Water Charity Electric Porsche Project
To aid in bringing Water Charity into the public eye, we are working on the Electric Porsche Project. We are doing this with our own funds, and there is no use of Water Charity money for this project.
We are converting a 1975 Porsche 914 to run on electric power. When completed, it will have a top speed of 100 miles per hour and a range of 150 miles. It will prominently be marked with Water Charity and Electric designations, and will be sure to attract lots of attention to both topics.
We have acquired the car and are moving on to the next stages. The gas engine will be removed and new suspension installed to handle the battery weight. The car will then be taken to the paint shop. Once we get it back, we’ll drop in the electric motor, hook it up to the clutch and transmission, install the controller, put in low- and high-voltage wiring, and drop in the batteries. We’ll plug it in to the wall socket, wait 6 hours, and then drive it home.
The Engine is Out
We took delivery of the car at Redtop Auto in San Bernardino. Bill Kirschner, the owner, is very committed to the cause. He and his technician Melissa are doing the heavy work.The Porsche was driven from 1975 until the early 1980's, at which time it was parked in a field, with only 66,000 miles on it. Needless to say, it became the home to a lot of critters, and was in pretty poor shape when we got it.
We took the chrome wheels off and sent them out to be polished. We bought new tires. They are a compromise, based on the fact that we will be driving the Porsche in the mountains on slick roads in bad weather. Ideally, electric cars should have tires with low rolling resistance so as not to impede performance and range.
Bill and Melissa undid the engine bolts, cut the wires, cables, and tubes, and supported the engine on stands. Then, they lifted the car off the ground, leaving the engine behind.The engine compartment is being degreased, and the car is being sent to the paint shop. We'll keep you updated.