Solar power is simply the conversion of light energy into electrical energy using devices attached with special materials like silicon.
Man has been late in harnessing the light energy from the radiant sun, a repository of unfathomable power. But nature has been using it for millions of years. Each of leaf of shrub, herb, or tree is a form of solar cell, producing energy for them to grow. This energy production is completed through a chemical process known as photosynthesis. This is the best example of free solar energy.
Then there are real solar panels that one can get almost free. One can get such free solar panels just for asking, for many institutions want to get rid of slightly degraded ones that can be used in households for free. Even though the panels are slightly degraded, these would work fine. Moreover, photovoltaic (PV) panels are not the only type of solar energy.
Solar heating can be set up with glass, cardboard, or wood and insulation. Free glass is available everywhere in the U.S. These can be used to make solar ovens, solar hot water heaters, and hot air heaters.
To build a solar oven costs only $9, which includes $5 for clamps and $4 for the black paint. This is a rugged way of enjoying free solar panel power. One can enjoy rebates and discounts being offered by companies selling solar products. Ordering items in bulk and allying with friends and partners would further reduce costs.
One has to tap all ideas to get the best use at cheapest price. The very idea of solar energy is to utilize the sun’s energy, which is available for free.
Solar Panels provides detailed information on Solar Panels, Home Solar Panels, Solar Energy Panels, Free Solar Panels and more. Solar Panels is affiliated with Electric Boilers.
Mara's LegacyI've got a dear friend on MySpace who recently first told me about this and although I was skeptical, I kept an open mind. I went looking once and did not find anything useful that stood out, she even sent me a pointer and I still did not find what I was looking for. But I remained open and curious. Curiosity is a great thing, because it is a form of seeking and Life will deliver to you that which you seek.
The other day I found a video interview that you will see at the end of this blog. Some new key words came to mind as I watched it and I did a Google search and found a wealth of information. Seek and you will find!
Did you know that Dinosaurs lived on Titan? Titan is one of the moons of Saturn? Or perhaps fossil fuels are not really fossil fuels at all. Science has been known to get it wrong. Popular opinion has been known to be a myth…you do know that the world used to be square don't you? It somehow magically became round when enough people decided it was round…true story! ;^)
Okay enough of the cheek! Let's take oil…did you know that old oil wells that have been capped up and left alone have replenished themselves? Yes, it is true, it has happened on this planet. This has been discovered recently when they went back to some old wells, they were refilled. The USA actually has plenty of oil to sustain most of our own needs and there are many new sources of oil being discovered all over the world.
Did you know that the Russians have drilled more than 310 successful super-deep oil wells, and put them into production? Wells that can provide all the oil we will ever need! Source: http://www.vialls.com/wecontrolamerica/peakoil.html
And yes NASA scientists declare that there is an abundance methane of a non-biologic nature is found on Saturn's giant moon Titan. Of course, as far as we know, dinosaurs have never lived on Titan. Source: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47675
The facts about oil seem to point to this…The earth produces plenty of oil to handle our needs. Of course anything that has a plentiful supply costs less. Does it surprise you that some corporate and government officials might be corrupt and yanking our chains for a profit? Did you know while we are paying astronomical sums of money for gas/petrol the oil companies are raking in the largest profits in history?
I have always wondered why the rich oil companies have not done a serious job of reinvested their funds into alternative energy sources. I mean it only makes sense to do that. Power is power. If they supply power through oil, or if they supply it through other renewable means, they still get paid…right? So again my curiosity has been satisfied! The reason they are not going after other ways is because they know the oil crisis is a farce. The oil crisis is manufactured so that they can raise their profits, and so that they can gain control of a frightened world!
Okay so this is a big topic, open for a lot of debate, and debate about this issue is NOT what I am interested in. Do your own research. Do not rely on only one source to tell you how much oil, or food, or water is left for us to share. If you EDUCATE YOURSELF you can eliminate your worries and fears about these concerns. Truth is truth and debating truth is pointless.
