This blog documents the restoration, and conversion, of a 1965 Humber (Singer) Vogue to a fully electric vehicle. The Vogue will be powered by an 11kW(modified), 3 phase industrial AC motor, controlled by an industry standard Variable Speed Drive (VSD) or Inverter. To be able to produce the 400 volts phase to phase the VSD will need about 600 VDC of batteries. A big thanks to the contributors on the AEVA forum: http://forums.aeva.asn.au/forums/

Monday, April 29, 2013

Vogue on Display Yesterday

The Vogue was on display courtesy of the Sunbeam and Talbot Owners Club yesterday at Federation Square in Melbourne. I had a lot of interest in the car, such that I hardly got time to eat lunch (Hi to those folk who scribbled down the blog address). This was the first time that the Rootes Group and Humber Car Clubs of Victoria had seen (or heard of) the Electric Vogue as well.

We did an FAQ and a basic diagram to stick in the windows but there were still a ton of questions.
Some people were amazed that production Battery Electric vehicles were available to buy. Others were "stoked" that this could be done to an old car. It was a very positive experience for me.

Thanks to Matt Lambert for the picture - this was a quiet time. Often there was a crowd where I had to shuffle in and show them the spare cell and explain some of the stuff the FAQ didn't cover. (I'm the one with the terrible posture.) One bikie looking guy had a quick look at the engine bay then looked quickly around and sighted me. "You must be the guy that built this" he says. "Why did you pick me" I asked with a smile. "You just look like the guy" he said. Hmmm.
 We all lined up at the Russel Street extension until they let us into the square. In the picture below, the Vogue is two behind the bright blue Super Minx Station Wagon (a bit hard to see). Hillman and Humbers on the inside and Sunbeams on the outside (mostly).
From the other side.
The highlight of my day was when the Fed Square people came around with a stack of oil drip trays and I got to say "I don't need one of those".

2 comments:

Robyn of Oz said...

Beautiful job, John.
How much to do this to Kitty Imp? Would be good to electrify the gearbox as well, then she wouldn't leak! :)
But again, seriously; terrific job and it looks so lovely with all the neat and tidy gear under the bonnet.
Well done!

Johny said...

Thanks Robyn, much appreciated. I've always thought that an Imp would make a great EV - it would probably have to be a two seater though - and yes, you would most likely keep the leaking gearbox.