Saturday, 6 June 2009

How do you convert a bus to electricity?

Perhaps a strange ask, but I'm wondering (after a fair bit of googling) if anyone in Australia currently converts gas/petrol/diesel vehicles to electricity?

If not, has anyone converted their own vehicle? I remember featuring a guy years ago who did, is it something you'd consider, what are your thoughts on EV's?

9 comments:

livingmyrichlife said...

I'm an Aussie currently living in Southern California. On Sunday we have a Street Smart fair in town where all types of 'alternate' vehicles will be on display. I'll keep any eye out for anyone who's converted a bus, because there are already plenty of people here who've converted almost every other type of vehicle.

Sharon said...

There is someone in central victoria BEV that convert cars. I am sure there are many others. My hubby is doing a motorbike, but that project has been put on the backburner just due to lack of time.

Darren (Green Change) said...

EV Shop (http://www.evshop.com.au/) is one I know of. There must be many others.

Anonymous said...

hi,

there was an article in Renew recently, the 2nd last issue i think,
call the ATA, they should be able to tell you!

I think EVs are great if the power comes from the right source!

there is an EV festival in Canberra in october...

Bea

lmut said...

Hi Trev, Linda & Caleb ~~~

Best wishes, Trev, for the coming year - oh heck, for the coming decade. Also to Caleb for his upcoming birthday.

Here's a link to Shaun Williams, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane who converted a Toyota Echo. Stage by stage photos, descriptions and parts sources and prices.
http://www.electric-echo.com/index.htm

A bus hmmn? Look at earth-moving machinery - those big diesel engines are just for driving electric generators and hydraulic pumps - the electric motors are in the wheel hubs.

Lee said...

Hi Linda - There's a guy over here in Dunedin (NZ) called Jens Rekker, and he has converted an electric car, and runs classes and lectures from time to time on how to do it. I'm not sure about buses, but he'd certainly be able to point you in the right direction.

I know of him from sustainability groups I've been involved with, but found him online publicly here as well: http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/member.php?u=247

I'm sure he'd be happy for you to contact him.

simple happiness said...

How is the house coming along? We seem to have lost you for a bit, hope all is moving forward ok.

Kella B said...

I first read about completely electric (not hybrid) cars in Earthgarden Magazine.
Here's the article: http://earthgarden.com.au/greenwheels/bev.html

Here's a link to earthgarden's green wheels site if you havent googled across it already...
http://earthgarden.com.au/greenwheels/

Kella B said...

just a thought... how big a bus? a 12 seater van? or an actual 'bus' bus?