120 replies to this topic

[Thomas]

You may wish to ask your self how much torque your motor is producing? You may only have 100bhp but I suspect you will be talking 200/400 lbft of torque. This will make your drive train look like spaghetti. In Australia my farther had a problem way back when with some Toyotas that had electric motors fitted and were eating half shafts and destroying diffs that were intended for V8s.

Edited by Thomas, 21 December 2008 - 11:16 PM.

[buddylove]

hmmm a year since the last reply... I take it this was never completed?

[brightsparkz]

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Some progress! I will triangulate the swing arm.

[bigmotherwhale]

finaly work being done, looking good

[Leroy Boyce]

Fascinating thread. I've been researching something similar for quite a while now. I'm driving an auto, and figured I'd convert to electric if the gearbox packs in.

Might I make a little suggestion, that I've seen done in other EVs:

A great big, red "OFF" button. Just for emergencies, and cuts all the electrical supply, should the worst happen...

[MalcolmB]

A big red OFF button might look good, but probably wouldn't be the best way of cutting power in an emergency. You really want something that you can activate without thinking in the heat of the moment. Having a high-voltage disconnect in the cab would also mean bringing in high-voltage cables – a bit like running your petrol line through the cab. Since the clutch pedal will be surplus to requirements it could be left in place and used to activate a microswitch when fully depressed, shutting off the controller. Alternatively the clutch could be connected by a mechanical linkage or cable to a high-voltage breaker in the engine bay.

What would look really good would be a pair of short lengths of thick copper braid hanging from the front valance, just like a Scalextric car...

Edited by MalcolmB, 08 October 2009 - 07:13 PM.

[danrock101]

A big red OFF button might look good, but probably wouldn't be the best way of cutting power in an emergency. You really want something that you can activate without thinking in the heat of the moment. Having a high-voltage disconnect in the cab would also mean bringing in high-voltage cables – a bit like running your petrol line through the cab. Since the clutch pedal will be surplus to requirements it could be left in place and used to activate a microswitch when fully depressed, shutting off the controller. Alternatively the clutch could be connected by a mechanical linkage or cable to a high-voltage breaker in the engine bay.

What would look really good would be a pair of short lengths of thick copper braid hanging from the front valance, just like a Scalextric car...

it would be a relay though, right?

[MalcolmB]

it would be a relay though, right?

Yes it could be – I assumed Leroy was talking about an Albright-type disconnect, like this: http://www.thetoolbo...125a-5260-p.asp

Edited by MalcolmB, 08 October 2009 - 07:55 PM.

[Leroy Boyce]

Well, I wasn't actually suggesting any particular method, just a sort of "eject button" that can be easily smacked should the worst happen...

Edited by Leroy Boyce, 09 October 2009 - 08:52 PM.

[MalcolmB]

Well, I wasn't actually suggesting any particular method, just a sort of "eject button" that can be easily smacked should the worst happen...

Sorry, I shouldn't make assumptions. You're right to point out the need for an emergency disconnect. I've thought about this a bit myself as I'm planning a similar conversion when I can afford the batteries or convince Newcastle city council to run busbars down the middle of the road. There is a possible failure mode with DC motor controllers where the controller can fail open, allowing the battery pack to supply full power to the motor, so you do need some way of interrupting the high-voltage circuit. This should ideally be done with a heavy-duty relay (contactor).

Any more progress with this build? I'm dying to see more.

[Alex_grease_monkey]

looks awesome build!

[The Colonel]

mate this sounds interesting if you can get hold of Li ion batts you shoudl get a massive range, you could possibly get them out of a prius or a honda hybrid and try get a motor out of it aswell might give a headstart!!

[M J W J]

mate this sounds interesting if you can get hold of Li ion batts you shoudl get a massive range, you could possibly get them out of a prius or a honda hybrid and try get a motor out of it aswell might give a headstart!!

Don't like to pick fault but a prius uses NiMHs not Li-Pos. That's why they are heavy and not that fuel economic.

[Pitcrew6464]

Hay brightsparks hows the project coming on??

[olds_kool_lews]

any progress on this? seems like a brilliant idea if u can pull it off!