Couple has electrifying job

LAKE WYLIE, S.C. -- What do a Honda accord, a Mitsubishi truck, and a Fiat convertible have in common? They are all electric vehicles converted from gasoline by a husband and wife team near Lake Wylie.

"I do have a background in auto body and I built race cars for a while," says Mike Moore outside his York County home.

From race cars that guzzle gas, to cars that use no gas at all, Moore is in his element when talking about electric car conversions.

On how he learned this trade, he says, "You can learn anything on the Internet."

"The components we put in this truck are probably good for a million miles. We've got the batteries under the bed here. That way we still have a usable bed," Moore says.

He's talking about a Mitsubishi truck he's converted for a man in Pittsboro, N.C.  It is a truck that was down for the count.

"This truck sat in a field for 10 years because the motor was bad," he said.

The truck now has 24 batteries and two separate plugs to give it charge at home and on the go. 

While the Mitsubishi will go 50 or 60 miles between charges, Moore says, "We have limited range. That is the only killer."

Some conversions will get as little as 30 miles. Still, he is hopeful, saying, "It is not a cure-all by any means because of the battery technology, and soon as we get better you'll see these everywhere." 

For now, Moore and his wife, Paula, are limited to two main types of batteries. Lead acid requires some upkeep. And now there is a more advanced set, which is maintenance free. 

"We're up every night answering emails," says Paula Moore about the job she had expected to be part-time.

The couple also holds seminars on how to do a conversion yourself.  And a lot of people are interested both nationally and internationally.

"We've had visitors from Norway here, China and India," says Mike. 

But the couple who started their company, Ampmobile Conversions, on a whim, now feels a calling.

"We feel like we are more responsible for educating the public than anything else," says Mike.  And his wife agrees, saying, "Education is the most important thing."

Electric Conversions range from $16,000 to $28,000 dollars depending on the technology used. 

The Moore's are in talks with a group in Denmark to help produce a prototype electric vehicle.  That country is pushing to put 1,000 fully electric cars on the road in the next few years.

For more information, visit www.ampmobileconversions.com.