Problems with Luxury Car Conversions?

by W Jones
(Dallas, TX)

Electric Beemer conversion">

Jukka Jarvinen's Electric Beemer conversion

Everywhere I read "keep the curb weight down", but I can't see myself and the wife and kids in a Geo or Ford Ranger.
I'd like to see something BMW 5-Series or MB E series converted.

Besides the weight, and the fact that these are automatics (manual is easier and gets better range mileage) what other roadblocks am I seeing?

Hi, WJ!
There are luxury cars being converted. True, they tend to be heavier, a little more complicated, pretty much always have an automatic transmission, and are not likely to have a prefab kit...but these are hardly roadblocks, more like speed bumps; )

The weight can be addressed with an AC drive system. See Metric Mind for more details. They cost a little bit more, but my goodness, you've got a BMW - you're not a starving college student. Money well spent.

The luxury automobile tends to have a collection of fancy electric accessories, as well, and also tends to have a whole lot of little computer chips to control this and that. Don't lose track of those wires; )

Regards,
Lynne