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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Which Porsche Models are you converting ?
We have found from experience that the best 911 models to work with for the PorschEV  "Signature Series” conversions are Targas from 1970-1990.

• Why Porsche ? We could say: “There is no substitute”. However, someone has already said that. Yesterday’s Porsches are a proven, tried & true vehicle platform waiting for tomorrow’s Evolving Electrical Technology.

• If you landed on this planet from another galaxy, and you had the technology to convert the best car earth had produced, did a survey of all motorsport enthusiasts, which car would be recommended ?

Our Concept / Model is Simple:
• Start with one of the best sports cars in the world, the Porsche 911,
• Maintain the classic maximum air efficient wind tunnel Porsche style,
• Utilize the proven design that pushes the front of the car down as the speed increases;
• The aerodynamic design which is “Porsche Perfect” provides excellent handling & roadability;
• Why try to re-invent the wheel ?
• Work with the best cars built over the last 30-40 years, mix in a few components in the right places, tweak & tune here & there, add a little juice, Electrocute >>>>and have a HOOT.


• Will you convert other types of cars in the Future?
After the initial signature production run of 100 PorschEV  "Signature Series”” models we anticipate converting other PorschEV units / models on a private customer “Proof of Concept”, “One Of a Kind” basis.

Components ?

 •Where do the components come from ?
Due to the fast pace development in the many different EV components the supplier of all the components for an EV conversion is SOTA, (that is an acronym for “State of the Art”). This supplier provides the newest, latest, greatest, and most recent cutting edge technology products being produced for the EV conversion world. When something better comes along then SOTA will supply that product.

• Does SOTA have access to the best batteries ?
SOTA is working with several different battery manufacturers at this time doing research & development. There has also been significant research in “Radiant Energy” dealing with a portable EMF.

Batteries ?

• How long does it take to recharge? Recharging time depends on the amperage of the charging system. To recharge a completely drained battery from an ordinary 120V socket would take overnight. If you so desire a 220V 25 amp plug can be provided (like the one that powers your dryer) you can reach 90% of full charge in less than 1 hour. Most charging is done at night, or while you are working, so charge time is not critical.

• How does recharging work? You can charge anywhere there is an electric outlet. Think of it like your cell phone: plug your car in when you get home and unplug it in the morning when you're ready to leave. Plugging in takes less than 5 seconds of your time and means no more trips to the gas station.

• What's the best time of day to recharge? Off-peak times, especially nighttime, when more electricity is being generated than is being used, are the best times. Contact your local electricity provider to discuss off-peak charging rates with a time-of-use meter.

• What kind of batteries are you using ? The latest and greatest state of the art in batteries is the most recent LIFePO4 battery design from LiFeBatt. The particulars are confidential as we are negotiating bulk purchase discounts at this time. We use non-explosive, new technology lithium iron phosphate batteries in our PorschEV  "Signature Series” conversions.

• How long do you expect the battery packs to last? LiFeBatt battery packs are warranted for 3 years or 36,000 miles whichever comes first. Individual cells can be replaced on an as-needed basis without replacing the entire battery pack. We expect the battery packs to retain 80% of their capacity up to 100,000 miles.

• How many charges will the batteries provide? Newer battery technologies are demonstrating longer lives. Lithium ion batteries can be cycled (charged and discharged) 1,000 to 3,000 times according to battery manufacturers. LiFeBatt charges can be cycled many more times that. You influence battery life by the way you drive; smooth acceleration and proper battery charging help extend battery life.

• How long does the car take to charge and what kind of power do you need to charge? We are designing an Energy Efficiency system to have a wireless metering device in the garage of each purchaser which will divert the charging to off-peak periods thus reducing the cost of the electricity. Charging from a 220-volt outlet will take about 3.5 hours for fully discharged battery packs. On a typical day of driving 40 miles, charging should take about 1.5 hours.

• Is there a warranty on the PorschEV  "Signature Series” batteries? LiFeBatt will warrant the batteries for 3 years or 36,000 miles whichever comes first, however, we expect that the batteries will retain nearly 80% of their capacity for up to 100,000 miles. Specific warranty information is included in the Terms and Conditions of Sale document that will be to, and must be signed by, all individuals before any payment will be accepted. PorschEV  "Signature Series” will not accept money from any purchaser prior to finalization of the warranty details.

• What weight difference is there in the converted car? Each component is weighed as it was removed from the vehicle and recorded as to how that component affected the weight of the vehicle at each wheel. The batteries and motors will be positioned in the converted PorschEV  "Signature Series” models in such a way that the total weight of the vehicle and its handling characteristics will be similar to the original Porsche.

• How far can I drive between charges? Range depends on a number of factors including the type of batteries selected and the number of batteries used. Most daily driving is well under 50 miles so most people, once they understand the benefits of driving with electricity, will be well served by a car with a range of 50 to 75 miles. (By General Motors estimate, a car with a range of just 40 miles would meet the needs of 80% of all commuters.) Ranges of 300 miles on a charge exist today, but are impractical for most cars given the current cost of batteries.

The Economics ?

• Is it economical to use as a commuter vehicle ? America's daily commuters drive less than 40 miles a day, a PorschEV  "Signature Series”will use zero gasoline, and produce zero emissions. If you are going to commute why not do it in style ?

