My Perfect Automobile » Conversions

Used Car Reality Show in the Works

Larry Bell — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:39:20 +0000

Used Cars (Pictured: 2011 Nissan Leaf)

With the used car market heating up month after month, and used car sales setting records, it was only a matter of time before a sharp-eyed television producer decided to make a reality show about previously owned vehicles. Detroit’s Victory Motors dealership is the focal point of a new program that is currently being pitched to TV executives. A half-dozen episodes are already being shot on location in Detroit. The family that owns the dealership has been selling used cars for more than 30 years, typically has about 400 in inventory, and intends to weave quite a bit of humor into the episodes.

Used Cars: Video

The team of professionals at EV West converted a 1991 Toyota MR2 to all-electric drive. The clip above walks through all the work that went into the conversion. Taking used cars and making them into “instant EV classics” is a booming business in the U.S. as conversion shops are springing up in every geographic region of the nation.

Used Cars

Used car sales are closely tracked by the auto industry. The most recent data has shown that people are tending to hold onto cars much longer than in the past. The slow economy is partly to blame, but better-built cars are another reason. With the advent of inexpensive Internet advertising channels for individuals, large numbers of owners are selling their cars to others via private transactions.

Just a decade ago, the average car owner would trade in a used vehicle when buying a new one. Now, the more common route is to sell the car online and pocket the cash, or use it to purchase another vehicle.

For millions of used cars check out the classified listings of MyPerfectAutomobile, where users can find any car based upon their specific preferences:
http://myperfectautomobile.com/classified/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Meineke to Offer Hybrid Conversions

Larry Bell — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:19:00 +0000

Meineke to Offer Hybrid Conversions

Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. and Echo Automotive Inc. have signed an agreement whereby Meineke will offer nationwide service for Echo’s fleet conversion platform, which turns combustion vehicles into plug-in hybrids. Echo’s chairman and president, Jason Plotke, pointed out that Meineke’s national reputation and geographic coverage will be a catalyst for the introduction of the conversion processes. With over 900 global locations in more than a half-dozen nations, Meineke will be a key component in Echo’s corporate goal of bringing fleet conversion services to cities and corporations all over the world. The past decade has witnessed a trend on the part of businesses and regional governments toward switching from oil-based fuels to renewable energy sources, like electricity.

Hybrid Conversions: Video

Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard tests an EchoDrive hybrid in the short video clip below. Created by Echo Automotive, the EchoDrive platform is a low-cost way to convert combustion fleet vehicles to hybrid drive. Fleet owners can recoup the conversion expense in less than three years in most cases, which means cities and corporate fleets can cut fuel costs virtually overnight. In the film, Ballard discusses the advantages of hybrid vehicles with an Echo Automotive rep as they wend their way through the busy streets of downtown Indianapolis. Echo Automotive’s main office is in Anderson, Indiana. The EchoDrive platform converts fleet cars into plug-in hybrids, and can help fleets reduce fuel usage by up to 50 percent.

Meineke Hybrid Conversions

For 20 years now, boxer George Foreman, aka The Heywood Giant, has been the spokesman for Meineke, which is a huge international company under the Driven Brands, Inc. ownership label. In fact, Driven owns not only Meineke, but also Econo Lube ‘N Tune and Maaco. Originally known as Meineke Mufflers, the company later morphed into Meineke Discount Mufflers, and since 2003 has been officially called Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc.
For more about Meineke, see the company’s official website:
http://www.meineke.com

For more about Echo Automotive, see the company’s official website:
http://www.echoautomotive.com

Larry Bell

Hybrid Conversion Kit Works on Any Car

Larry Bell — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 22:58:06 +0000

Hybrid Honda: Insight

A college instructor has developed a kit for turning any car into a hybrid-electric vehicle. Engineering professor Charles Perry of Middle Tennessee State University is currently looking into funding the venture, with an eye on converting an entire fleet of cars as a large-scale test.

Conversion: Video

For a look at another type of conversion, in this case a (very) homemade electric car, the video below features a brave Audi owner who did a one-person conversion to electric drive car, on a budget of about $5,000. No, he does not end up with the ideal commercial EV or an upscale Tesla Roadster. However, the end product is an admirable piece of work given the budgetary constraints. Converting cars to run on electricity or some other alternative fuel is a burgeoning cottage industry in the U.S., with small, locally based conversion shops cropping up in practically every state.

