Neil Young: Electric Car Pioneer?

We may be overstating it, but Neil Young is going electric — with his car. The rock legend has always been vocal about his beliefs, whether that be with antiwar records or his hugely popular Bridge School benefit concerts. Now he's working with a mechanic from Wichita, Kan., to retrofit his beloved 1959 Lincoln Continental convertible to electric power.

Converting that classic — and large — car to electric power is proving difficult, and the story below provides a few anecdotes about near-misses due to a strange layout of controls — they modulate power from the backseat. The cost? $120,000. So far.

Seems like they're a long way from making this a mainstream process, as Young had hoped his experiment could serve to be.

Rocker Young working with Wichita mechanic on electric car (KansasCity.com)

Comments

The 59 Lincoln is one of the largest and heaviest American cars ever built and therefore one of the worst to convert to electric power. It's sad to see a guy with more money than sense taken in by the promise of an electric drivetrain that supposedly charges itself while driving. As for the mechanic who's been "searchin for a heart of gold" - I think he's found it - all $120,000 worth.

Car weight is a big factor in miles per gallon or miles per kilowatt-hour. Smaller cars are more efficient. Period.
Please see my website www.safersmallcars.com

Shopa why do you insist on adversing on cars.com?!? PLEASE ANSWER ME!!!

I would like to know why $120 K?
I converted a Fiero to fully electric for $6500, and have been going back and forth to work for $1.30 in electric per day.
Ed lewis, Coatesville, PA

I wonder what Young will say when there's more polution due to electric cars over taxing the electrical grid. I guess he does not mind using $120,000 for selfish reasons just like he didn't take responsibility when 60 Minutes called him out on his previous drug use as a likely cause for his son's developmental issues.

He's a great performer but lacks common sense and basic ethics.

+1

Desan I find your comments lame..

No ethics?

How many people did NOT use drugs in the 60's ??

The movers and the shakers are what makes it happen, just like us reading this article from one of them and causing us to be spitting out our own two cents.

WTF has the Bush regime provided for an alternative solution to the environmental mess we currently live in? Oh, right, bombs away.

Ed Lewis, how did you do the conversion for only $6500? I was under the impression that a controller for an electric car alone is about $2,500. What kind of batteries do you use?

FYI, Desan, electric cars result in less total air emissions than cars powered by internal combustion engines - there are numerous studies that state that as a fact, including one that concluded that even if all the electricity used to charge an electric car came from a coal fired plant, greenhouse gas emissions would still be 22 percent less per mile with an electric car.

Red,
$2500 is for top of the line DC controller.
I used the following main components:
Curtis 144volt controller approx $1200
Warp 9" motor $1700
(13) Deka EV31 batteries (lead acid) $1300
Iota 55amp dc/dc convertor $130
donated Fiero (without engine)- priceless
You have to spend a lot of time shopping around to get the best prices. Batteries list for $210 ea, you need to establish a relationship with a local vendor. Also, look at the wind power, and solar power websites, as they sometimes have great prices.

Ed Lewis,
Thanks for the info - sounds like a good conversion.

oh yee of little faith...

what could be better than a two ton car with a built in welding machine.

rjm

@Cj

I'm about to start a project similar to your fiero project. Would you mind if I communicated with you directly about your resources? If it's okay with you, you are invited to email me here:

distantnoyse @t Gmail. com

@Ed Lewis,

Crap, I misread who made what comment. I meant to direct my request above to Ed Lewis.

Thanks.

Maybe Neil should look at BIONX. And fit each wheel with an independant motor.
I've heard of a 700 horsepower electric car in The UK with such a system.

I can't believe some of you idiots are mad at him for that. I wish it was more affordable. I would love to turn classic cars that would guzzle gas into electric. There would be no reason to ever buy any of the boring looking new cars that are out.

interesting read well done and thanks.