Alternative Energy Vehicles

No one can argue that change is coming in the auto industry, but what will that change be? Will gas prices continue to rise, will hybrids continue to grow, or will they be overshadowed by hydrogen or electric?

I've been reading allot about electric vehicle conversions, this is the process of taking an current vehicle and removing all the gas bits, (which is a lot) and replacing those bits with an electric motor, batteries, charger, and controller.

So, for example, today you could buy a classic VW convertible for $3500 put a couple grand in body work, and 4 grand in electronics and for less than $10,000 you could have a stylish, fun, fuel efficient car for driving around town. This car would perform better than the original and the components (except the batteries), would last longer.

That is technology available today.

Look at the some of the conversions that have already been done...
http://www.evalbum.com/type These are all cars created by hobbyists at a considerable costs, but as more money is spent on research.

These components will get simpler and less expensive, similar to the way computer components dropped in price and conformed to advanced standards.

If you want range you can add something like this...
http://www.jstraubel.com/EVpusher/EVpusher2.htm (I don't actually like this method, which works by literally pushing the car, I think it's dangerous, but there are similar designs that simply generate electricity, they are less efficient, but safer and simpler). I'll write more on these trailers later.

Yes, we know about electric cars, and generators, but these aren't mainstream products and they probably never will be....

Agreed, but they will shape the mainstream. As hobbyists continue to pursue this field, the platforms will be more unified, and there will be an opportunity for a Linux type community for form around this. Instead of car design being limited to large manufacturers, cars will be able to be designed in garages again, in different form factors. Power, shape, performance characteristics can be grown to suit and adapted over time.

Electric components are more manageable than mechanical components. Only a few of us would ever dream of pulling that great engine out of the Acura and putting it into a PT Cruiser, but with new technology, people will be able to buy a simple body, and a great engine. Later as car styles change, they could upgrade the body, without losing their investment in batteries, and motors.

This will drastically reshape the auto industry. It make used cars more interesting, and obsolete overnight.

There will be a market for....

• Converting used cars of classic body styles.
• Safety upgrades on classic cars.
• Upgrade components.
• Professional performance tuning.
• New cars that conform to published standard will be of increased value.
• New cars will be sold as less expensive shells for external setup.
• Rental of external 'Range extenders' designed for a variety of tasks.
• Custom vehicals for vertical markets.

When considering these changes consider the growth of the home computer industry. In the beginning there were 'home brew' computer clubs. This created a few companies that were able to market that knowledge into a complete package. Several years later, there was a 'boom' caused by the standardization of the AT platform that allowed many different computers to be built. Later the ATX platform made home made computers profitable, and almost all the components available at Best Buy.