Hybrid Conversion

Professor Perry used a 1994 Honda Accord wagon as his initial research vehicle. After placing a pair of electric motors on the rear wheels, he added a lithium battery. The electrical system adds power to the gasoline engine, with a resultant mpg improvement of about 75 percent. Perry says his kit will cost around $3,000 and be much simpler than hybrid conversion kits already on the market.

Whether you do your own hybrid conversion or not, the Dept. of Energy website listed below is a valuable resource for learning how to save money on fuel. In addition, the site can help you shop for a hybrid vehicle. All you need to do is select your favorite category from small cars, family sedans, luxury sedans, pickups, or SUVs. From there, refine the choices to your heart’s delight. The comparison charts list models by year, price, make, transmission, and mpg. So if hybrid-drive gets your blood flowing, check out the DOE website and start shopping.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrids.jsp

Larry Bell

Super Cool Electric Car Conversion: 1937 Jaguar

Larry Bell — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:53:55 +0000

Electric car: No conversion necessary. Tesla Roadster

Neither a micro-van nor a hobby car, the classic 1937 Jaguar that is the subject of the short video below might just be the sleekest EV conversion around, complete with glass-encased battery packs and other unique extras. North Valley Systems LLC, a Montana-based conversion specialty company, created the 25 KW custom ride that tops out at a controlled speed of 103 mph. Featuring 100 percent custom components, aircraft cabling straps for the battery pack, and an impressive 100-mile range, the world’s most beautiful electric Jaguar is an authentic automotive work of art.

Electric Car Conversion: Video

Take a walk on the classic side! Spend a few minutes via the magic of video perusing the ‘37 Jag EV from North Valley Systems LLC. The company’s mission is to “advance the art of electric vehicles,” and it shows in their work. Marcus Reddish founded the company just last year, and now works full-time creating custom EVs to the specifications of his lucky customers.

EV Car Conversion

North Valley does total EV conversion jobs plus all types of customization services. When someone hires North Valley, the first step is a detailed consultation wherein the customer provides detailed data about desired style, driving range, and performance parameters. According to North Valley’s designers, practically any vehicle can be converted to electric drive, and they even help locate a donor vehicle if a customer does not have one already picked out for the job. A true custom shop, NVS uses lithium phosphate batteries exclusively for many reasons, the primary ones being quality, longevity, and performance. Perusing the company’s website is pure fun whether you are a conversion buff or just like to look at gorgeous electric cars. NVS road-tests each vehicle to make sure it reaches above and beyond the owner’s dreams. The experts at NVS have a sense of humor too. A note on the website says their state-of-the-art testing facility is “… Montana.”

For more about North Valley, plus some impressive photos of their work, see the company’s official website:
http://www.northvalleyev.com/

If you have some of your own automotive dreams that are yet to be realized, direct contact information is:
North Valley Systems LLC.
Stevensville, Montana
406-360-8628
marcus.reddish@gmail.com

Larry Bell

DeLorean ‘Back to the Future’ Car Back in the News

Larry Bell — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 22:51:14 +0000

DeLorean EV prototype

The DeLorean is back, but not to the future. The car, and its original driver, Christopher Lloyd, will appear in an upcoming episode of TV series Raising Hope, set to air on Jan. 8. In reality, the re-booted DeLorean Motor Company, now based in Texas, will be producing an electric version of the cult classic to debut sometime in 2013.

DeLorean EV: Video

Sit back and spend nine minutes being amazed by the electric DeLorean prototype, soon to be available to the public as an electric passenger car. After a tour of the Texas factory, the reviewer discusses the future of the DeLorean EV with the company’s owner, and then takes a test spin in the prototype. Zooming along at 70 mph on the highway, the Back to the Future vehicle is virtually silent. Even if you are not a fan of the car or the movie, this project seems like the ultimate conversion job, on a major scale. When the DeLorean EV goes into production it will have a range of approximately 200 miles and boast a few other extras, but will look almost exactly like the original product.

