Cooking on Electric

E Day approaches. My electric conversion of the Cinquecento nears completion.
Tonight I have ripped out the last reminders that it ever had an ICE (Infernal Combustion Engine) with the removal of the petrol gauge and the coolant temperature gauge. Don't need them no more. I toyed with the idea of fitting the digital voltmeter and amp meter in their place, but they wouldn't look right and didn't quite fit in the available slot, so they will remain in the custom centre console along with he emergency stop button. Where the gauges were fitted thee is now black coloured plastic card, leaving a nice neat and tidy finish with just the speedometer and a bank of warning lights for the various lights, signals etc - exactly as it was when it left the factory, but tidier. Removal of those gauges wasn't strictly necessary, but why have a non working and pointless gauge on the dash? And it save an ounce or two in weight.

Next I reconnected the speedo cable and proved it worked - as well as getting some idea of the probable performance. In typical bodgit testing manner I jacked up one front wheel of the car, the differential stopping the other from turning, to do some testing. This is rather rough, as their is no load on the spinning wheel, but it proved the speedo works, and the readings I got were -
2nd gear up to 20 to 25 mph, 3rd gear round 30 mph. The car won't pull from start in fourth, so I tried changing on the fly from 3rd, but couldn't get the sync right - it will be easier once the car is actually moving. This is encouraging as with fourth and fifth gear still to go I reckon my target speed of 40 mph is achievable. Next plan will be charge the batteries again and replace the little one up front with a 110 amp so they all match - that should see a power increase., albeit a small one. Then I'll have to do some proper testing.

I've emailed VOSA to find out what tests and inspections the car will need before they allow it back on the road with a FREE tax disc.

Between now and then there are just one or two jobs to complete, the horn doesn't work and neither do the hazard warning lights. As both these should work with the ignition off I think it's probably a fuse or wiring fault somewhere. Another problem seems to be the headlamps - i get a Bright main beam, sidelamps, and very dim dipped beam, brighter than the sidelamps but not bright enough to be a headlamp - a sort of dim dip you'd expect when parked. Again I suspect a wiring problem, maybe even the same fuse?

A heater of some sort is in order, but as yet I'm stumped as to how to get enough heat. Those small plug in ceramic heaters would be ideal if they actually worked. Or an eberspraucher type heater if they were cheaper. Maybe I'll wait for someone to crash and scrap on of those Gwiz cars then I can get whatever thy use.