World Best Battery Pack

(Mine) Story at bottom
Home Page

2SSIC's Second Pack

So I found out on Thursday that Shelby Automotive wanted to test drive the ShelbEV in Vegas on Tuesday, and that HST, the owner, was going to oblige. I had a problem with my existing pack, and with the studio fiasco I realized that I could take a road trip and build / pickup (finally) my new non-hack battery pack. We were at the La Jolla Festival of the Arts (2SSIC was on display in the green section) Saturday and Sunday and I called and figured out on Sunday that I could pull it off and would leave Monday morning for Vegas.

Got their Monday about 11 am (left at 5am) put a set of fans on the battery pack and set the temperature sensors on them. Did a little test driving that turned into some serious test driving when I handed the car over to one of their car breakers. He had a great time driving the car and kept looking for people leaving to do doughnuts for. He found three things that he would like to see improved in the car, which fortunately were three things I had intended to improve :). Meetings Tuesday, a nice night in Vegas, and then off to Colorado. I realized I miss the mountains, and then arrive at my best friends house.

Thursday drive over to meet Derek and check it his shops. The parts we need are in Denver, but unfortunately they arrived with a train full of things that had been delayed by the flooding in the Midwest, and Friday is the 4th of July! So instead of getting everything done by Saturday or Sunday and going to see some friends in Wyoming we end up creating the most beautiful battery box ever. Seems appropriate as it is going into the world's sexiest electric car (some people thing the ShelbEV is sexier, but if I felt that way I would have started with a roadster). Also went to one of the EV lunches with everybody (including Bill Dube) and had a pleasant time of it.

Monday morning we pickup the fiberglass boards and begin assembly. Tuesday, more of same, quit when we start making mistakes, figure finish Wednesday morning and off. Decide it would be stupid to rush things and make sure everything is working (“It would be a shame to waste over a weeks work because we wouldn't wait an hour for the battery to charge and balance”) and we were off, at 4 pm. We talked about going back to Dorman's place and I said “we may not get far today, but tomorrow their be no delays in leaving”. We ate at what is probably the nicest Subway in the US, drove back with a stop if Utah and Vegas, and started working on the mounting rack.

Did the first test drive – AWESOME! And I think this pack is a little lighter than the previous pack, it has a lot less random parts, even though it has 50% more batteries, the total needed to have 100% power cold for my car.

Yeah! Thanks Derek!