Allan,

Thanks for your comments.

The EV1, the Toyota RAV4, the Ford Th!nk and the others were fully
qualified to US safety standards.  These were all either production or
pilot production cars, not pre-production cars.

The size and weight of the Vanagon don't necessarily make it a worse
candidate for conversion.  There have been many full size van EV
conversions and also full size production electric vans.  The issue is
that you need a certain percentage of the vehicle's weight in batteries.
  A bigger vehicle, more batteries.  The performance remains the same
when compared to a small vehicle.  The big difference is cost.

Google "electric vanagon" and you will find more information.

Thanks,
Mike

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Vanagons as electric vehicles and other stuff....
Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 23:41:10 -0400
From: Allan Streib <streib@cs.indiana.edu>
To: Michael A. Radtke <wa7zpu@CISAZ.COM>
CC: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
References: <380-22008504235752196@earthlink.net>
<039701c8ae59$1e3c4d90$0401a8c0@cspfr2> <481E81AB.4020604@cisaz.com>

"Michael A. Radtke" <wa7zpu@CISAZ.COM> writes:

 > The EV1, the Toyota RAV4 and the other cars that rose to the
 > California challenge did quite well even on lead acid batteries.
 > However, the car companies chose to fight California's mandates in
 > court and won.  Just as soon as they were victorious, they recalled
 > their cars and crushed them.

I don't recall the sources, but the way I remember this those vehicles
were "experimental" and did not have to meet DOT safety standards.
They were crushed because they were not safe.

 > There have been some Vanagon conversions but I can't speak to how
 > successful they were.

With current technology, the Vanagon is too heavy a chassis for a pure
electric.  Might do OK as a hybrid.

Allan
--
1991 Vanagon GL