Hey Streets,
I know you're a compulsive tinkerer like me (old fart like me,too), but if you have an interest in electric cars, check this out: www.electrathonamerica.org . My students and I got involved in this last year with a kit car. It was so much fun we now have two new prototypes under construction and I'm also building a car of my own... Cost of building a competitive car from scratch?.. About $600 to $800!