Convert It!

Author: Michael Brown
ISBN: 1879857944
Manufacturer: South Florida Electric Auto Association (S F
Customer Rating:

, based on 22 reviews

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Editorial Review:

This book is the leading how-to resource for electric car conversions. It combines Brown's years of professional automotive experience with down-to-earth language even an automotive beginner can understand. It is not written for the engineer in the laboratory, but for the home mechanic building his own car, and for the average person behind the wheel. Brown speaks to the reader as if talking to a friend in his garage. Before lifting a wrench, Brown answers the most frequently asked questions about electric cars: how fast will it go, how far will it go, how long will the batteries last, how pollution-free is it really, and many more. The conversion process itself begins with choosing an appropriate donor chassis, and stripping it of internal combustion components. Here Brown's experience provide numerous tips and tricks to make the later conversion process easier and more successful. Step by step, Brown leads the reader through the conversion. As each component comes up, Brown gives a little background on the different types available, and the pros and cons of each. He includes tips on layout, design and fabrication at each step, and discusses different approaches for different chassis, such as front wheel drive vs. rear wheel drive. By the end of the book, every part of the conversion process has been discussed. Brown wraps up with a procedure for testing and troubleshooting, and guidelines for normal driving, charging, and maintenance. The book is salted heavily throughout with photos and diagrams to illustrate its topics, and it includes a very thorough index. CONVERT IT has been chosen by the Department of Energy and by numerous schools across the country as the textbook for high school electric car conversion projects.

Customer Reviews:

Good Place to Start

Although some of the information presented in the 126-page volume is 15 or more years old, it is still a good place to start when considering an electric vehicle conversion. Mr. Brown does not disappoint with his clear and direct explanations and suggestions.
There is one small technical error concerning wire sizing. The National Electric Code (NEC) and Mil Spec W-5088L may be helpful, here.
Definitely worth the cost and time to read this book.

2008-08-16

Very Informative

This is a great book for the EV enthusiast. I was a little surprised that the pages of the book seem like xerox copies. But the quality of the information is very impressive.

2008-05-22

Good resource... needs updating

Very good introduction to EV conversions. Worth the price just for the practical tips and process information. Written in the early 90's, so it lacks information on newer motor systems (eschews AC because of complexity) and recent battery technology (lithium ion, etc.). It really could use and update... I'm sure there have been advances in the last 15 years. Mr. Brown is still offering workshops in EV conversion in Seattle and runs a conversion supply company (Electro Automotive). Interestingly he offers newer AC kits through his operation. If you're serious about converting to electric, this book is a good place to start.

2008-04-26

convert it

author michael p. brown says this book is a step by step of what is involved in converting a petrol to electric and that is exactly what you get for a novice ev converter its all you will need --- bar a lot of motivation

2008-03-20

step by step instructions

The book is a quick read and goes over the details of constructing an EV. Focuses mainly on the construction and is light on the background and concepts.

2007-12-04

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