• What will it cost to run a PorschEV ? A complete “Electrical Charge” costs about the same as a gallon of gas. If you purchase electricity off the grid from your local power company, your EV will cost you about 2 ½ cents per mile. This is opposed to $ .50 / mile in a gas guzzler that gets 5-8 miles per gallon.

Watt about Battery Exchange Stations ? Yes, there should be battery exchange stations located at your local Taxi office / garage. This may not be able till there is a Taxi fleet in your area has had several of their units converted to PH~EV technology.

 Solar Power ?

• Can I use solar power to charge my PorschEV  "Signature Series” ? Yes. We can direct you to a supplier via SOTA. Typically an EV can travel 3 to 4 miles per kWh. If you drive 12,000 miles annually, you will need 3,000 to 4,000 kWh. A 1.5 to 3kW Photovoltaic system, requiring 150 to 300 square feet of roof space can generate that for you. There is a new system SOTA is researching called “Thin Film” photovoltaics which are actually pliable and could be placed on the exterior surface of a Porsche body style. There is only approx. 20 s.f. of space therefore only providing a trickle charge for the “on board” accessory battery. Every little bit helps. By generating your own electricity, you can drive virtually pollution-free.

 Motors ?

• What kind of motors are you using, how many, how long will they last? The motors have been custom designed to allow sufficient acceleration and cruise speeds, top speed, and range metrics without a transmission as such. We cannot reveal the type of motor due to our on-going patenting process.

How fast can a PorschEV  "Signature Series” model go? The first time you drive an electric car, prepare to be surprised. Within seconds you're at freeway speeds. Acceleration is powerful because electric motors operate at 100% torque at any rpm.

NationWide EV Conversion Shops ?

• When will you have conversion shops in other parts of the country? We shall work with NationWide EV Conversions as they come on line as licensed shops in various parts of the US market and Canada. At this time however, we are focusing on our current business model. At the moment we are doing conversions at the KleenSpeed shop @ the NASA Research Park located at Moffett Field, Mt. View, Calif.

• Can you buy a regular Porsche from NationWide EV Conversion shop ? NationWide EV Conversions has access to approx. 150-200 previously owned Porsches with and/or without internal combustion components.
Pick a PorschEV. Watt color do you want ?

• Can you but a Porsche without the internal combustion components in order to reduce the cost? Absolutely……

• What happens to the parts upon removal during conversion? The internal combustion components that are removed from the Porsche during conversion become property of the local NationWide EV Conversion shop, or the customer. This all depends on what the customer wants.

• How long does a NationWide EV Conversion take? Once all the components and the “Donor” car are on location it does not take more than a few days to a week. Due to the huge surge in the demand for component parts the delivery of some integral parts may take 2-3 weeks or longer.

Service ?

How much service will my PorschEV  "Signature Series” require? PorschEV s require less maintenance than gasoline vehicles. There are fewer moving parts and therefore less preventative maintenance. (No oil to change, no smog equipment to check, no power steering fluids to refill.) Brake life is generally extended since the motor is used to slow the car, recapturing energy and storing it back in the battery.

• Who do I call when something goes wrong with the car or batteries ? We are currently working with the latest innovation, where we can monitor, using GPRS,  (General Packet Radio Service ) the condition of every cell in your battery pack. With this system we are able to pre-empt service requirements, notifying the customer of any potential problems even before the battery performance is impaired.

• How does this work GPRS ? Each High Power Series (HPS) battery module in the pack contains it’s own Voltage Monitoring System (VMS). Using serial 9 DIN UART port, the VMS of each HPS battery module is 'Daisy Chained' together and finally connected to the main control control unit. Each control unit has a unique ID code. The controller, using GPRS, sends a Battery Status Record, every 12 hours, to the data center, reporting on the condition of each cell it is attached to. Each Battery Status Record includes the number of cycles, the vehicles geographical position, and error codes. Should an error be recorded, the administrator will then take appropriate action. That may be an email to advise the vehicle owner that the battery needs a service, or a phone call or SMS to advise the driver that the vehicle should be stopped immediately, in extreme circumstances. In the real world, the system allows vehicle owners to pre-empt service requirements, notifying the vehicle owner of any potential problems even before the vehicle performance is impaired. This will also allow the vehicle owner to plan the vehicle service schedule, minimizing any business interruption. 

Where do I get a PorschEV  "Signature Series” ? In order to reserve your EV~911 number just give us a call or an email at our Aspen NationWide Conversion EV shop office. We are accepting reservation / orders from those that would like to reserve a production line position. Initial production of these units has already started at the KleenSpeed shop @ the NASA Research Center located at Moffett Field, Mt. View, Calif..

Demo or Test Drive ?

• Can I drive a “Demo” unit prior to purchasing? Absolutely. Our launch event will take place during the fall of 2009 a the KleenSpeed shop @ the NASA Research Park located at Moffett Field, Mt. View, Calif. Less snow there than Aspen. During the Summer & Fall time we will have a demo in Aspen as well. All you have to do is give us a call and let us know when you would like to fly to either Aspen or Moffett Field arrange a test drive. We will schedule a test drive according what the calendar allows.

• Can I buy a “Demo” unit ? We have already been approached to sell our demos, but then we would not have a test drive model for you. However, even though our production is limited, we could make some sort of an arrangement on a lease / loan situation till your PorschEV unit rolls on to the test track @ the  KleenSpeed shop @ the NASA Research Park located at Moffett Field, Mt. View, Calif.