won (for those young whipper-snappers who've only ever had a TiVo. Why, when I was a kid, all the computers were made of hand-carved wood,...and burned coal,...and we were glad to have 'em!)
You can't patent the idea of a battery, or the chemistry, but apparently you CAN patent the format and size. I feel like I owe an apology to you and DaveW!
The lack of readily available large format batteries made of NiMH and LiFePO4 is the bottleneck holding back a flood of small EV conversion shops.