Andrew Coles
Say no to rice
Yesterday I drove an electric X19, so I thought I would post some pics and my thoughts on this brilliant little car 
The car was built by Edward Booth, who lives down at Goolwa in South Australia. My Dad and I first met Edward when he came to have a look at my X19 and appraise its suitibility for transformation into an electric car. As it turns out, X19s are pretty much perfect for this - small engine compartment and big boots at the front and rear for batteries. In addition, the brakes are non-servo operated anyway so even without the vaccum provided by the conventional engine you still have full braking power.
Next thing we hear Edward had purchased a 1982 X19 and had nearly finished the car. Apparently you can purchase the engine and battery packs from the states and fit them into whatever you like, however I understand it is still a very involved process.
So, whats is like to drive? Well the first step is to turn the key like normal until a beeping sound comes on. From here you select second gear (the electric engine is running though a stock 5sp transmission), ease the accelerator on and away you go. You dont need the clutch for any of this and it feels weird selecting a gear without the clutch. You wait for the crunch but it never comes. Edward tells me that he doesnt use 1st as the engine provides too much torque for 1st gear to handle.
Driving is a really weird sensation, but you soon get used to it. Its just like driving a normal X19, except theres no real sound. You can hear the electric engine whining as you build up speed and revs and its all very smooth. You can change gears if you feel like it, but theres no huge need for it. Clutch in, change gear, clutch out but you never need to match the revs with the throttle because the engine stops as soon as you remove your foot. Its very smooth.
We're motoring along in 4th gear at 50kmh and come up to a rail crossing with a stop sign. Normally at this point you might be going down through the gears, or at very least clutching in so the engine doesnt stall. But not in Ted's X19 - you just take your foot off the throttle and brake down to a stop - no clutch needed. To take off you just apply more throttle until you slowly start rolling away. You dont even bother changing down gears as takeoff in 4th is almost as good as takeoff in 2nd.
The engine produces 65kw, which is quite a bit more than the 65hp a stock X19 produces. It also has infinetly more torque so in theory it should be faster, however the weight of the batteries do come into play. It certainly feels much peppier than a stock X19, however Im pretty sure this is due to the torque. Im not sure what the electric X19 weighs, but I imagine the extra weight plus more power would mean it would probably be compareably quick to a stock X19.
Edwards X19 has a range of about 60-80km. The car has seen 130kmh, and Edward thinks it would probably be good for around 150kmh. The car has 10 lead/acid 12volt batteries that take around 5 hours to charge from flat. As already mentioned the 120volt Wemoco electric motor runs through the standard X19 5sp gearbox and Edward thinks it probably costs around 1.5c/km to run paying normal power prices. However Edwards electricity comes from a bank of solar panels on his roof, so not only does this X19 cost zero dollars to run it is also totally green - there are absolutely no fossil fuels used when driving this X19. What more could you want!
The car is charged from a conventional power socket which is rather ingeniously located where the normal fuel filler goes. The car does have an exhaust pipe looking thing, however this is actually a vent for the batteries.
So yea, theres just some quick thoughts from driving this great little car. At some stage I'll write it up better for a club magazine article, but thought you guys and gals might be interested
The car was built by Edward Booth, who lives down at Goolwa in South Australia. My Dad and I first met Edward when he came to have a look at my X19 and appraise its suitibility for transformation into an electric car. As it turns out, X19s are pretty much perfect for this - small engine compartment and big boots at the front and rear for batteries. In addition, the brakes are non-servo operated anyway so even without the vaccum provided by the conventional engine you still have full braking power.
Next thing we hear Edward had purchased a 1982 X19 and had nearly finished the car. Apparently you can purchase the engine and battery packs from the states and fit them into whatever you like, however I understand it is still a very involved process.
So, whats is like to drive? Well the first step is to turn the key like normal until a beeping sound comes on. From here you select second gear (the electric engine is running though a stock 5sp transmission), ease the accelerator on and away you go. You dont need the clutch for any of this and it feels weird selecting a gear without the clutch. You wait for the crunch but it never comes. Edward tells me that he doesnt use 1st as the engine provides too much torque for 1st gear to handle.
Driving is a really weird sensation, but you soon get used to it. Its just like driving a normal X19, except theres no real sound. You can hear the electric engine whining as you build up speed and revs and its all very smooth. You can change gears if you feel like it, but theres no huge need for it. Clutch in, change gear, clutch out but you never need to match the revs with the throttle because the engine stops as soon as you remove your foot. Its very smooth.
We're motoring along in 4th gear at 50kmh and come up to a rail crossing with a stop sign. Normally at this point you might be going down through the gears, or at very least clutching in so the engine doesnt stall. But not in Ted's X19 - you just take your foot off the throttle and brake down to a stop - no clutch needed. To take off you just apply more throttle until you slowly start rolling away. You dont even bother changing down gears as takeoff in 4th is almost as good as takeoff in 2nd.
The engine produces 65kw, which is quite a bit more than the 65hp a stock X19 produces. It also has infinetly more torque so in theory it should be faster, however the weight of the batteries do come into play. It certainly feels much peppier than a stock X19, however Im pretty sure this is due to the torque. Im not sure what the electric X19 weighs, but I imagine the extra weight plus more power would mean it would probably be compareably quick to a stock X19.
Edwards X19 has a range of about 60-80km. The car has seen 130kmh, and Edward thinks it would probably be good for around 150kmh. The car has 10 lead/acid 12volt batteries that take around 5 hours to charge from flat. As already mentioned the 120volt Wemoco electric motor runs through the standard X19 5sp gearbox and Edward thinks it probably costs around 1.5c/km to run paying normal power prices. However Edwards electricity comes from a bank of solar panels on his roof, so not only does this X19 cost zero dollars to run it is also totally green - there are absolutely no fossil fuels used when driving this X19. What more could you want!
The car is charged from a conventional power socket which is rather ingeniously located where the normal fuel filler goes. The car does have an exhaust pipe looking thing, however this is actually a vent for the batteries.
So yea, theres just some quick thoughts from driving this great little car. At some stage I'll write it up better for a club magazine article, but thought you guys and gals might be interested
