Home-Grown Electric VW Beetle
Ashton Stark is not yet old enough to drive but that has not stopped him building a fully operational electric-powered VW Beetle. From the Argus Observer -
Ontario — After almost a year of building a fully operational electric vehicle, and after all of the study and implementation of electrical and mechanical engineering involved, one important element of the project is still missing for Ashton Stark.
That would be reaching the age where he can drive it.
Stark, who is 14 and will be a sophomore at Ontario High School in the fall, said he will be old enough for a learner’s permit in a few weeks. He said he is excited about getting behind the wheel and showing it to more of his friends.
He conceded that, in the meantime, there still are many points of enjoyment and pride associated with the car.
He said one of the main points of pride is the vehicle’s connection with the past.
“It is my grandpa’s 72 Super Beetle,” he said. “I think he would love it and be incredibly proud of it.”
He said the bond with the past did not keep him and his father from designing the vehicle with an eye toward the future.
“It is also good for the earth and the community,” he said.
Stark pointed out the vehicle does not use oil or gas and is good for the environment in other ways.
The vehicle is driven by a single cylindrical drive shaft connected to the original shaft of the Volkswagens transmission. It is powered by nine separate 8 volt golf cart batteries, with five in the rear and four in the front of the vehicle.
“We are running 72 volt through it,” Stark said. “Interstate battery made a deal with us to test their new line of golf cart batteries and collect data on the batteries.”
Noel Stark, Ashton’s father, said he has driven the vehicle many times, and he believes it is not only green conscious, it is also inexpensive and practical to operate.
“We have not done a full run on it, but we estimate it can travel somewhere between 45 and 50 miles on a full charge,” Noel Stark said.
“You could drive every day to and from work for less than 10 cents a day, and that would be if the batteries were dead when you came home. It would probably be more like two to three cents a day.”
Noel Stark said the vehicle has a top speed of 45 miles per hour, and said it runs in complete silence.
Noel Stark said the project, which cost around $4,000, is one more drivers should consider.
“I think any vehicle can be converted to electricity,” he said.
“It is so simple to get one I don’t know why more people don’t own one. It doesn’t have to be a Bug, it can be any light weight vehicle: a Porsche, a Toyota or a Honda.
It would be a great neighborhood or commuter vehicle and would save a fortune on gas.”
Ashton Stark said he plans to use the vehicle for his senior class project. He said he will collect data through an onboard computer port as to range, efficiency and other elements of performance. He said working on the vehicle with his father has opened the doors of opportunity in other areas, also. He said might consider building electric cars for others.
“I think if more people had them, it would help the community a lot,” he said.
