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| ''Popular Mechanics'' magazine, October 1979 | ''Popular Mechanics'' magazine, October 1979 | ||
Revision as of 03:42, 26 June 2016
Converted in 1978, with 12,435 miles since conversion (now at 84,000), this is a unique, early example of a converted electric vehicle. The workmanship is impressive along with the history of the car participating in various events. This Datsun was also featured in the 1979 October issue of Popular Mechanics along with other publications in the Bay Area.
Contents |
1978
MEDIA:
- Hewlett-Packard Measure magazine "We are driven - electrically!" (July, 1978) p. 13
- Popular Mechanics magazine (October, 1979) p. 97
- San Jose Mercury News (August 20, 1980)
- Noon Day / KGSA, Channel 36, San Jose (9-3-80)
- Evening Magazine / KPIX, Channel 5, S.F. (11-10-80)
- PM Magazine / National Television (1-7-81)
- Inducted into Towe Ford Museum (4-9-89)
AWARDS:
- Best Looking - 1978 Annual Electric Car Rally
- Most Practical - 1980 East Bay EAA Rally
CONVERSION COST: $1,871
CURB WEIGHT: 1587 lbs. as Gasoline Powered, 2322 as Electric.
TRANSMISSION: Standard original equipment (four speed with reverse). Adapter Plate and coupling by John Wasylina.
CONTROLLER: Curtis/PMC (Model 21) rated for Armature control of 84V/450A. IC Transistor (Pulse Width Modulated) with built-in current limiting, overload protection, free-wheeling diode, and temperature sensing.
TIRES: Bridgestone 155SR12 (Whitewall Steel Belted Radials).
Measure Magazine
Hewlett-Packard Measure magazine "We are driven - electrically!" July, 1978 p. 13
The California license plate says it all in two words, but Bill Williams (center, gesturing) found himself answering a lot of questions about his electric car conversion the day this crowd gathered around it in a GSD parking lot. He said overnight recharging gives the car a range of 25 miles. The energy cost is about a penny a mile, whereas even his thrifty Volkswagen takes 2-1/2 cents worth of gasoline per mile. |
1979
Popular Mechanics magazine, October 1979
Charging connection is at old tank fill.
Eight of the 12 batteries are in the trunk.
What it's like to drive the Williams homebuilt electricby Michael Lamm WEST COAST EDITOR
Bill Williams invited me over to drive his electric Datsun one sunny afternoon last June.
It takes no special training to drive an electric car, but you do develop a certain knack within a few blocks. "On lever ground, get out of low gear as quickly as possible," Bill told me. This I did shifting to second after a short power burst.
Under hard acceleration, the pulse-width-modulated controller lets out a loud whistle, which I personally found distracting. But other driver might enjoy it. It's louder than a turbocharger but in the same vein.
The converted Datsun accelerates with adequate briskness for all the the tightest situations. Within a few minutes, I learned how to enter busy thoroughfares. There's no problem keeping up with stop-and-go traffic. At red lights, everything shuts down -- no waste of energy at all. Nothing "idles." Then when the signal turns green, down goes the accelerator and off goes the car -- very smoothly, without click and jerks I've noticed in other electrics.
The Williams car cruises effortlessly in town at 40 mph. Bill has driven 55 on the freeway. The electric has a normal range of 40 miles when used around town.
I found the electric Datsun's worst enemy to be hills. Mild grades -- those normal in city driving -- offer no great challenge, although I did find myself speeding up or downshifting to third several times. On one particularly steep hill during our photo session, Bill needed to use second. Again, it's just a matter of learning the car's capabilities and then compensating. The transmission makes this vehicle much more flexible.
All in all, I came away from my drive with nothing but admiration for the car and its constructor. It's a beautifully neat, clean conversion -- very professional. It costs about a penny a mile to run it. An overnight charge always leaves the batteries topped up.
Bill Williams commutes 12 miles a day to and from Hewlett-Packard. So, for this purposes, it's a perfect blend of economy, utility, performance and hobby. And never again will he have to wait on gas lines.
______________________________
SPECIFICATIONS -- ELECTRIC CARMotor: General Electric 30-hp (d.c.) 2CM77 aircraft starter generator (with shunt field). About $300
Power: 72 volts (12 6-volt 244AH Trojan batteries). About $70@
Controller: 400-amp/72-volt IC/transistor, pulse-width-modulated; includes regenerative braking and field control. About $400.
Vehicle weight: 2280 pounds.
Range: 40 miles in city stop-and-go traffic.
Speed: 40 mph cruise, 55 mph max.
2016
For Sale blue Datsun 1200 sedan electric power Sacramento, California USA
Exterior
This car's never waited on a gasoline line!
full
License number plate 'NOT GAS' issued by CALIFORNIA
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Interior
8 batteries are in passenger compartment rear floor
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1986 14th Annual SCEAA Electric Car Rally 1987 15th Annual SCEAA Electric Car Rally
Rally Plaques
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Solar Car Project Stanford University Centennial Electric Vehicle Rally May 16, 1987
Rally plaque
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Hobbs hour meter, Stewart Warner instruments
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Engine Compartment
Designer Plaque: Bill Williams, 7 May 1978
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Engine compartment holds electric motor and controller.
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