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12-27-2006, 06:46 AM
Saving money inspires pair to replace engine with an electric motor. (http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061223/NEWS/612230319/1001)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Saturn_EV.jpgBeth Casper - Oregon Statesman Journal – Dec. 27, 2006
PHOTO: TIMOTHY J. GONZALEZ - STATESMAN JOURNAL
Charles Crockett talks about the electric motor he installed during the conversion of a 1994 Saturn station wagon into an electric car. His 29-mile commute now costs him between 30 and 60 cents per day.
The Crocketts' 1994 Saturn station wagon hums as it runs.
For this South Salem couple, it's the sweet sound of saving money, conserving natural resources, protecting homeland security and reducing the impact on the environment.
Charles Crockett replaced the 150,000-mile engine with an electric motor and 20 batteries.
"I was almost going to buy an electric vehicle," he said. "But they have top speed of 40 miles per hour. I work in Keizer and I jump on the freeway so that wouldn't work."
The Crocketts are likely among only a handful of people statewide who converted to an all-electric vehicle to commute to work.
"Not many people come to us who are going to make their own car," said Rick Wallace, senior energy analyst at Oregon Department of Energy. "You have to have a particular talent and a real drive to do so, because it is a lot of work."
Charles is quick to point out that he is not a mechanic or an electrician. It helped that he knows how to do research -- he works as a librarian at Whiteaker Middle School in Keizer. And he knows how cars work.
But the skill most important for this project: the ability to solve puzzles.
In this case, it took 200 hours.
The Crocketts decided to look into electric vehicles last winter when gas hit $3 a gallon. At that time, Charles spent $10 a day commuting to Keizer in a Chevrolet truck.
Charles and his wife, Ronda, looked into buying an electric vehicle but found many of them can't drive at highway speeds.
The hybrids were expensive and not fuel-efficient enough.
They also needed a vehicle that would go 80 miles on a charge and could handle the additional energy needed for hills.
The more research the couple did, the more they leaned toward converting a car themselves.
They also learned about the theory of "peak oil," which says that global oil production plateaus and then declines. Some predict that this will happen in the next five or so years, which will result in ever-increasing oil prices.
"So, we are trying to be prepared for what we believe is the future of higher gas prices," Ronda said. "Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of the end of the 'age of gas.' "
The Crocketts also wanted to reduce their dependence on foreign fuel -- an act they call "patriotic" because it keeps America from relying on other nations, some of which are politically unstable.
The couple noted the lack of harmful pollutants spewing from a tailpipe, but they are cautious about touting the environmental benefits.
"We still know that electricity is produced somewhere and somehow, and no energy is completely environmentally friendly," Ronda said. "We are not silly enough to believe we are saving the planet with one (electric) car. But ... if the U.S. car manufacturers get smart, they will produce a 'plug in' (electric) car next year. Then when millions of Americans can buy an EV, we actually could improve the air we breathe as well."
In the end, though, it was saving money that inspired Charles to spend his nights and weekends for three months this fall converting to an electric car.
His 29-mile commute now costs him between 30 and 60 cents a day.
"I believe in saving the environment, but that was not my focus," Charles said. "The focus was the money in my pocket."
The couple spent $11,500 on the vehicle, which includes $900 to purchase the Saturn and a couple hundred dollars on "mistakes," Charles said. The batteries cost $1,700 and the electric conversion kit cost $6,700.
The cost of the electric conversion will be paid off in gas savings in just more than 2 years, the Crocketts estimate.
Charles plugs in the car every night. It takes between six and eight hours to fully charge the batteries.
Gary Graunke of the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association said many people turn to electric vehicles for a surprising use: drag racing. It turns out that electric cars can accelerate quickly.
Since finishing the conversion in November, the Crocketts are very proud of their "new" vehicle. They hope to encourage other "fix-it" types to build an all-electric car for themselves.
"You don't have to be a real mechanic to do this," Charles said.