And DO follow the links on it which point to many articles supporting what I report here in this blog. I have read many of the articles and they are great and provide a lot of hope.
Our real problem is corrupt people in high places. God has given us an abundant world where all of our needs are met. When do you think the masses of people are going to get off of their lazy asses for long enough to manage their own social systems instead of electing corrupt scam artists that we call politicians to lie to us and cheat us?
I have written a blog called International World Government which gives some details of how we can take control of our lives and freedoms back…you would think that with 7000 friends I should have at least 5000 comments about the brilliance of this suggestion. LOOK FOLKS! If you want a better world YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE IT! You cannot leave it up to other people to do it for you!
Okay enough of the lecture! Here is that video I promised you earlier. It is Alex Jones interviewing Texe Marrs…
..
Okay Texe does have some crazy ideas posted on his website…but in this video the info is pretty much good stuff. For the complete interview go to YouTube.com using the following links…
So what happens if we just keep on burning that oil as gasoline? Pollution right? There are ways to get around that by burning a small amount of hydrogen gas in our engines with the gasoline! By doing that it burns the gasoline more efficiently and it also significantly reduces the pollutants. And the hydrogen gas can be generated from water as the car is driven.
http://water4gas.com This is someone I just recently found but their info looks good and seems to be in alignment with other info I have seen in many other places over a long period of time.
This is just the tip of the iceberg…let our current prisoners free and incarcerate our current politicians, as well as all those who have served in our legislative and judicial branches for the last…well lets just throw any of them who are still alive into prison!I think we would be living in a much better world…OKAY NOW I AM BEING REAL CHEEKY! You know I am an advocate of rehabilitation over incarceration! You can take a joke can't you?
Convert Your Car To Burn Water + Gasoline = Double High Conversion, Few Refunds, Due To Huge Demand: Soaring Gas Prices Compel People To Save Gas!!! Popular D.i.y Watercar: Run Your Car Partially On Water, Reduce Emissions/Global Warming! Practical Free Energy Based On 1000s Of Real Cars Worldwide!!!
Run Your Car On Water. Manual On How To Build An Attachment For Gas Engines To Use Water For Fuel.
Dream Building - Build Your Own Wooden Houseboat. Backyard Boat Building Is Great Family Fun And Can Save You Thousands Over Factory Built Boats. See How We Built A 20ft Trailered Houseboat That Can Be Used On The Water And As A Camper Along The Way.
If you want information on solar electric systems, written in a non-technical manner that you can easily understand, you've come to the right place.
With all the technical jargon kept to a minimum (and when necessary, fully explained), you will have all the answers to the questions that have made you a little hesitant, in the past, to get more involved in this clean, renewable form of energy production.
The environmental importance of alternative forms of energy production cannot be overstated. Solar power, wind power and micro-hydro power are non-polluting, renewable and sustainable forms of energy production and their use should be actively encouraged.
An important step in this direction is to have readable, easy to understand information available.
Now, with the information offered here, you will be able to move forward and take advantage of this clean, renewable source of electrical power. _______
Taking the Mystery Out of Solar Power
Understanding and Installing Your Own Solar Electric Systemtakes the mystery out of solar electrical systems. It explains solar power in language that the average person will have no trouble understanding and putting to good use.
It takes you through the learning process step by step, starting with an overview of solar power and continues on with one of the most important things involved when living with an alternative energy system, i.e., energy conservation.
You'll learn about the various components of a solar electric system - batteries, inverters, charge controllers, photovoltaic panels, etc. and how they connect to and interact with each other to form a complete solar electric system.
"This book is well written and easy to understand for the novice, and the everyday person. (It).. also attends to the basics of energy conservation and how important it is to succeed in that discipline..." Bonnee Caplan, eBook Reviews Weekly http://www.ebook-reviews.net
Now days, most people realize that solar energy is here to stay. It works, it's affordable and the positive environmental impact is substantial.
However, many people are slightly baffled by the idea of having plenty of electrical power, without the large utility companies being involved.
