October 19, 2011

Ok.  I am SICK to DEATH of blowing $80.00 a tank for petrol every week in my old POS Jeep Cherokee V-8!  I'm done with that!  Time to start practicing what I preach.  I teach biology at community college in San Diego, and I am an oceanographer trained at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and MIT.  I have some firm convictions about climate change, and I believe that I am partially responsible!  I want to do something about it!

I am heading up to Orange County with a UHaul trailer ($54/day) to drag home an old Bradley GT II fiberglass body on a 1973 VW Beetle framehere.  It has no engine, but who gives a shit?!  It also doesn't have a transaxle, but we'll see what I can do about THAT!  Anyway, I'm looking at around $500 for the body and maybe the transaxle.

The plan is to buy a 72 volt electric motor and controller kit from a supplier for about $3K ($2995 plus shipping!)here.  I've started buying up Marine Deep-Cycle 12V Lead-acid batteries from the local autoparts chain, about $100 per (the manager gave me a discount and a break on the core fee.  I'm grateful.).  I'll need seven:  six to drive the motor and one for accessories.  Lots of weight, but the highest energy density for the price!

My wife already knows that I will probably come home with the Bradley.  Hell...it's light!  Lighter than a VW Beetle body, even!  It's fiberglass!  AND, it has the coolness factor to it!  She would rather me buy a VW Beetle, for practical considerations...I can carry both kids in a VW.  I may not be able to carry both kids in the Bradley.  We'll see.  Anyway, she's right about one thing...I probably will come home with the Bradley instead of a Beetle.  She knows me pretty well after 20 years.