I am thinking of converting my 89 Honda Civic s/w to an all electric power driven system. I really don't want to go to a kit. Can you recommend some different ideas?
Hi, Ivan! You've got a lightish car, with lightish bone structure, so a smallish motor would be best.
To paraphrase EV University instructor Jim Husted on this subject - think about this in terms of motor weight. Somewhere between 100-150 lbs. is the Goldilocks "just right" point for your car's electric motor choice. Bigger, and you're looking at dimension challenges (and sacrificing weight that could go toward your battery weight budget); smaller, and you're looking at cooling issues.
DC motors tend to be a bit heavier, AC motors a bit lighter. Industrial, continuous-duty motors tend to be bigger, intermittent-duty motors smaller.