How does solar power work?
How do the various components of the system hook up and interact with each other?
Could I install it myself?
Can I still use all my appliances?
How will I know if its being installed correctly?
What if I'm already tied into the regular power grid?
These and just about any other questions you may have are all answered in Understanding and Installing Your Own Solar Electric System.
"In all, your book does a great job of explaining what things are called, how they work, and how to hook ‘em up…..and is nearly jargon-free, with any technical words thoroughly explained. I am also glad to see the strong emphasis put on using efficient appliances." Dan Fink www.otherpower.com
Just some of the areas that are covered in this e-book are:
Energy Conservation System Design and Sizing Electricity Basics System Components Photovoltaics Batteries Charge Controllers Inverters Wiring and Safety Installation and Maintenance Grid Intertie (using solar power with grid-tied power) Energy Saving Appliances
and much, much more.
Numerous charts and work sheets help you calculate the overall size of the system you will need and the size of the various components involved.
Though every thought was given to explaining solar electric systems in an everyday manner, there is a glossary to explain any terms you may not be familiar with.
One of the more useful features of the ebook is an online resource-reference section , included in the appendix. Here, there are over 150 online links to various sources of information on all aspects of alternative energy.
There are links to government agencies, equipment dealers and manufacturers, online magazines and publications, research facilities and dozens of other sites that deal with alternative energy.
With this reference section, the answers to any questions that may come to mind are only a couple of clicks away.
"Thanks Dale I work in the RE field as a non-technical
manager and was very pleased to have found your book - it is just the thing I have been looking for." Regards Tig Armstrong hamilton.armstrong@bushlight.org.au
Understanding and Installing Your Own Solar Electric Systemis a reference book that you can not afford to be without, if you are at all interested in solar electric systems.
With the information contained in this ebook, if you are at all handy with tools, you should be well on your way to installing your own moderate sized solar electric system.
Even if you're not the handyman type or simply don't have the time to do the actual installation, the knowledge gained from this ebook will allow you to figure out the size of system you need.
You'll be able to purchase your components and contract out the job with confidence, knowing what is needed and what is going on at all stages of the installation.
Once your system is up and running, this ebook will continue to serve as an easy guide to the on-going maintenance of your system.
Priced at only $24.95, this ebook will absolutely benefit the novice as well as prove helpful to the more experienced user of solar electric power.
Understanding and Installing Your Own Solar Electric System willgive you the knowledge to go about the installation and/or maintenance of your own solar powered system with a feeling of confidence and self-reliance. The answers to the numerous questions that arise will be readily available.
"I really thank you for this book. Forty-five minutes of reading and I got more information than after 2 weeks with Google searching for solar power basics." Sergey Reznik Colorado School of Mines - Golden, Co. sreznik@mines.edu
One of the advantages of ebooks is that they can be updated easily. As the technology in the field of alternative energy is rapidly evolving and, as this is an ebook, it can and will be continually updated to reflect any advances.
This ebook will not become outdated as soon as the technology changes, as do print books.
As an added benefit, when you order this ebook, any revisions to the ebook will be forwarded to you, free of charge, via e-mail.
(As an example, a chapter on Solar Roofing was recently added to the ebook and was also forwarded to all previous customers.)
E-mail support is also available on an ongoing basis to answer any questions that may arise.
_______
Guarantee
As stated earlier, Understanding and Installing Your Own Solar Electric System was written with the idea in mind of taking some of the mystery out of solar power, in the hopes of expanding the use of alternative energy.
I'm so sure that you will find this ebook beneficial that I'm willing to back it up with a 100% unconditional, money-back guarantee. Download Understanding and Installing Your Own Solar Electric System, read it, use it for a full 60 days risk free.
If for any reason you are not satisfied with this ebook, your money will be refunded. Period. No questions asked. No forms to fill out. Just ask and your money will be refunded.
You have absolutely nothing to lose.
