Friday, April 11, 2008 5:58:19 PM
Look A Voltswagon...
This VW Beetle's juice is green
By CHARLES ANDERSON - Nelson | Friday, 11 April 2008
Rex Nowland has lost count of how many Volkswagens he has owned over the years but his newest acquisition is something altogether different.
Over the past three months, Mr Nowland has converted a 1971 VW Beetle into an environmentalist's dream - a totally electric car.
The Dodson's Valley resident started the car conversion as a hobby to produce a car for his wife Lorraine to drive. The Beetle - bought via the Trade Me website in January - takes eight hours to charge, which costs about $1.50, with the power lasting for about 30km.
The car is powered by four batteries each weighing 27kg. Mr Nowland replaced the original engine with an electric motor, which he bought from the United States.
The Beetle can reach a top speed of 80kmh and Mr Nowland is planning on installing two more batteries which will push the limit up to 100kmh.
The motor's producers say it will last 1.5 million km if the motor brushes are cleaned every 130,000km, which Mr Nowland said was an easy job to do.
"The motor will probably outlast the car."
One of the interesting hurdles Mr Nowland encountered was the necessity to pay road-user charges. The law states that owners of vehicles powered by a fuel that is not taxed at the source, such as diesel or electricity, must pay road-user charges.
"It seems stupid to promote a clean, green New Zealand when there are no incentives to change to something like an electric car. The only incentive is when petrol reaches two or three bucks a litre."
The car makes as much sound as an electric golf-cart.
"When you drive it you have to keep your wits about you. People are pretty surprised when they can't hear it because Beetles usually have such a distinct sound," Mr Nowland said.
He already has his mind on another project - converting a ute. "I could fit around 12 batteries in there so we would have a bit more power."
Freight costs from the United States and New Zealand's small market meant Mr Nowland was wary about creating a business from his hobby.
The car needs to be certified, so it will not be on Nelson roads for about a month. Mr Nowland believes the conversion will have cost about $12,000.
This VW Beetle's juice is green
By CHARLES ANDERSON - Nelson | Friday, 11 April 2008
Rex Nowland has lost count of how many Volkswagens he has owned over the years but his newest acquisition is something altogether different.
Over the past three months, Mr Nowland has converted a 1971 VW Beetle into an environmentalist's dream - a totally electric car.
The Dodson's Valley resident started the car conversion as a hobby to produce a car for his wife Lorraine to drive. The Beetle - bought via the Trade Me website in January - takes eight hours to charge, which costs about $1.50, with the power lasting for about 30km.
The car is powered by four batteries each weighing 27kg. Mr Nowland replaced the original engine with an electric motor, which he bought from the United States.
The Beetle can reach a top speed of 80kmh and Mr Nowland is planning on installing two more batteries which will push the limit up to 100kmh.
The motor's producers say it will last 1.5 million km if the motor brushes are cleaned every 130,000km, which Mr Nowland said was an easy job to do.
"The motor will probably outlast the car."
One of the interesting hurdles Mr Nowland encountered was the necessity to pay road-user charges. The law states that owners of vehicles powered by a fuel that is not taxed at the source, such as diesel or electricity, must pay road-user charges.
"It seems stupid to promote a clean, green New Zealand when there are no incentives to change to something like an electric car. The only incentive is when petrol reaches two or three bucks a litre."
The car makes as much sound as an electric golf-cart.
"When you drive it you have to keep your wits about you. People are pretty surprised when they can't hear it because Beetles usually have such a distinct sound," Mr Nowland said.
He already has his mind on another project - converting a ute. "I could fit around 12 batteries in there so we would have a bit more power."
Freight costs from the United States and New Zealand's small market meant Mr Nowland was wary about creating a business from his hobby.
The car needs to be certified, so it will not be on Nelson roads for about a month. Mr Nowland believes the conversion will have cost about $12,000.
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