If you have done your research and decided on the car you plan on converting to an electric system, one of the next issues you need to tackle is the model of battery you will use. There are three primary types of batteries that are typically used in electric vehicles. They are: lead acid, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), or lithium-ion (Li-ion). While the exact figures involved should be calculated for the specific vehicle, it is good to understand the general nature of each type.

Lead acid based batteries are the most inexpensive and commonly available for conversions. Unfortunately, they also provide the least range for a battery operated electric vehicle. Conversions powered by lead acid based batteries will usually have a range of about 20-50 miles. Certainly not what you’d need for a long-distance vehicle, but quite appropriate for day-to-day commutes.

NiMH batteries can be the most expensive of the three choices. Similar to the Nickel Cadmium batteries used at home (except that they use a hydrogen-absorbing alloy in place of cadmium). These batteries are able to store more energy per pound than lead acid based batteries, giving ranges of approximately 120 miles between charges.

Li-ion batteries are the newest type of model, and are often the choice for new purpose-built electric cars (rather than converted models). They can be less expensive than NiMH batteries, by virtue of their newer arrival in the world of batteries, they can also be more challenging to obtain. Li-ion batteries can provide up to 200-300 miles per charge.

While there are many more issues to consider with regard to batteries, you need to know what you want for your car before you make that final decision, as the choice of battery is often a balancing game of cost versus range needed for the car versus available space.