To download your copy instantly for just $24.95, click the order link below. This will take you to a secure credit-cardpayment server operated by ClickBank. Once your payment is completed (which typically takes a few seconds), you'll be instantly directed to the download page.
Understanding and Installing Your Own Solar Electric System
Biodiesel - How to make biodiesel fuel from used cooking oil
Biodiesel is a fuel that can be used directly in any diesel engine generally without modification. It's viscosity is twice that of regular diesel fuel which means it is better at lubricating your diesel engine than regular diesel. And... emissions are cut dramatically vs using standard diesel fuel. You can buy Biodiesel already made. Your other option is to make it yourself using your own homemade equipment or by purchasing something like a Fuelmeister biodiesel processor. It costs $2995, but it comes with everything you need to make many, many gallons of biodiesel fuel. One other option is to burn straight vegetable oil (SVO) in your diesel engine. To do this, you must do three things: 1) You must pre-heat your vegetable oil including the storage tank and all feed lines, 2) You must start your engine using regular diesel or biodiesel, and 3) You must clean your system by burning only regular diesel or biodiesel before shutting the engine off. I don't recommend the SVO method because there is the possibility of carbon buildup in the long run and that may damage your engine. Here are the instructions on making your own biodiesel...
WARNING!!!! - Methanol is flammable and toxic. Do not let it touch your skin or get in your eyes. Wear proper protective gloves, clothing, and eyewear at all times. Same thing with ethanol. Lye is also very caustic - do not allow it to touch your skin or clothing. When you mix the lye with the alcohol, it creates an even more toxic substance and toxic fumes which you should be very careful with - do not come into contact with it in any way. Always be in a well ventilated area. Also... you are 100% responsible for your own safety. The author is not responsible in any way whatsoever for personal injury or damage to your engine.
Here is a general description of how to make biodiesel fuel using methanol, lye, and used cooking oil. This process is called transesterification.You can buy methanol from your local racetrack or chemical supply store. You can buy granulated lye (sodium hydroxide) from your local grocery store or hardware store. Make sure you filter the used cooking oil before using. Fry oil filters can be purchased in any good restaurant supply store. The oil also must be warmed up so it is not solid or lumpy or thick. You can use the sun to heat the oil or some kind of water heating element or a electric or gas burner of some sort. The ideal temperature is 120° F. If you are using flames, remember that the methanol is extremely flammable and you should turn your burner off before getting the methanol mixture anywhere near it. Of course, this should all be done in a well ventilated area too.
Hint: to determine the amount of lye needed to start the transesterification process to make biodiesel, do a small test batch first. You don't want to mix up a large batch only to find out that you did not use enough lye. Some used cooking oils may contain different amounts of animal fats. The more animal fat in the vegetable oil, the more lye you need to start the process. Start with just 1 liter of oil and 200 milliliters (1/5th of a liter) of methanol and 4.5 grams of lye. First, mix the lye in with the methanol until dissolved (this creates sodium methoxide - very, very caustic - be careful). Then mix the sodium methoxide with the vegetable oil and mix for 1 hour. After mixing, let it settle for an hour or two and it should form two distinct layers of biodiesel (top) and glycerin (bottom). If there are not two distinct layers, repeat the whole process with 5.5 grams of lye.
You can also perform what is called a titration... Dissolve 1 gram of lye into one liter of distilled water and dissolve 1 milliliter of vegetable oil into 10 ml of isopropyl alcohol. Then drop the diluted lye into the diluted vegetable oil one ml at a time. After each ml, measure the pH of the diluted vegetable oil with litmus paper or a pH meter. When the pH rises significantly, the free fatty acids will be neutralized. The ideal pH is between 8 and 9. The number of ml used will equal the number of extra grams of lye to use per liter of vegetable oil (starting from 3.5 grams of lye).
