The personalized license plate on this blue Porsche 914 is to the point: LKNOGAS

Lefteris‘ homemade electric car, built on the frame and body of a 1971 Porsche 914, is not simply a hobby car; it’s his daily driver for getting around L.A. In the last 12 months, he has put on 8,000 miles, making frequent business trips from his downtown L.A. studio to the Westside.

“I didn’t do it for the cost savings, though it turns out to be an inexpensive way to transport myself. We must stop sending money to countries that are often hostile and repressive, and do something to save our fragile planet.”

“My wife drives the gas guzzler, the Prius,” he said.

His car is packed with 22 lead acid batteries, a power controller, a charger and a 150-pound electric motor. The batteries are wired in series to produce 132 volts of delicious DC, and the motor puts out 20 horsepower, though the rating is calculated differently from a conventional gas engine.

Porsche 914 Blueprint

The range is limited, but practical. Lefteris says the car has a range of 60 miles between charges, though running down the batteries shortens their useful life. The dashboard has electric power meters that he designed to provide information about the voltage of the battery array and the amount of amperage the motor is drawing. “You learn to coast a lot,” he says of his power-management driving style.

Lefteris spent about $18,000 USD to create this electric beauty, which is a lot cheaper than anything likely to hit the market anytime soon!

Roughly 1,000 electric homemade autos operate in California, a mix of fleet vehicles owned by electric utilities and homemade cars. SoCal’s electric enthusiasts meet once a month at the air quality district’s headquarters in Diamond Bar.

Would you like to build your own? I found a magnificant Northern California example (pictured below) of a 1 owner Porsche 914 for sale on Ebay! Check it out, 4 days left on bidding its a steal currently for $2800.00 - Porsche 914 For Sale - Ebay

[Source: LaTimes.com]