Update on teen's all-electric 1988 Mazda pickup truck
High school student Andrew Angellotti contacted AutoblogGreen last fall to tell us about his 1988 Mazda B2200 pickup truck that he converted into an electric vehicle, taking nine months to learn how to do it and getting seriously DIY on the project. Our friend at Michigan Public Radio, Dustin Dwyer, was able to spend some with with Angellotti and an update on the teen and his truck was broadcast this week. Angellotti put 20 "basically golf cart" batteries into his truck; most (16) take up lots of space in the bed. The batteries give him a 40-mile range from a 10-hour charge. Considering that the truck's heat originally came from the engine, the EV doesn't have a warm cab any more, which must make for some tough driving these days. Still, Angellotti is pretty darn happy with his homemade truck. As he told Dustin, "There were quite a few points during the project, during you know, kind of a hard part, I'd start thinking, you know, for six thousand dollars I could have a really cool car. But, you know, I woke up the next morning and I'm like, 'But nobody else is going to have an electric car. So I decided to keep going with it." We're glad he did.
Listen to the report here or read the transcript here.
UPDATE: Andrew was kind enough to send us some more pictures of his truck and, as you can see in the gallery below, he is making progress on his second conversion, a Toyota Tercel.
LATER UPDATE: Yes, he has a heater.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
John Forrester 1:27PM (2/29/2008)
Very cool Andrew! This is exactly the kind eco-idea invented by a teen that could win 10 Grand in the BKFK Going Green Challenge. Hopefully Andrew and other teens with great eco ideas will enter. Deadline is March 31, 2008. www.bkfk.com
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Tyler 1:57PM (1/17/2008)
As this is an EV, why doesn't Andrew install an outlet on the interior of the cab to plug in a space heater? Strap it down to the floor and viola, instant heat!
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me 2:57PM (1/17/2008)
Tyler - He only has a 40 mile range, an electric heater would kill the batteries a lot faster. If he could talk A123 into giving him some sample batteries that might be a possibility
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Mort 4:37PM (1/17/2008)
Way to go kiddo!
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Wildgoosechase 12:43AM (1/18/2008)
I'm sure it helps on his dates too, he will run out of juice every time.....
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Dave 5:06PM (1/17/2008)
NICE WORK. SERIOUSLY NICE WORK!
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Joseph 7:05PM (1/17/2008)
Congratulations!
You've accomplished something that (I'd imagine) truely takes devotion and hard work. Maybe you'll be Tesla's future competitor? lol
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darius 9:30PM (1/17/2008)
great job, as for the batteries, well A123 I don't think has a finished working bat, at least GM still is waiting for it from what I remember. He could talk to Altairnano as their battery has been running and tested so many times by so many companies and Universities but they are mostly working with fleets and large power backups for utility companies at least for now.
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MikeInNC 8:33AM (1/18/2008)
Great work Andrew!
That $6 grand would never buy a car nice enough to displace the number of job offers this kid may get after doing this. He needs to build a website with a lot of detail about the project and use that hard work to full advantage.
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eVolt 2:33PM (1/18/2008)
www.nedra.com
A123 has batteries for his project. Just not the vaporware GM promises.
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uncle john 8:30AM (1/19/2008)
Man, this is a serious accomplishment. A true testament to the fact that American ingenuity is alive and well. Here's an ATTABOY from me!!!!
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Andrew 2:52PM (1/19/2008)
Well done.
Very impressive.
Andrew Roddy
eBox Owner
Florida EAA
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Andrew 3:26PM (1/19/2008)
Andrew,
This might be of interest, check out the links in the comment section.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/01/18/battery-beach-burnouts-to-promote-evs-in-miama-and-san-diego-nex/
Andrew Roddy
eBox Owner
Florida EAA
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george 8:09PM (1/21/2008)
Very nice to see somebody from his generatio0n helping save energy by not burning up fossil fuel with loud noised over powered useless souped up wheel spinning drifting cars. Hes got his head on straight.
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Dwight Gentry 8:30PM (1/21/2008)
Great effert on the kids part.I hope he continues to experiment. But for anyone who knows how batteries are made and disposed of it would be GREENER to drive a truck that gets only 12 miles to the gallon on leaded fuel!
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harrjo5 8:42PM (1/21/2008)
Kuddos to the electric-kid!As far as the heater goes,if he's got any common sense,he'll use the date(hopefully female)for HEAT!
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harrjo5 8:42PM (1/21/2008)
Kuddos to the electric-kid!As far as the heater goes,if he's got any common sense,he'll use the date(hopefully female)for HEAT!
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john murphy 8:59PM (1/21/2008)
what a waste teenagers used to spend time making cars go faster an adding horsepower, another example of americas decline,
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remauto1100 8:54PM (1/21/2008)
Electric conversion projects have been around for many years. So it's really no big deal. It's great the kid figured it out and went through with it, but what's the point? He can only go 40 miles! Thats called useless...not practical! Batteries have a high failure rate and cost alot! Electric motors are very expensive to rewind. This is all called FALSE ECONOMY! Spend $20 to save a nickel! Just like E-85 costs more to run than regular unleaded to go the same amount of distance! Do the math! E-85 will just drive the demand for corn up which raises costs! FALSE ECONOMY! Hydrogen is plentiful and free! Im all for reducing foreign oil use...but E-85 and electric is not the answer!
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FordBronco 3:22PM (2/04/2008)
hahahahaha that is not cool you know whats cool fords the 88 bronco 88 f150 xlt lariat and all the ford trucks like f150 f250 explorer expitidon f650 f350
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