So, let's assume 5.5 grams of lye produced the desired distinct two layers. We now want to scale it up to a 10 liter batch. So we need 10 liters of used cooking oil, heated. 2 liters of methanol and 55 grams of lye. Mix the lye with the methanol until dissolved and then pour the sodium methoxide mixture into the vegetable oil. Stir for one hour. The mixer can be a sump pump setup or some sort of mechanical electric mixer like a paint stirring setup. After mixing, let it settle for 8 hours. After settling, you can siphon or pump the biodiesel from the top or drain the glycerin from the bottom if you have a mixing container with a valve at the bottom. After washing, run it through a Racor fuel filter before burning it in your engine. The bottom part after settling is glycerin. If you allow it to sit in the sun for a week to evaporate all the methanol, you can use it as a degreaser or to clean your hands. To learn how to make liquid and hard soap from the glycerin, get the best book ever written on biodiesel.... "From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank". This book gives you everything you ever wanted to know about how to make biodiesel including how to build your own processor.
Washing your biodiesel... after the above process is completed, you should "wash" your biodiesel fuel to remove any residual soaps suspended in your fuel. The easiest way to get rid of the unwanted soap is to simply add water. The water will emulsify with the glycerin soap and settle to the bottom. So to perform the wash, simply spray an equal amount of water on top of your biodiesel and let it settle to the bottom for 12 hours. Drain the water off the bottom of your container with a valve and then repeat the process 2-3 times until the water drained off is clear. Heat your biodiesel up to 130° F for 20 minutes to evaporate any residual water and you are literally ready to go! Remember to filter it in a 5-10 micron filter before burning it in your engine.
Other ingredients - Instead of using methanol, you can use ethanol to make biodiesel. Ethanol is less toxic than methanol and is considered a "greener" fuel than methanol. Ethanol is "grain alcohol" and is usually made from corn which makes it a renewable fuel. Methanol is highly toxic and is made from fossil fuels or it can be distilled from fermented wood. That's why it's often called "wood alcohol". Also... you can use potassium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide. I believe you'll have to use 1.4 times as much potassium hydroxide as sodium hydroxide though. Make sure you do your "test batch" first!
Two more things....
1) You might be wondering... what kind of engine I need to use biodiesel... basically, biodiesel will run in any diesel engine unmodified. Biodiesel is a solvent, so if you put it in an old tank or use it with a diesel engine that has been running regular diesel, it may clean and dissolve some "residues" and then the residues will clog your fuel filter. Changing the filter often when you first start using biodiesel usually fixes this problem. Usually, manufacturers warranties are not voided when biodiesel is used, but check with your manufacturer to make sure. Sometimes a blend like B20 is required (20% biodiesel). If you are running straight vegetable oil (SVO), then you need to make modifications to pre-heat the oil to increase it's viscosity.
2) The only other problem you might have is with natural rubber gaskets and hoses in vehicles made prior to 1992. The biodiesel may degrade these types of rubber and they may need replacing after a while. Newer engines have been modified (synthetic rubber) to stand up to the newer blends of diesel fuel that have been in use since 1992 and these engines will work fine with biodiesel
Here's a great tip that can be used with biodiesel...
I know of a great fuel additive will increase your miles per gallon up to 35%. Not only that... it will substantially decrease emmissions too. It can be used with gas, regular diesel, or biodiesel. It will also decrease the "gel point" of biodiesel so it is easier to use in the winter. To read all about this great fuel additive, just go to www.network6000.com/enviromax/4499201
Generating Electricity with Biodiesel...
If you want to learn how to set up your own power plant in your back yard and use your own homemade biodiesel to generate electricity, then go to this link - "Electricity - Make it, Don't Buy it".
New Biodiesel Book! - The Rise of Biodiesel - Read all about it in our June 2007 newsletter at http://news.electricitybook.com - this newsletter is also about the current state of the biodiesel industry and also some great information on producing biodiesel from algae...
