Hey guys. . . Remember me? It's been A While.
I have been quietly (for the most part) watching from afar as things develop at Tesla, Nissan, GM, Fisker, Aptera and other places. I've also been enjoying my '99 Miata for over a year now, and it's given me some things to think about.
First up, I adore the Miata. Keep in mind, that's coming from somebody who previously had a Lotus Esprit V8. So, I've done the supercar thing, and I don't miss it -- not much, anyhow. Sometimes I miss the brute power, but that's about all. (I could bolt a supercharger on the Miata if I really cared, but haven't ever gotten around to it. It's never been a priority.)
I still look at the Tesla Roadster and I think "dream car", but I also look at the price tag, and I think back to my various experiences with the Esprit and the Miata, and I find myself thinking. . . What would really be cool is an electric Miata.
I don't need a supercar. I've got that out of my system. I don't need carbon fiber or mind-blowing acceleration. I also don't need a 200+ mile range. A solid, dependable 30-mile range (of normal driving, not hypermiling) would be acceptable for my purposes, and 40 miles would be great. So, that calls for a lot fewer batteries.
The Miata is easy to get in and out of. The top is quick and easy to take down or put up. The rear visibility (particularly with the top down!) is excellent. It has enough ground clearance to handle our much-neglected city streets here. It hasn't had any parts falling off either -- all significant advantages over the Lotus in normal, everyday driving.
I'm aware that there is one company advertising EV conversion kits for the Miata: http://www.evmiata.com/
I've been intrigued, but their website is half-baked (try the gallery!) and they don't even seem to have fully tested the LiFePo option yet. I read through their FAQ and was a put off by some of the under-developed aspects (like HVAC). Also, the kit is only for 1st gen (NA) Miatas, not 2nd gen (NB) models like mine. So I would have to source another car. After doing some figuring, I saw that doing one of these the way I want it could run the cost up a bit, and it's all a gamble how it would come out in the end.
I have been quietly (for the most part) watching from afar as things develop at Tesla, Nissan, GM, Fisker, Aptera and other places. I've also been enjoying my '99 Miata for over a year now, and it's given me some things to think about.
First up, I adore the Miata. Keep in mind, that's coming from somebody who previously had a Lotus Esprit V8. So, I've done the supercar thing, and I don't miss it -- not much, anyhow. Sometimes I miss the brute power, but that's about all. (I could bolt a supercharger on the Miata if I really cared, but haven't ever gotten around to it. It's never been a priority.)
I still look at the Tesla Roadster and I think "dream car", but I also look at the price tag, and I think back to my various experiences with the Esprit and the Miata, and I find myself thinking. . . What would really be cool is an electric Miata.
I don't need a supercar. I've got that out of my system. I don't need carbon fiber or mind-blowing acceleration. I also don't need a 200+ mile range. A solid, dependable 30-mile range (of normal driving, not hypermiling) would be acceptable for my purposes, and 40 miles would be great. So, that calls for a lot fewer batteries.
The Miata is easy to get in and out of. The top is quick and easy to take down or put up. The rear visibility (particularly with the top down!) is excellent. It has enough ground clearance to handle our much-neglected city streets here. It hasn't had any parts falling off either -- all significant advantages over the Lotus in normal, everyday driving.
I'm aware that there is one company advertising EV conversion kits for the Miata: http://www.evmiata.com/
I've been intrigued, but their website is half-baked (try the gallery!) and they don't even seem to have fully tested the LiFePo option yet. I read through their FAQ and was a put off by some of the under-developed aspects (like HVAC). Also, the kit is only for 1st gen (NA) Miatas, not 2nd gen (NB) models like mine. So I would have to source another car. After doing some figuring, I saw that doing one of these the way I want it could run the cost up a bit, and it's all a gamble how it would come out in the end.