You got a LONG extension cord with that?

After a couple of rebuilds ('cuz the guys in Salida had no clue what they were doing), and a recent battery upgrade, Mike has finally been able to use Electro-Willys for commuting. He can get about 60 miles per charge. With a 25-mile communte, that means he can run errands around town with no problem.

Mike is able to plug in to the business next door so that he has a full charge to come home on. One day E-W didn't get plugged right, and he worried about coming home. Had me on "tow-alert" just in case. Come to find out, he got home and still had plenty of charge left.



When people find out he is going to take E-W on the Alaska Highway, they usually respond with some smart-alicky quip like: "You got a Long extension cord with that?" or "Hope you can find enough current bushes!" Yes, he does have a long extension cord, but NOT that long.

- Ellen

Car Show Time

The Electro-Willys has been entered in to several car shows. For three years running, E-W has been in the Buena Vista Mountain Mania Antique, Classic, and Hot Rod Show. In 2011, E-W also showed at the Salida Car Show. This year, E-W won't be in Salida as it is during the trip up the Alaska Highway.

2010

2011

2012

- Ellen

Getting back to OD Green!

Striped Down E-W

In preparation for the conversion to electric, Mike stripped down Electro-Willys (E-W). He removed all the gas engine components back to the bell housing. Room had to be made for all those golf-cart batteries both in the front and in the back.

After sanding, welding, pounding, and patching, Mike gave E-W a coat of primer, and then the OD Green. I really hate the smell of that paint.

Wearing the OD

Once all the painting was done, Mike was ready to take E-W down to a local shop for the conversion to electric. If only he knew then what he knows now!

For a photo album of the conversion process (both ups and downs), take a look at m38mike's Jeep pages: The Electro-Willys.

- Ellen

In the Beginning...

The day E-W arrived

Back in 2008, when diesel prices sky-rocketed to $5/gal, Mike decided to build an electric jeep for commuting. He found this 1952 Willys M38. It looks kinda rough in the picture above, but actually wasn't in too bad a shape.

He traded the engine out for a winter cab, then set about getting the frame and body ready for conversion. Under this pale blue, Mike found the original paint was Air Force blue. The history of where this M38 was used in the service has been lost, but perhaps it had been at Lowry AFB in Denver.

- Ellen