Alternative Energy News - Back issues of Network 6000's alternative energy newsletters OTEC - Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Tesla Death Ray - Has Tesla's death ray gun finally come to life? Tesla Turbine - Information about teh Tesla Turbine - Tesla's greatest invention? Jatropha - All about the jatropha plant - a great source for oil in making biodiesel. D1 Oils - a biodiesel producer with a portable biodiesel processor. Biodiesel News - Two more oil producing trees - the African Oil Palm and the Paradise Tree Edward Leedskalnin - Edward Leedskalnin's Coral Castle secret revealed! Peak Oil - Peak Oil, Hurricanes, and the Price of Gas. Peak Oil Update - More information on the Peak Oil crisis. Magic with Magnetism - Professor Felex Ehrenhaft and how his magnetic electrolysis experiment. Atmospheric Engine - The Power of a Vacuum, Atmospheric Pressure, Atmospheric Engines, and the Newcomen Engine. Composting for Heat - How Jean Pain extracts heat and methane from a simple compost heap. E85 Ethanol - Why E85 ethanol may or may not be in your future and FFV - Flex Fuel Vehicles. Cornish Generator - a unique way to generate hydrogen using aluminum wire and smaller amounts of electricity. Solar Water Heating & Cooking - A simple, easy, low cost way to heat your water or cook your dinner with the sun. Enviromax Plus - Add this simple liquid to your gas tank and save up to 35% on your gas or diesel. Magnetricity - A comparison of the Ed Leedskalnin and Howard Johnson magnetic theories. Hydrogen on Demand - HOD... can you run an engine totally on Hydrogen created as you need it? Sustainable Living Information - Over 800 FREE publications on green energy and sustainable living. Glycerin Soap Recipes - How to make soap from the byproduct of making biodiesel - glycerin
Copyright (c) 2007,2008, Network 6000 Inc, All Rights Reserved
Barbecue Recipes - Competition BBQ Secrets book. Learn how to slow smoke meats right... mouth watering ribs, chicken, butts, and brisket. Barbecue Food - Everything you ever wanted to know about barbecuing. Barbecue Restaurant - All about barbecue restaurants and why the barbecue you cook yourself in your own back yard may be better than your local barbecue restaurant. BBQ Recipes - Why slow smoked BBQ is better than grilled BBQ and how you can easily switch. Barbeque Recipes - What ingredients go into great barbeque recipes. You would be surprised! BBQ Smoker - What kind of BBQ smoker is best suited to your needs and budget? Barbeque Smoker - Learn all about the Lang Model 60 traditional offset barbeque smoker. Cooking Barbecue - Cooking chart for slow smoked meats. Barbeque Grill - All about the Traeger Lil' Tex pellet smoker. BBQ Grill - How to set up your Weber kettle BBQ grill for slow smoked success. Char-Broil Silver - Review of the Char-Broil Silver BBQ smoker for $159 at Home Depot. BBQ Sauce - a description of all the Regional BBQ Sauce Variations. Barbecue Sauces - Different types of barbecue sauces and the top 3 winners in each category in NBBQA BBQ sauce contest. Barbecue Ribs - The 3-1-1 method to slow smoke barbecue ribs. BBQ Rib Types - What is the difference between spareribs, baby back ribs, loin ribs, and St Louis Style ribs? Smoked Barbeque - How does altitude affect barbeque cooking temperatures? Barbecue Forum - Should you use barbecue forums to learn how to cook competition quality brisket, ribs, chicken, & butts? Smoked Turkey - How to smoke a turkey. American Royal BBQ - 2007 results for the biggest BBQ contest in the world. Cooking Barbecue - All about collagen, protein fibers, and fat. Barbecue Wood - All about the different barbecue woods, how to use them, and the flavors that they impart. Barbecue Smoker - A review of the Southern Yankee Barbecue Smokers. Fast Eddy Smokers - Cookshack's FEC100 and some history about Fast Eddy Maurin. Barbecue Sauces - Ole Ray's Barbecue Sauces. Smoked Ham - How to smoke (reheat) a ham on your BBQ smoker. BBQ Ribs Example Project - How to adjust BBQ ribs cooking in cooler temperatures.
