electric conversion car/bike

[Baloo]

anyone converted a car or bike to run on electric ? l need to know more about controllers, like types, how much they cost, where to buy here or states, how much current they can handle etc

Andy

 

[FranV8]

Years ago in the, I think it was the SKF newsletter, there was a German guy who'd transplanted the working parts of an electric fork lift into a mk 2 polo.

Think it had a top end of 50mph and a half practical daily range.

 

[tigler]

Batteries are the biggest issue.

 

[Baloo]

Batteries are the biggest issue.

that would depend on what you were building and how far you wanted to go
battery technology moves onward ( slowly ? ) if you were building a commuter car with a desired 100 mph range you probably are going to fail and spend thousands on batteries, it dosent appear to be anyones interest
( except the buyers ) that electric cars are common place so its going to be a very long time coming,
anyway l am building a small lightweight stand up trike/scooter to use to spray weedkiller plenty of deep cycle or golf buggy batteries around for my low power limited duration use,
its the controllers that still seem steep $700 for a solder it up yourself jobby,
open revolt etc

 

[Angusdog]

Practical Classic had a very usable electric MGF recently and I've seen an electric Leyland Mini. It's appealing, I think I'd miss internal combustion but the acceleration looks addictive. I'm sure Google will be your friend here; there must be loads of forums on the net. I don't think I could every ride an electric motorbike though.

 

[WillP]

ahh electric vehicles.. brilliant! Ive got a few mates that have done this, one is converting an mx5 with 2 fairly fancy brushless motors and lead-acid batteries (loads of weight and 35-40 mile range at best) and another who has made lightweight kit cars with lithium packs.

i decided to start an electric bike project last year, but have so far only collected the electric bits

got a lynch 170 motor (15kw, 48v, 400 amps) cost £600

an 'alltrax' conroller. fairly basic, no reverse or regen but cost £300.

8x 12v 22ah 'abosrbed glass mat' lead acid batteries £200. was going to go down the lithium route, it was half the weight, three times the cost, but what put me off was the risk of damage/fire by drawing too much current. the agm's weigh 50kgs though

contactors, wiring, charger, plugs etc £150

im not sure what bike to use yet, have the offer of a 400cc suzuki bandit at reaonable money. If i go down this route i should have a fully legal leccy bike for under £2k with enough range to get to work and back.

not convinced its any cheaper than a small petrol bike, but will be a good project and something different...

WIll

 

[graffian]

I found, or was pointed at, an interesting web site about a self built electric car a few years ago. It was a mid size yank car and it had a 3 phase motor and a vfd. I may have found it when looking for info on vector motor control. Anyway some very interesting videos and plenty of info online. A local bloke has converted a freelander.
I just looked for simons freelander on line and found
http://www.diyelectriccar.com I found something about his car on their forum.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Back in the 80s there was a guy in the US who fitted a jet starter motor to an Opel GT. Genset and two 12v bats in the boot. Claimed 90mpg at first, but admitted a bit less later.
KF

 

[octo0072000]

loads on the tube see links

loads on you tube

home made bikes

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear....0.0.98.793.10.10.0...0.0...1ac.1.fIW9X8QiTUs

home made electric cars

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear....0.0.0.86.553.7.7.0...0.0...1ac.1.PLa0d3bRpFM

 

[stuvy]

I saw this at the pod ages back weird when it rushes past with just the tyre noise and the wind plus a faint note from the motor, i like the name black current too its very apt!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGsWk4b4BeI

Andy, did you see that electric freelander before
http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/showthread.php/out-junkyard-33633.html

 

[rtbcomp]

I think the Army experimented with an electric Series Landy at one time.

One of the considerations with early electric vehicles was that they had to be strong enough to carry the batteries, which added dead weight. Not so much a problem with modern batteries though.

 

[tigler]

With current (sorry !) battery technology, electric cars are never going to be taken up by the consumer. Charging time is the key problem. Until batteries can be fully charged in the same time as an internal combustion powered car can be refuelled, and assuming a reasonable range of 100 miles then it's a non starter.
Even then, the life and cost of the battery pack will still be an issue, as will the environmental cycle of the batteries. They are a dirty and energy hungry item to manufacture so we would be swapping one dirty technology for another.
And of course, it does not solve the problem of other, heavier transport needs, like HGV, Buses and trains for example. The batteries and motor would weigh more than the vehicle !
Hydrogen is the way forward, once the storage and distribution problems have been resolved.

 

[rtbcomp]

Super capacitors might be an option - they charge much more quickly than batteries.

 

[tigler]

But they can't store as much energy, the number of charge discharge cycles at high current is limited and the operating voltage is limited.

 

[KemppiFrog]

There are flywheel buses around. I presume they are spun up by electric power back at the station.
Then there are cars run on compressed air. That is the one that get's my attention. Carbon fibre air cylinders, decent range. Can be charged quickly, otherwise over night on the built in compressor. Lot to like.
I will find the link.
KF

www.mdi.lu
Just had another look at their site. We were suposed to be able to buy the City this year for around €8K seems things are still pending, and the price is a 'bit' higher. But I think he idea has merit. No nasty materials compared to batteries, and no need to change the 'storage' after a few years, which makes electric a non runner. The Hybrid stuff from Toyota is carp. Nobody gets the milage they tout. And they are selling at a loss with the battery expenses. I know they are popular with taxis in UK, but the general public finds them a bit less attractive.

 

[pedrobedro]

Have a read on instructables website. There are a few electric vehicles on there but mainly pushbike type builds.

 

[stuvy]

There are flywheel buses around. I presume they are spun up by electric power back at the station.
Then there are cars run on compressed air. That is the one that get's my attention. Carbon fibre air cylinders, decent range. Can be charged quickly, otherwise over night on the built in compressor. Lot to like.
I will find the link.
KF

www.mdi.lu
Just had another look at their site. We were suposed to be able to buy the City this year for around €8K seems things are still pending, and the price is a 'bit' higher. But I think he idea has merit. No nasty materials compared to batteries, and no need to change the 'storage' after a few years, which makes electric a non runner. The Hybrid stuff from Toyota is carp. Nobody gets the milage they tout. And they are selling at a loss with the battery expenses. I know they are popular with taxis in UK, but the general public finds them a bit less attractive.

I saw one a year or two back at the autosport show it was stupidly loud!!!!!

Personally i hate electric vehicles and think it should not take over petrol diesel, it should stay with milk floats or 3 wheeled crop sprayers

 

[Baloo]

Personally i hate electric vehicles and think it should not take over petrol diesel, it should stay with milk floats or 3 wheeled crop sprayers

thank you for the replies guys, as with most of the views on here we arnt ready for the everyday electric car yet but as a toy or bit of fun l find them interesting,
l am heading towards an electric buggy and thought l would dip my toe in the water with the trike as l could find all of the required bits except the controller lying around the place

heres the buggy l want to electrify, was bought with no engine fitted and was going fit a bike engine but the quietness of electric has an appeal when you have neighbours, oh and l will get a reverse as well

and a couple of electric go karts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrdNxgcNlYA&feature=player_detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bERjkSTYOdU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1YoCfm7nxU&feature=plcp

 

[octo0072000]

is that a Magenta kit car in the background ??

 

[Baloo]

is that a Magenta kit car in the background ??

hi,
its a dutton melos, 1600 crossflow engine, l have a 200bhp vtec engine for it when l can get round to it, maybe when l retire,
for now its got pushed upstairs in the hay barn, back of the queue that one

its my noddy car it makes me smile everytime l look at it,
just never summoned up enough bottle to drive round in a pink car yet
but one day