There are many among us who go and but a car and then there are few who just go out and make one all by themselves. Now I am pretty good with cars and having worked for a large amount of time in electronic labs, I have a pretty good knowledge of what goes where. But still there is absolutely no way I could get myself to do something like building a car unless my life depends on it. Maybe I’m just too lazy at times, but hey, we are talking about a whole car here!
Lefteris‘ blue Porsche 914 electric car, built on the frame and body of a 1971 Porsche 914, is not simply a hobby car; it’s his daily driver for getting around L.A. In the last 12 months, he has put on 8,000 miles, making frequent business trips from his downtown L.A. studio to the Westside. The car is packed with 22 lead acid batteries, a power controller, a charger and a 150-pound electric motor. The batteries are wired in series to produce 132 volts of delicious DC, and the motor puts out 20 horsepower, though the rating is calculated differently from a conventional gas engine.
This is both a green and very practical mode of transport and if it has indeed served this man for 12 years then it must be damn reliable too. Even then not many would be ken on going the same way, but this might in future make cars cheaper somehow.
