Award Winning Bug for Sale

For sale is our award winning Battery Operated Bug (B.O.B.)  After three years on the show circuit, it is time for something new and fresh.  B.O.B. is a 1974 VW Standard Beetle with four wheel disc brakes, custom suspension, custom fenders and running boards, custom lights, tires and wheels.  A 156 volt, 500 amp DC conversion featuring brand new batteries (20.3 kwh), complete instrumentation, custom interior, and a beautiful paint job.  This is a beautiful electric classic that wins awards and is always a crowd favorite.  Yours for $32,000.  Visit EV4Unow.com for photos and more information.

End of the season...

After more than a dozen shows and thousands
of miles on the road, B.O.B. is home till next
season.  Now we need to get busy on Karmann,
our 1974 VW Karmann Ghia, and see if we can
have her ready for next years show season.
Always on the look out for new events, so if you
have any suggestions let me know.

National Plug-In Vehicle Day, Davis, California

 B.O.B. and I were in Davis, California for the National Plug-In Day event.  B.O.B. was a big hit as always.  I test drove an electric motorcycle, a Nissan Leaf, and a Mini E.

 Mitsubishi was there in a big way, large display and several cars to test drive.  I did not get a chance to drive one.  Little funky looking for my taste.

Cool Davis Cruise

 Took part in the Cool Davis Cruise and Festival on Friday, October 14th, in Davis, California.  Electric cars and marching bands, not something that happens everyday.

National Plug-In Vehicle Day

Join B.O.B. at the Veterans Memorial Center in Davis, California on Sunday, October 16, for National Plug In Vehicle Day.
On Friday, October 14, Richard van Wyhe, founder of EV4U Custom Conversions will be attending the 2011 Cool Davis Festival and EV Show in Davis, California.  This will be a Cruise and Show & Tell event.  Mr. van Wyhe will be there with an electric Porsche and answering all your questions regarding electric vehicles.

Not Going Back

It was time to replace the tires on one of my cars, so I took it to America's Tire.  I have been buying tires from them for over twenty years.  I purchased four new tires with a wait time of almost two hours, this was Saturday afternoon.  Monday morning I was going to drive the car and noticed the left rear tire was nearly flat.  Upon inspection, no visible damage.  I removed the tire and wheel and took it back to America's Tire.  An hour and a half later they get to my tire and in two minutes show me a damaged bead.  It was damaged upon installation.  They can't get me a new one until Wednesday or Thursday.  Not acceptable, so I asked for a refund so that I could get the tire elsewhere.  They did not want to do that.  After the salesman spends ten minutes in the office he tells me they can have one first thing in the morning, 8:00 AM to be exact.  Are you sure, yes he's sure.  See you tomorrow at 8:00.  Tuesday morning at 8:15 I am told they do not have my tire, maybe 11:00 or noon.  You're kidding me!  I told him to call me when the tire was mounted and ready to go.  Got the call at 11:45.  It took three trips into town and hours of my time, because of their mistake.  An apology, not even close.  This is the third time in a row that I have had an issue with America's Tire in Redding, California.  Strike three, I'm not going back.  Plus this is a word to the wise.

One Tough Battery

Seen in the photo on the right are 44 GBS 100 Ah Lithium Ion cells, their normal voltage is 3.2 volts per cell.  We recently had a customer completely discharge their pack to a cell voltage of 0.7 volts.  Bad...but wait, there's more...they were left in this state for a month.  D.O.A., right?!  Well, we charged them to a minimum voltage, balanced them, then charged them as a pack.  They held voltage, so we road tested the vehicle.  A couple of hundred miles without issue.  Forty miles at 65 MPH in a 2630 pound vehicle, took the pack down to 50% state of charge.  Not too bad.  I'm sold.  No way of knowing the life cycles this will cost the owner, but at least they did not have to replace the pack.