Riding with class (but no gas)

Although John Snyder’s electric stretch is significantly more hip than most cars, John has a much more profound reason for choosing to go electric. In fact, John is a leading activist in his community when it comes to releasing less poison in the environment and inhibiting climate change as much as possible. Here John shares about his EVW Bug and his passion for informing others about the benefits of the transition from gas cars to electric cars. Vroom vroom!

John Snyder

Production Engineer


 

 

When did you get your EVW Bug?

September 2008

What drove you to purchase an electric car?

My youngest son has autism. It’s a very controversial disease as to how it occurs, but the bottom line is something in our environment is poisoning our kids. Currently 1 in 58 kids in Orange County is on the spectrum. Global warming is a huge issue but we are poisoning our kids daily. I can’t change the world, but I can change my world and how I impact it.

Do you think everyone should make the transition from gas cars to electric cars?

Absolutely something needs to be done. Electric cars are one option and hybrids help. Natural gas burns cleaner but fracking is beyond scary. Fracking is not a last resort but the main way of obtaining natural gas. So yes, it creates less carbon and carcinogens, but it contaminates our water supply instead and causes earthquakes. Also, I attempted to create a company to convert gasoline cars to electric, but realized that my business plan just wasn’t feasible. Finally paid that off a couple of years ago.

What are the benefits and perks of having a classic electric car? What are the drawbacks of having an electric car?

Before my divorce my house created electricity charging my car. I drove it to CU, charged it in the parking structure and drove it home using no gas and very little cost.

What are the drawbacks of having an electric car?

Range anxiety. In other words, will you make it to your destination. I have extended AAA coverage and a tow bar on another vehicle for those times when I don’t make it home. Both have been used for that reason. Also, everyone I meet has a VW story they need to tell me. Someone in their family owned a VW and feel because I have one I need commemoratory with them. I bought this car because it’s an easy conversion to electric, not because I love VW.

Have you ever been stranded somewhere with a dead Bug and no outlet?

Several times I have not made it home or ended up pushing my car down the street to get home.

How long does your Bug take to fully charge?

It depends on the batteries (I’m on my 3rd set currently) but approximately 2-6 hours plugged into a standard outlet. I can not use a charging station. However if you notice the charging signs on campus, they ironically have a picture of a VW bug on them.

Is the monitor you use to determine the available power consistently accurate?

Very much so. I have several ways top monitor voltage and current for both the propulsion and 12v car systems.

Any funny or interesting stories you’d like to share about your classic Bug?

Often when I’m driving it, people think I’m just coasting with the engine off, until I take off and there’s no noise. I get a lot of strange looks from all of the former VW owners. One night I was going through an intersection with a really deep drainage ditch. I went through it a bit too fast and broke the tie rod which helps hold the front wheels to the car. I was able to pull to the side of the road and called AAA to be towed. The driver showed up in one of the big flatbed trucks. I was too close to the curb for him to be able to pick up my car. So I told him, I could pull out from the curb to make it easier. As it turns out I had my left leg out of the car and the door open as I moved the car out. Since he couldn’t hear the engine, he thought I was pushing the car up the ramp with my legs similar to Fred Flintstone. Since I was literally driving up the ramp of the tow truck he was very impressed as to how strong I was. When I showed him there was no engine he was just as surprised. I should have some recordings of peoples faces when they first see where the engine should be and what’s there instead.

What exactly does Clean Tech Institute specialize in and what role have you played within the organization?

Clean Tech trains people to install solar panels and work on electric cars. When I ran across them, they were located within a mile from my house. Unfortunately, when I discovered they were there, they were finishing up their last class in Orange County. Their funding comes from the unemployment office to retrain laid off workers for new high tech jobs. We were in the process of creating Clean Tech TV, a program to share the latest developments in green technology. They were in the process of moving to the Inland Empire, but the funding never came through for that either. Instead, (Clean Tech director Lloyd L. Tran) opened a facility near San Jose. He also works as an engineer at NASA up there so this is very convenient for him but cut me out of the picture. They have some ideas for new batteries they are working on, but nothing ready for use yet.

I have a lot of hope in Tesla’s recent announcement of a house battery to power your home for $3,500. I wonder if there will be a version I could use for my car. Either way Tesla is leading the industry in battery production and is openly sharing their knowledge and products. I have driven a Tesla and hope to own one some day. For now we have named our dog Tessie until that time when I can afford one.