Copyright (c) 2007,2008, Network 6000 Inc, All Rights Reserved
Nice looking truck, isn’t it? And it runs well too, without an engine, radiator, or those other amenities, although there is a five-speed manual transmission. You’re looking at a Florida man’s lifelong dream: his first electric vehicle.
62-year-old Kenneth Watkins is an electrical engineer in Orlando, Florida. Ken said he’d wanted to build an electric-powered vehicle for years, but raising a family came first and now that everyone’s grown, he has the time and resources to make his dream come true.
He bought the truck off a used car lot for what he said was a good price, since the engine was in pretty bad shape and the truck was anything but a “prize”. Nonetheless, it was “just what I wanted,” so he drove it home and began stripping the engine compartment.
He pulled the engine and sold it on Ebay, and then removed the radiator with all the accompanying hoses and belts. The clutch was removed but he kept the five-speed transmission. The exhaust system is gone, too: there’s no muffler or tail pipe. He did keep the oil pressure gauge, which now monitors the motor controller, and he uses the old engine temperature gauge to monitor the electric motor.
Ken replaced the engine with a 20hp electric motor and controller. He added 24 6-volt golf cart batteries, which he placed in the bed of the truck and hooked them up in series, creating a 144-volt system. Ken said he used golf cart batteries “because they have a greater amp hour rating than 12 volt batteries. Batteries in series only have as much amp hour rating as one battery. These batteries have a 220 amp hour rating compared to 100 amp hours for a 12 volt battery.”
How much did the conversion cost? Ken said the batteries cost $1900, and there’s about $15000 invested in the vehicle itself, plus other equipment outlined above, body work, paint job, air shocks for the rear suspension and other items needed to make the truck safe and reliable.
Is it worth it? Ken said it costs about $2 to drive the truck 50 miles at a top speed of 70 mph. It’s 24 miles round trip to his job at Northrop Grumman, so he has plenty of power left to run errands. The batteries recharge in 6 to 8 hours from a battery charger in his garage. The five-speed manual transmission comes in handy, too. He starts the truck in 2nd gear, and when the speed reaches 40mph he takes his foot off the accelerator pedal and seamlessly shifts into 3rd, for a cruising speed of up to 70 mph.
Amortizing the batteries out over a three year period, although they are guaranteed for five years, Ken said it costs about $2 a day for the batteries and $1.50 to charge them. His round-trip to work costs about $3.50 a day. In a regular, gasoline-powered engine that averaged 20mpg, the gas alone would cost at least $6 a day. It really doesn’t matter, though: Ken said if he broke even, it’s still the right thing to do.
And there’s no problem driving at night with the lights and radio on: Ken says the lights take very little electricity to operate, as do the radio and A/C fan. Yes, he lives in Florida, and he’s putting together an air-conditioning system using the existing compressor and powers it with a small DC motor. Heating the truck isn’t a problem, either: an element from a commercial, plug in the wall heater replaces the heater core.
So this able senior has his future retirement planned: he wants to sell the truck and convert more vehicles to electric. The next one, he says, will probably be a passenger car, and maybe with newer battery types to increase efficiency and reduce cost. In any event, Ken is willing to share his knowledge with anyone who is interested, and convert someone’s vehicle if they wish. His email is kw1806@bellsouth.net, and he's on MySpace. Go Ken!
WARNING!!!! - Methanol is flammable and toxic. Do not let it touch your skin or get in your eyes. Wear proper protective gloves, clothing, and eyewear at all times. Same thing with ethanol. Lye is also very caustic - do not allow it to touch your skin or clothing. When you mix the lye with the alcohol, it creates an even more toxic substance and toxic fumes which you should be very careful with - do not come into contact with it in any way. Always be in a well ventilated area. Also... you are 100% responsible for your own safety. The author is not responsible in any way whatsoever for personal injury or damage to your engine.
Nice looking truck, isn’t it? And it runs well too, without an engine, radiator, or those other amenities, although there is a five-speed manual transmission. You’re looking at a Florida man’s lifelong dream: his first electric vehicle.