DeLorean EV

DeLorean Motor Company’s CEO, Stephen Wynne, is currently working with Epic EV to create the electrified Back to the Future car. The prototype EV made its world debut in October of 2011. Some of the original cars, which first appeared in 1981, are still around. DeLorean enthusiasts estimate that over 70 percent of the original 9,000 cars are on the road today. The electric versions of the car that arrive in 2013 will, for the time being anyway, be custom-made models with lithium-ion battery packs. The legendary car gets its name from the company’s original founder, John DeLorean, who incorporated the business in 1975.

For more about DeLorean, see the company’s official website:
http://www.delorean.com

Larry Bell

San Diego Auto Show Bigger Than Ever

Larry Bell — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 11:38:15 +0000

San Diego Auto Show: Prius Plug-In was at Ride-and-Drive

The San Diego International Auto Show, which closed its doors at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30, had another year of record attendance and large crowds, especially in the Think Blue Eco-Center, where green vehicles and technological wizardry were on display. The Center offered up hydrogen fuel-cell cars, as well as a diverse array of hybrids and EVs. As a public service, the local organization Think Blue San Diego put on educational presentations about clean water.

San Diego Auto Show: Video

For a tour of the San Diego Auto Show, scroll to the video clip below. One of the largest shows of its kind, the SDIAS, as it’s officially called, spends a healthy portion of floor space on environmental transportation, showing off everything from the Chevy Spark EV to a few lesser-known alternative-fuel cars. Unlike some of the other major shows, the San Diego event is truly geared toward consumers, many of whom attend in order to do comparison-shopping. So far, the Chevy Spark EV has been one of the show’s big stars, as it gets ready to land in showrooms during the summer of 2013. The San Diego show also features one of the largest displays of homemade EV conversions. The individually owned cars have been rebooted to run on electricity. The conversion showcase is just one of the aspects of SDIAS that makes the event so well attended each year.

San Diego Auto Show

The 2012 event, held at the San Diego Convention Center, offered one of the best ride-and-drive experiences on the auto show circuit. The event organizers’ research reveals that the ride-and-drive is by far the most popular interactive event at the show. A short list of manufacturers who had cars available for the ride-and-drive includes Toyota, Volkswagen, Kia, Jeep, Honda, Cadillac, Chrysler, Ford, GMC, Lincoln, Chevrolet, and Buick.

For all the details about the San Diego International Auto Show, see the event’s official website:
http://www.sdautoshow.com

Larry Bell

Indianapolis City Fleet Going Green

Larry Bell — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 20:38:19 +0000

Indianapolis will use hybrids, EVs, and CNG cars. Pictured: 2013 Chevy Volt

Indianapolis city officials this week announced that all new, non-police vehicle purchases will be electric, hybrid, or natural gas powered. In an effort to reduce U.S. dependence on oil, and to reduce carbon emissions, the city hopes to have an entirely alt-fuel fleet by the year 2025. Eventually the city hopes to include police and other public safety vehicles in the green initiative, and has even been working with a manufacturer to come up with a hybrid police cruiser.

Green Conversions: Video

For some reason, cars that are converted to alternative fuels have a reputation for being boring, slow-moving oddities. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most city and corporate fleet conversions to natural gas, hybrid, and EV show no loss of power, but do gain huge savings in fuel expenses. In fact, the conversion of privately owned vehicles is a booming business. Scroll to the video below for a clip of the very first natural gas car to run a lap at Talladega Raceway. Mark’s 1966 GTO is a clean, awesome machine that tours the national classic car show circuit. Check your local classic car events and you will no doubt see the ‘66 breezing through your hometown someday soon.

Indianapolis: Plug-Ins, EVs, CNG

Central Indiana already boasts more than 200 electric charging stations, which were installed through a unique private-public partnership. The city’s heavy-duty fleet of garbage trucks, fire department vehicles, and dump trucks will transition to compressed natural gas fuel (CNG). That portion of the city’s fleet now consists of about 200 vehicles. Indianapolis will not be converting those units to CNG, but will be buying new, original OEM natural gas vehicles as they are needed. Around the U.S., many cities have opted to convert existing fleets to CNG rather than purchase new vehicles. Either way, cities save significant amounts of money in the long run because CNG costs approximately $1.50 less than gasoline, per gallon.

