eCorolla to debut at Finnish Electric Motor Show [w/VIDEO]
eCars Now! eCorolla - Click above to watch the videos after the jump
The Electric Motor Show kicks off in Helsinki, Finland on the 6th of November and making its proud world debut will be the eCorolla. Just as you might expect from the name, the "eToyota" is an electric conversion of a regular Corolla. So why all the fuss? Well, this particular transmutation is meant as an archetype and was built by the Finnish open source project called eCars-Now! using quality components and lithium batteries. The aim of the outfit is to bring electric transportation to the masses by converting their current rides. Looking under the hood we find the prototype is powered by an Azure Dynamics AC motor and controller (spec sheet PDF here). The lithium batteries are from Thunder Sky and the car uses a battery management system (BMS) by Lithium Balance to keep things kosher and provide pack information. This drivetrain in a similarly-sized car should be good for around 90 miles which they say could be doubled with an extra pack. Being open source, the eCars-Now! website offers complete instructions on how to make your own eCorolla (or eJetta or what have you), as well as lots of other EV info, and encourages everyone to give it a go. Hit the jump for video from the group promoting conversions featuring-you guessed it- the eCorolla.
[Source: eCars-Now!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark Kiernan 6:53PM (10/05/2009)
Cool, I think many people would go with converting there cars to EV if the cost is good. The problem is that there are many companies asking very different prices.
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jpm 7:55PM (10/05/2009)
hmm, how much those bank of batts cost?
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Dave 8:35PM (10/05/2009)
"Target price: 22 000 euros (2-3 year old donor car + conversion)"
Thats $32,257.01 USD according to XE.com.
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joona.kallio 12:43AM (10/06/2009)
Cars in Finland are expensive. The base price of new (ICE) Corolla is about 21.000 euros.
With same amount of money, I'll take the few year older ev-converted version than a new petrol one - think about the running cost...
Besides, upgrading existing ICE cars to electric is more economical and environmentally correct, than trash perfectly good runing cars and build brand new EVs instead.
Ernie 5:38PM (10/06/2009)
And, as they also state in the video, Finland taxes your car based on its emissions.
Andy 10:10PM (10/05/2009)
Despite the piles of crapola big auto PR departments are spewing out. It's already in plain sight and cannot be denied. Alffordable* and practical 80 mile BEV's are here today ... being made by hobbyists! They could have been produced years ago in large quantities by automakers.
How to get us out of this pesky fossil fuel hole?.... It's obviously not about the limitations of battery technology. It's about finding people of integrity with a genuine desire to improve the world.
I wonder how many of these cars can be shoved up the colective anus of the Toyota board.
*Depends on your own interpretation of affordable.
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timo_tuomivirta 2:40AM (10/06/2009)
There is more info in this page:
http://www.shift2e.com/news.html
See the top left corner:
"2009-09 Press Release / Electric Motor Show (PDF)"
"2009-06 Press Release / Electric Motor Show (PDF)"
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vikkehyvonen 2:58AM (10/06/2009)
This is the T-model of conversions!!
Mass produced kits will make individual conversions quick and economical.
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Sebastian 8:38PM (10/13/2009)
You mean the "eCorolla" not the "eToyota".
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