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ivwshane
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011
Posts: 1921
Location: Sacramento ca
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 Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 12:40 am Post subject: Re: David Carter's Electric Ghia Project |
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This is a super late reply but I've decided to go electric for my ghia as well and I'm in the research phase.
First off congrats on completing your project!! Looks great.
Now that you've had the car for a few years, what have you learned? What would you change and what have you changed since completing the project?
Did you end up bottom balancing the batteries or did you end up getting a BMS?
Battery prices seem to have come down and I may be able to get my wish in terms of goals (90mph top speed, 60-100 mile range). Did you change your battery setup at all?
One thing I'm looking into and hope something will be available when I start my project is a multi speed transmission designed for electric motors. How has the stock transmission been?
Lastly, you mentioned that it didn't accelerate as fast as you had originally anticipated, what if anything could you have done to get better acceleration?
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77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab |
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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I may in the future, but right now, I think it's pretty much done. I'm driving it daily and working on my new project, the Puma GTB. I'm thinking I have about 8 weeks of good weather to work in the garage left this year.
I'm real happy with the way the project turned out, the range is about 45 miles on a full charge. It takes about 8 hours to charge at 13 cents per hour. The acceleration is not as intense as I had hoped for, but I may be able to change the throttle curve to compensate. The fan noise is no longer an issue. I have tweaked the thermostat so it only kick in above 40C and that takes about 15 min of run time, so on some trips it never goes on. When it is on, you really only notice it at stops. After you start moving, the noise from the tranny drownes it out. It's funny how in an electric vehicle you hear everything. 
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1981 Puma GTB http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7794566#7794566
1971 Karmann Ghia http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=591290&highlight=
Past Projects:
1951 Studebaker Business Coupe https://goo.gl/photos/eHPuNo89m9PXZwBM8
1953 Studebaker 2-Door Sedan https://goo.gl/photos/pe38HEShzUrVSwcV8 |
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CiderGuy
Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2013
Posts: 1351
Location: Bucks County, Pa
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Clean install on the rain guard. Are you planning on adding a third brake light ? Even a LED strip inside the rear grill would be an easy and safer upgrade.
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Cars Currently Owned:
1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Project car for sale
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (Body off restoration)
Timing is everything |
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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Jarel Design
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2015
Posts: 15
Location: Medford, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:39 am Post subject: |
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dcat917,
Richard here (You visited my thread seeking front beam info for my hybrid reverse trike project...)
WOW! what a fantastic job and GREAT build thread!!!!
You truly inspired me! Love you attention to detail and seeing that you obviously did a lot of research putting your EV drive system together! 
I began my EV research over at the DIY electric car website, knowing NOTHING! LOL! (I first started out wanting 24v, then 48v and finally learned enough to go up to 96v.) I'll also be using an AC motor with the Curtis controller.
I didn't know anything about frame design and found the Locost car website where I started learning from scratch there as well! LOL Learned (and I'm STILL learning) a lot!
I came here to Samba to learn more about widening the front beam to gain stability of a reverse trike layout... And so it goes.... on and on and ... LOL!
I need to redraw my plans and I'm starting out by building a wood and cardboard mock up of the cabin area using plywood scale Miata seats... I'll set up the roll bar, dash, steering wheel, pedals, shifter to figure out the feel for the ergonomics. then transfer the measurements to the new scale drawing... I'm "hoping" to keep the weight under 1,500 lbs with batteries.
Sure wish you were a local neighbor so we could share more!
Again, congratulations on your build. totally enjoyed reading your thread!
Thanks for posting it!
Best,
Richard |
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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CiderGuy
Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2013
Posts: 1351
Location: Bucks County, Pa
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| Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 5:03 am Post subject: |
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The car is eye popping ! Have you worked out all the little bugs ?
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Cars Currently Owned:
1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Project car for sale
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (Body off restoration)
Timing is everything |
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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John Moxon 
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 14258
Location: Southampton U.K.
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Brassneck
Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2012
Posts: 420
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:39 am Post subject: |
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Way to go!
Great job with the build, the detailed documentation and the perseverance. I think anyone would be proud to have your electric ghia in their collection. If it weren't so expensive to convert, I'd seriously consider doing it.
Nice work!
(Out of curiosity, I wonder if there's a way to muffle the blower/fan? Seems louder than other e-car conversions I've seen?) |
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John Moxon
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 14258
Location: Southampton U.K.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| dcat917 wrote: |
| Thanks for the kind words KGCoupe. This is a great place for information and help. A resource like this is rare in the restoration world. This was a great project to learn on and the parts availability was incredible. I might do another Ghia in the future. |
Well your meticulous approach to restoration and problem solving will always be welcome in this forum.
I was one of the doubters at the start of your project...not because I'm a purist (I'd dispute that anyway) but because we have previously seen electric Ghia projects not make it past the first page. So thanks for sticking at it...it's a credit to you and of course to others who have lent their knowledge too.
I hope you don't mind but I've changed the title of this topic as you're no longer a "New Member" and added it to the "Ghia Restoration Topics – For Instruction and Inspiration" sticky.
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John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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KGCoupe
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005
Posts: 3580
Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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| Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:00 am Post subject: |
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| CiderGuy wrote: |
| How loud is that cooling fan at highway speeds ? |
Who have expected an electric car to be fitted with a blower? 
... granted, judging by the sound of it, it does appear to be a leaf blower.
I will admit that when you first started this thread, I never expected that I would like a Karmann Ghia converted to elctric power.
However, having now seen the completed project in action I will readily admit that I think it is very cool indeed!
I particularly like the way that you chose to go with a bare, minimalistic and utilitarian approach to the interior styling.
Most impressive of all is your attention to detail and the overall neatness of the conversion.
Congratulations on a job very well done!
... now, can anything be done to either quiet down that blower fan or perhaps have it make that "fweem" sound that is so characteristic to old VWs? |
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CiderGuy
Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2013
Posts: 1351
Location: Bucks County, Pa
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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How loud is that cooling fan at highway speeds ?
_________________
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Cars Currently Owned:
1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Project car for sale
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (Body off restoration)
Timing is everything |
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dcat917
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2014
Posts: 185
Location: Greenville, SC
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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| marklaken wrote: |
| Awesome build thread...and then tested my individual cells to find one cell was at basically 0 volts which is big trouble for the Lithium batteries. |
Thank you Mark for your input. I have cooked my first cell. It was showing zero volts. I removed it last night and it is bloated  ... TOAST. I am not using a battery management system in my build. I have about 40 miles on it now and I have not bottom balanced it yet. I keep it charged up to 3.34v per cell and never let the voltage get below 2.9v per cell.
I'm taking a chance doing this but I just hate the idea of bottom balancing the cells, it will take 7-10 days at least and I don't want to do it until fall.
I took it out on the interstate last night and top speed is 79mph on the flats. Running at 5000 rpm it is solid. Very pleased with the ride, tracks like its on rails.
_________________
1981 Puma GTB http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7794566#7794566
1971 Karmann Ghia http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=591290&highlight=
Past Projects:
1951 Studebaker Business Coupe https://goo.gl/photos/eHPuNo89m9PXZwBM8
1953 Studebaker 2-Door Sedan https://goo.gl/photos/pe38HEShzUrVSwcV8 |
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