Electric car conversion convention coming to Cape Girardeau

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A electric car conversion convention is coming to the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport this month.

The convention will feature sessions on how to convert standard automobiles to all-electric vehicles.

Jack Rickard and Brian Noto are organizing the convention. They converted several high-end cars in their Cape Girardeau garage and they produce a weekly web-based video tutorial that instructs others how to convert their cars.

Jack Rickard says the convention will be similar to their web show.

"Most gatherings are about how electric cars are cool and how they’ll solve the environmental problems. We’re more about how to build an electric car," Rickard. "So we’ve got people coming to go to sessions, to look at and see and learn about some of the components they use to build electric cars."

Noto says they have already converted several automobiles in their Cape Girardeau garage … and the results have been impressive.

"In terms of top speed, all of them are capable of doing over 100 miles hours," Noto says. "The first that we built, our 1957 Speedster replica, will do a quarter mile in 6 and a half seconds, which is about as fast as a Mustang or a Camaro that you buy right now off the show room. And that car will go 130 miles on a charge, which will cost you maybe two bucks in Missouri."

The five-day convention will begin September 21.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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