"You just have to be determined," Ronda said, smiling.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Saturn_EV.jpgBeth Casper - Oregon Statesman Journal – Dec. 27, 2006
PHOTO: TIMOTHY J. GONZALEZ - STATESMAN JOURNAL
Charles Crockett talks about the electric motor he installed during the conversion of a 1994 Saturn station wagon into an electric car. His 29-mile commute now costs him between 30 and 60 cents per day.
The Crocketts' 1994 Saturn station wagon hums as it runs.
For this South Salem couple, it's the sweet sound of saving money, conserving natural resources, protecting homeland security and reducing the impact on the environment.
Charles Crockett replaced the 150,000-mile engine with an electric motor and 20 batteries.
"I was almost going to buy an electric vehicle," he said. "But they have top speed of 40 miles per hour. I work in Keizer and I jump on the freeway so that wouldn't work."
The Crocketts are likely among only a handful of people statewide who converted to an all-electric vehicle to commute to work.
"Not many people come to us who are going to make their own car," said Rick Wallace, senior energy analyst at Oregon Department of Energy. "You have to have a particular talent and a real drive to do so, because it is a lot of work."
Charles is quick to point out that he is not a mechanic or an electrician. It helped that he knows how to do research -- he works as a librarian at Whiteaker Middle School in Keizer. And he knows how cars work.
But the skill most important for this project: the ability to solve puzzles.
In this case, it took 200 hours.
The Crocketts decided to look into electric vehicles last winter when gas hit $3 a gallon. At that time, Charles spent $10 a day commuting to Keizer in a Chevrolet truck.
Charles and his wife, Ronda, looked into buying an electric vehicle but found many of them can't drive at highway speeds.
The hybrids were expensive and not fuel-efficient enough.
They also needed a vehicle that would go 80 miles on a charge and could handle the additional energy needed for hills.
The more research the couple did, the more they leaned toward converting a car themselves.
They also learned about the theory of "peak oil," which says that global oil production plateaus and then declines. Some predict that this will happen in the next five or so years, which will result in ever-increasing oil prices.
"So, we are trying to be prepared for what we believe is the future of higher gas prices," Ronda said. "Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of the end of the 'age of gas.' "
The Crocketts also wanted to reduce their dependence on foreign fuel -- an act they call "patriotic" because it keeps America from relying on other nations, some of which are politically unstable.
The couple noted the lack of harmful pollutants spewing from a tailpipe, but they are cautious about touting the environmental benefits.
"We still know that electricity is produced somewhere and somehow, and no energy is completely environmentally friendly," Ronda said. "We are not silly enough to believe we are saving the planet with one (electric) car. But ... if the U.S. car manufacturers get smart, they will produce a 'plug in' (electric) car next year. Then when millions of Americans can buy an EV, we actually could improve the air we breathe as well."
In the end, though, it was saving money that inspired Charles to spend his nights and weekends for three months this fall converting to an electric car.
His 29-mile commute now costs him between 30 and 60 cents a day.
"I believe in saving the environment, but that was not my focus," Charles said. "The focus was the money in my pocket."
The couple spent $11,500 on the vehicle, which includes $900 to purchase the Saturn and a couple hundred dollars on "mistakes," Charles said. The batteries cost $1,700 and the electric conversion kit cost $6,700.
The cost of the electric conversion will be paid off in gas savings in just more than 2 years, the Crocketts estimate.
Charles plugs in the car every night. It takes between six and eight hours to fully charge the batteries.
Gary Graunke of the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association said many people turn to electric vehicles for a surprising use: drag racing. It turns out that electric cars can accelerate quickly.
Since finishing the conversion in November, the Crocketts are very proud of their "new" vehicle. They hope to encourage other "fix-it" types to build an all-electric car for themselves.
"You don't have to be a real mechanic to do this," Charles said.
"You just have to be determined," Ronda said, smiling.