For a quick summary about the city of Indianapolis, see the following fact sheet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis

Larry Bell

Tom Cruise Car to Auction Block

Larry Bell — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:11:13 +0000

Tom Cruise drove this 1949 Buick Roadmaster in ‘Rain Man’

If you are a regular visitor to this site, you know that we at MyPerfectAutomobile are always in search of the perfect car for an electric conversion. While the 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Tom Cruise drove in the film ‘Rain Man’ might be a bit large for an efficient EV conversion, it never hurts to dream. The car will go up for auction, with bidding to begin at $40,000, though the final price will likely be much, much higher than that. The sleek monster of a car is real gem. It lit up movie screens when it was made into a virtual character in the film, representing the riches that Tom Cruise’s character owned but did not appreciate.

Tom Cruise Car: Video

Actually, for die-hard fans of EV conversions, there is no challenge too big. In the case of the video clip below, an enterprising EV enthusiast created one of the hottest conversions this side of Germany by building a Volkswagen Beetle electric dragster. In fact, many of the shops and individuals around the U.S. who do EV custom conversions welcome the bigger, classic cars. When outfitted with electric drive, the ancient behemoths might not have impressive range, but who wouldn’t fall in love with a classic Rolls Royce or Buick Roadster that ran on lithium ion batteries?

Tom Cruise Car

Charlie Babbit’s (Tom Cruise’s character in the 1988 film) 1949 Buick is a two-door convertible with gorgeous red leather interior and a beige exterior. The straight-8 boasts an incredible 320 cubic inches of engine and a Dynaflow automatic tranny. This car, and this car only, features a super-reinforced rear suspension which was necessary to hold the cameraman who rode along while filming. Heritage Auctions will be presenting the Roadmaster, and even though some insiders say bidding will max out around $80,000, those who specialize in Buick classics say, as Raymond might, bids could “definitely go higher. Definitely higher.”

For much more about the legendary Buick Roadster, see the information site below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Roadmaster

Larry Bell

Electric Car Conversions All the Rage

Larry Bell — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:04:30 +0000

McClary’s EVGT-40 (Photo: High Voltage Hot Rods)

Custom electric cars are popping up everywhere these days, and one of the leaders of the movement (and a movement it is, make no mistake) is Andrew McClary, founder of High Voltage Hot Rods, Inc. Andrew built the EVGT-40, a replica that was inspired by the GT-40. A believer in the future of “cool, fast cars,” McClary and his team have been working with others in the EV community to build attractive electric cars that are big on speed, power, and range. Andrew and his business partner, Brant Cohen, now work together making cool hot rods that run purely on electricity. Brant has over three decades of experience in car restoration and maintenance.

Electric Car Conversions: Video

In the following preview of the show, High Voltage Hot Rods, Andrew McClary introduces us to his staff, gives an overall look at what is in store, and discusses the state of the art for electric car conversions. (Do not be confused by the fact that the name of Andrew’s shop is also High Voltage Hot Rods). He and the team take an inside look at the EV conversion industry as it exists today. In just the past two years, as McClary points out, advances in electric batteries have allowed for much more speed, power, and range in EV cars, racers in particular. If you have even a slight interest in electric car conversions, don’t miss Andrew’s show.

Electric Car Conversions

Alex Berry is the marketing arm of High Voltage Hot Rods and is an experienced veteran of the television world. Alex is in charge of PR and marketing for the company. For the upcoming television show, appropriately named “High Voltage Hot Rods,” the team will hit the road and take a close up look at the blossoming EV conversion industry.

For more information about High Voltage Hotrods, see the company’s official website:
http://highvoltagehotrods.com

Larry Bell

Batmobile: Ultimate Electric Conversion Car?

Larry Bell — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 23:06:54 +0000

Batmobile would be prime candidate for EV conversion

The original Batmobile will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson 42nd annual event in Scottsdale, Ariz. in January. George Barris created the car from a 1955 Lincoln Futura on a $15,000 budget for the 1966 Batman television show.

Batmobile: Video

One of the best things about the Batmobile is all the incredible footage that exists of the car in action, straight from the 1960s TV series starring Adam West. The lucky bidder who goes home with the unique car will have plenty of opportunity to make back the investment. Previous owners of such cars have charged tourists a fee to ride or drive the famous vehicles. In the case of the Batmobile, arguably one of the most famous cars of the past 50 years, the new owner could convert the former Lincoln Futura to electric drive and tour the car show circuit. Actually, there is no end to the marketing possibilities, considering the fan base of the old show, and the crowds the car draws wherever it goes.

