Brian's Website > Car Projects > Toyota MR2 EV >

EV Reference Material

site index

Highlight under days old.

Books and Videos

These are a couple of books and documentaries recommended over and over again by people I have talked to.

  • Convert It!: book by Micheal P Brown, also who also runs Electro Automotive. The book is a bit dated being written in 1993, but still very relevant. Electro Automotive also sells various kits for common conversions such as the VW rabbit and Geo Metro, and generic kits.
  • Build Your Own Electric Vehicle, by Bob Brandt. Also a bit dated (1994). Goes into more technical detail, more history and more theory than the Brown Book, but less of a step-by-step guide. This is my favorite between the two books.
  • Who Killed the Electric Car?: a documentary on the rise and fall of the EV1, a technically successful electric car produced by GM in the 1990's. Get out your tinfoil hat.

Links

Here is a compendium of links I put together while researching my EV conversion, roughly organized by topic.

CategoryURLDescription
Partshttp://www.evparts.comParts
http://www.electricvehicleusa.comParts
http://www.evsource.com"High End" Parts
http://www.electroauto.comParts, Kits, transmission adapter plates
http://www.metricmind.comHigh-end AC drive systems
Communitieshttp://www.seattleeva.orgSeattle chapter of Electric Vehicle Association
http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/Good forums, advice, FAQ, how-to, etc.
http://www.austinev.orgClassifieds and Community
http://www.austinev.org/evalbumLarge list of personal EVs (including me!)
http://www.suckamps.comEV Racing site, plus links to many personal EV sites
http://www.evworld.comOnline EV magazine and community
http://www.evdl.orgThe electric vehicle discussion list
Chassishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_(physics)General discussion of aerodynamics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_coefficientDrag coefficients as relating to car bodies
http://www.recumbents.com/car_aerodynamics/Aerodynamic mods for car bodies
http://www.mayfco.comLarge list of CdA (drag coefficient X frontal surface area) for car bodies
http://www.bacomatic.org/~dw/txt/engfyi.htmmassive list of engine and transmission weights
http://www.consumerguide.comcommercial website with decent info on older used cars.
Tireshttp://mb-soft.com/public2/car.htmldiscussion of tire rolling resistance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_resistancemore on tire rolling resistance
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.htmltire size calculator
http://www.greenseal.org/resources/reports/CGR_tire_rollingresistance.pdfTire models with low rolling resistance
Motorshttp://www.adcmotors.com/Advanced DC motors
http://www.go-ev.com/Warp Motors
Batterieshttp://www.trojanbattery.comTrojan Battery Company
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/Optima Batteries
http://www.usbattery.comUS Battery Company
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peukert%27s_LawPeukert's law
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead-acid_batteriesLead Acid Battery Discussion
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_metal_hydride_batteriesNi-MH batteries
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel-Cadmium_BatteryNickel-cadmium batteries
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_batteriesLithium-ion batteries
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_polymer_cellLithium-polymer batteries
http://www.batteryweb.comonline battery retailer, one of many.
http://www.energy-sales.comOEM battery pack provider
http://www.betard.co.uk/Zebra battery website
Controllershttp://curtisinstruments.comCurtis Controllers
http://www.cafeelectric.com/Zilla Controllers (High End)
Toyota MR2 Linkshttp://www.mr2oc.comMR2 Owner's club and forum
http://www.toyotaNation.com/Toyota forums
http://www.shop.retro-spec.net/Carbon fiber panels for cars including the MR2.
http://www.padandwheels.com/mr2/suspension/suspension.htmlMR2 suspension spring rates table.
http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=102/CA=7Adjustable suspension from Ground Control for the MR2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_MR2Wikipedia article on the toyota MR2.
© Brian Hughes