Well, one more.
I’m about done with my internship at Spaceport America (I built them some fancy Excel spreadsheets) and there’s about a month between now and the start of school. Let’s see how far I can get on the electric car in one month.
The remaining excuse is that I’m still missing the Zilla motor controller. Kind of like missing your carburetor on a regular car — it’s the component that controls the flow of energy to the motor.
I’ve begun rebuilding the 12V wiring in the car, which was such a mess that I pulled most of it out. I bought a new harness and fuse panel kit called the Bare Bonz from Ron Francis Wiring. I like it a lot. So far the fuse panel is mounted. I have all the parts needed to extend heavy-gauge wire from the rear (where the battery is located) and the front (where the fuse panel lives). I’m also going to put in a separate grounding system. This car will be complicated enough without having to troubleshoot wacky ground problems. I’m going to wire it like an electronics project — which, in fact, it is.
I’ve been ordering lots of goodies from Ryan at EV Source. I’ve got contactors (giant relays), tools of all descriptions, a small radiator to keep the controller cool, a PakTrakr battery monitoring system, etc. I still need to acquire a DC/DC converter, which will take the place of a gas car’s alternator and keep the 12V battery charged.
I’m kicking around ideas for the electronics box in the rear of the car. It will be a water resistant enclosure for the expensive electronics in engine compartment. Being a VW, the comparment is open to the rain from above and road splash from below. I want a see-through panel on the front so I can show off the bits that make it go.
So anyway I wanted to tell all my readers what I’m up to, so I have some accountability 
Wish me luck and egg me on!