Batmobile to be Auctioned at Barrett-Jackson

Since 1971, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction has sold cars and car-related items to the public at its massive events in Scottsdale, Ariz., Palm Beach, Fla., Orange County, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev. The events sell cars, trucks, boats, planes, and all sorts of vehicular memorabilia, sometimes at record prices. In fact, the Saturday sale has gained the nickname, “Shatterday” due to the incredibly high prices that some of the rare cars fetch. For example, five years ago a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 “Super Snake,” snagged a final bid of $5,000,000. Two years before that, in 2005, a collector shelled out $3,000,000 for a 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 concept car. So many auction records are broken at the B-J event there is no telling how much the Batmobile will go for, but a six-, or even seven-figure sum would be par for the course.

For more information about Barrett Jackson,
http://www.barrett-jackson.com

Larry Bell

David Beckham’s Porsche: Where is It Now?

Larry Bell — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 04:18:49 +0000

David Beckham: A similar 996 Turbo

Soccer fans, as well as Porsche enthusiasts, are still wondering where David Beckham’s Porsche 911 Turbo ended up. Purchased by an anonymous bidder on an Internet auction site, the car was expected to see the light of day on one of the major European auction blocks, but has not appeared as yet. The little gem of a car was an automatic, all-wheel-drive convertible, able to reach 200 mph. Beckham’s wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, owns a white Porsche. The world’s most famous “soccer mom” is not planning to sell it anytime soon. Porsche vehicles are a favorite of those who like to convert sports cars to electric drive, mostly because the chassis is perfectly designed for an EV conversion.

David Beckham’s Porsche: Dragster Challenge

Of all the videotaped car challenges, one that catches the eye of alternative fuel fans everywhere is the dragster challenge between a converted-to-electric Porsche and a Tesla Roadster. Can a remake beat an original? Have a look and find out for yourself.

David Beckham’s Porsche: Giant Price Tag

With bidding starting at $100,000, the Beckham Porsche was no bargain-basement offering. A few hours within placement of the ad, the Beck-mobile sold for a whopping $217,000, which was a full $70,000 more than Mr. B had originally paid for his black-matte, 911 Turbo. The automatic dream car had only 6,700 miles on it at time of auction.

Inside, Beckham had make significant modifications to the vehicle, mostly emblazoning his jersey number, 23, in at least a half-dozen places.

Due to their shape and size, many of the smaller Porsche cars are ideal for electric conversion. In fact, Porsche EVs are one of the most common cars in the electric conversion after-market.

For more about all the cool cars from Porsche and Tesla Motors, see the official websites for each company:
http://www.teslamotors.com
http://www.porsche.com

Larry Bell

Hybrid Car Kit: One Size Fits All?

Larry Bell — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:46:15 +0000

Hybrid car kit: In-wheel motor from Protean

A research project at a U.S. university could soon lead to the introduction of add-on hybrid kits which would be able to make virtually any gasoline car into a hybrid drive vehicle. The kit essentially adds electric drive capability to a vehicle’s rear wheels, and several prototypes have already been successfully tested. Technically referred to as a plug-in hybrid retrofit kit, students and engineers at Middle Tennessee State University place electric motors in the rear wheels and add a lithium battery as a power source.

Hybrid Car Kit: Video

The video clip below provides a thorough overview of how an in-wheel motor works. Protean Electric has pioneered the concept of in-wheel electric motors, and the video walks us through the technology and shows it many applications.

Hybrid Car Kit: The Future

While Protean’s system is highly successful, and opened up the industry to the entire concept of in-wheel motors, this new project with bolt-on hybrid kits is quite different in that it looks to make any car, even post-production models, into a hybrid.

Project participants say the MTSU engineering kits could be fitted to a standard combustion car and increase its fuel economy between 50 and 100 percent, all by allowing the electric motors to do their share of the work. The beauty of the kit is its simplicity, since no major components of the original car need to be changed. Brakes, suspension, and all mechanical parts remain as they are.

Right now, the project has advanced to the fund raising stage, and school officials are in talks with various fleet owners in order to create demo versions of the kits that could be put onto a small group of vehicles.

For more about one of the major players in the world of in-wheel motors, see the official website for Protean Electric:

http://www.proteanelectric.com

Larry Bell