Plug-In Motors makes Mustang electric [w/video]
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The wait for a battery-powered Ford may have just gotten shorter now that Plug-In Motors in Denver, Colorado is planning to turn Ford Mustangs into electric Plug-In Panthers. One of the co-founders behind the company, Kurt Neugens, has some familiarity with Fords having worked for the Detroit automaker for 17 years as an engineer. The other co-founder, Travis Winkelman, knows a thing or two about hands-on tweaking as well, with a resume that prominently features the Roush NASCAR Racing Team where he worked as a development engineer.
Although the company will convert other selected models, the Mustang is the vehicle they're starting with and if you're in the vicinity of Lakewood Ford on the 27th and 28th, you can go for a ride yourself to see if you like their handiwork. Using lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries, an AC induction motor and adjustable regenerative braking, they claim to have a package that offers quickness (0 to 60 under 6 seconds) and a low-carbon impact. They seem to have several different configurations, each with their own strengths. The quickest car can only hit 85 mph at the top end or you can opt for a slower start and a 105 mph top speed. Range is also option-dependent. The more affordable version travels 85 miles on a charge or you can opt for more batteries that they say can carry you 200 miles. you can check it out for yourself in the video after the jump.
[Source: Plug-In Motors / YouTube / Examiner]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
scammer-killer 3:20PM (2/27/2009)
$75k for an all electric Mustang with Ford build quality? No thanks. Tango please.
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Nick 4:21PM (2/27/2009)
Between 4 and 11,000$ for a conversion?
Did I hear that right?
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Phil L. 4:41PM (2/27/2009)
Those figures attempt to estimate the expense to the owner *after* tax credits, etc. - so they don't really say what the conversion itself really costs.
With Li-ion batteries, it can't be anywhere near $11k.
protomech 3:36PM (3/03/2009)
Phil:
Lithium Iron Phosphate, not Lithium ion. Different chemistry.
85 miles is probably 20-24 kwhr of battery ($10-17k), the lifepo4 batteries I've read about don't like being taxed more than about 3C (so 60-75kw, or about 100-120 hp).
That's the present battery conundrum. If you underbuy, your expensive batteries die quickly (1000 cycles = 85k miles = $0.17/mile or 3 years = $5k/year, assuming nothing goes wrong earlier) from being overworked. If you overbuy, you're stuck with a very sizable investment in technology that will become outdated pretty quickly (and will still age pretty fast, eg 40kwhr = $30k = 3 years at 80%).
Oh, and that 40kwhr pack is both large and heavy.
Phil L. 8:35AM (3/06/2009)
protomech -
Lithium Iron Phosphate is a form of Lithium ion. Yes, lithium ion battery characteristics can differ quite a bit depending on what the cathode is made of. I used the term "Lithium ion" to identify this electrochemical family in a generic sense. Currently, no matter what the cathode is made from, they're all pricey.
Fun reading here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion
BoneHeadOtto 10:26PM (2/27/2009)
If you're going to perform the conversion on a mustang atleast dress it up nicer with the v8's wheels and lights.
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Dave Phoenix 1:56PM (2/28/2009)
It's good to see this happening on standard US cars. Even though the cost is high, we need to prove that this technology works on mainstream cars.
If we could only get Ford and GM to do this........
To be honest, I don't see why GM doesn't do this with the Corvette. I think they could offer an electric Corvette that is every bit as good as a Tesla. And since it is a Corvette, they could offer it at $125,000 so they won't lose money.
Even at $125,000 I think GM would sell a lot of them. Look how many people are spending $100K+ from Tesla, a startup company.
Then GM could do what they have always done with the high-end models like the Corvette and Cadillac....Use these models to prove the technology, and eventually get the costs down so they could offer it in their mainstream cars.
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