Kalamazoo man converting gas cars to electric

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A man that runs an automotive center in Kalamazoo says he's fighting high gas prices by converting cars on the street to electric vehicles.

Donald Sargent removed the engine from this Pontiac Sunfire and replaced it with a Yamaha electric motor. He says it can go 35-miles at up to 35-miles per hour before it needs to be recharged.

Sargent says a conversion like this can be done to any small car.

"We have built this car and designed it so that it's a poor man's electric car. It gives them the protection of an American car or full sized car, but it is also something you can do for under $5,000," said Donald Sargent.

Sargent says it only costs about a penny per mile to run the electric motor, but there are some drawbacks. To make the vehicle light enough he has to remove the heater and air conditioner among other comforts.

It also takes between eight to 12 hours to fully charge the car from home.