Research for a 1:1 electric car

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by bigboi146

Make sure you post billions of pics.

Will do... Just need to do tons of research first!

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by lincpimp

Will do... Just need to do tons of research first!

I must say that I will be looking forward to seeing your completion post in a year or so, and that is if things go well. Still this is going to be one of those very cool reads that others will want to do on their own DIY. I sure hope your up for this one James. Nothing will be easy, but we know there are a lot oftalented people in here that can help with setup, diagnostics, theroy and whatever else one may need.

[sikeston34m]

Just remember, Electric Horsepower is MUCH different than IC Horsepower.

For example, a 10,000 pound forklift carries around a 3000lb load with a top speed of 8mph. This uses a 6.6kw drive motor drawing energy from a 36 volt 1000ah lead acid battery. The Battery weighs 2850lb and gives 5 to 6 hours of runtime, sometimes more, sometimes less depending on use.

6.6kw or 6600 watts is only 8.85 horsepower.

There are Brushed DC versions AND also Brushless AC versions. The AC versions do have regerative breaking.

The AC versions do use sensors in the form of an encoder bearing. The upper bearing has a ring in it that rotates with the armature shaft. What appears to be 3 small magnets rotate on this, placed specifically at the point of phase shift. A hall sensor alerts the traction amp to armature position.

I've seen a few encoders go bad after about 12,000 hours of use. It's not a pretty sight to see a motor this size cog.

A Brushed setup would be cheaper to setup. But the Brushless version has advantages over the Brushed setup.

The AC (Brushless) motors are NOT a permanent magnet motor. They are strictly iron core stator motors.

Just remember, as you're checking out these high performance elaborate setups, it doesn't require 300 electric horsepower to accelerate REALLY hard.

Efficiency is everything if you want extended range and battery cycle life.

From my experience with working on electric forklifts, I can see most of the automotive conversion. The only debate in my mind is how to control the speed controller.

Control as far as I know, has to be done with a potientiometer or pwm.

A spring loaded pot, that when released returns to neutral, is what is used on the forklifts. This pot, returns positive signal voltage on the forward side, returns negative voltage on the reverse side.

As you press harder on the throttle, the voltage return increases and so does acceleration.

Neutral, of course, returns no voltage.

Where are you in your research? Talk to me here. LOL I'll help you anyway I can.

[lutach]

Research is your best friend and I've been at it for over 8yrs now. Some parts are cheap and some are very expensive. Cost will depend on what performance you want.

[sikeston34m]

Originally Posted by lutach

Research is your best friend and I've been at it for over 8yrs now. Some parts are cheap and some are very expensive. Cost will depend on what performance you want.

Yes, that's very true.

I would like to convert a Kawasaki Mule to electric. Or maybe build a custom version completely from scratch.

Using brushless hub motors, or a small motor on each wheel, it would be 4wd.

The less drivetrain, the better IMO. Less rotating mass means greater efficiency. This also means few wear items.

I've been holding off on a new vehicle purchase. I'm waiting for the Chevy Volt. It will be nice to see what systems they put into these vehicles.

I would like to get one and increase the range on it. Most limits involve a cost factor. LOL

[lutach]

Originally Posted by sikeston34m

Yes, that's very true.

I would like to convert a Kawasaki Mule to electric. Or maybe build a custom version completely from scratch.

Using brushless hub motors, or a small motor on each wheel, it would be 4wd.

The less drivetrain, the better IMO. Less rotating mass means greater efficiency. This also means few wear items.

I've been holding off on a new vehicle purchase. I'm waiting for the Chevy Volt. It will be nice to see what systems they put into these vehicles.

I would like to get one and increase the range on it. Most limits involve a cost factor. LOL

I've spoken with a few people and the hub motors are nice, but they require an active drive system to act like a diff does so the vehicle won't spin out when it turns. Less drive train is best for efficiency, but to keep costs down one is needed. There are various places that sells 2-speed racing transmissions that are very light and if you couple that to a electric motor, the performance can be great. The Chevy Volt is just a poor example of what a big company can do. Only 40 miles range in electric mode, give me a break. Even Tesla can go further and they don't even use the best cells available. The Tzero is probably the best and the first to go longer then any electric. Now Tesla has a billionaire backing it up and AC Propulsion has been in the game for a long time, but Chevy with all that money can only accomplish 40 miles.

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by lutach

I've spoken with a few people and the hub motors are nice, but they require an active drive system to act like a diff does so the vehicle won't spin out when it turns. Less drive train is best for efficiency, but to keep costs down one is needed. There are various places that sells 2-speed racing transmissions that are very light and if you couple that to a electric motor, the performance can be great. The Chevy Volt is just a poor example of what a big company can do. Only 40 miles range in electric mode, give me a break. Even Tesla can go further and they don't even use the best cells available. The Tzero is probably the best and the first to go longer then any electric. Now Tesla has a billionaire backing it up and AC Propulsion has been in the game for a long time, but Chevy with all that money can only accomplish 40 miles.

Especially now since we have all put in money to help them out with the billions of tax payer money lent to them in this bailout sceme. I do not support that by the way. I think we are being taken for a ride. Still with all of the money involved there, and the geniouses working for GM and the like, they should have done better on electric by now.

[sikeston34m]

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

Especially now since we have all put in money to help them out with the billions of tax payer money lent to them in this bailout sceme. I do not support that by the way. I think we are being taken for a ride. Still with all of the money involved there, and the geniouses working for GM and the like, they should have done better on electric by now.

Yes, I aggree!

It makes me wonder about how much money is going under the table from "Big Oil"?

The Technology is here and it's still evolving. We need to utilize and develop alternative energy sources.

There will always be uses for Gas and Diesel. Where they get us "over a barrel" is the fact that we have NO other choices for energy available.

Too much of the Economy is based on Oil.