Electric conversion: Project ForkenSwiift

[rh77]

Originally Posted by Silveredwings

I was shocked to see that the Neon guys got a charge out of it too.

Are "Shocked" and "Charged" Freudian Slips?

BTW, I concur wholeheartedly: the Jetson's car sound would be ideal

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by rh77

Are "Shocked" and "Charged" Freudian Slips?

BTW, I concur wholeheartedly: the Jetson's car sound would be ideal

No but current and conducting were. j/k

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by zpiloto

Man that is so cool!! What kind of shape are the batteries in after the test drives? Nice rolling stop by the way

They're not good. Amazing what you can learn with a DMM: the pack is very unbalanced (batts resting at very different states of charge after use & charging), and I've already found several that suffer from serious voltage "sag" relative to the others, when measured immediately after loading them up (driving). And I've also found a few batteries that appear reasonably healthy.

That didn't even qualify as a "rolling stop"

Originally Posted by Bill in Houston

I was thinking that since you have a ready supply of used batteries, you could continue to collect them, charge them, load test them, and then keep the ones that do the very best.

That's probably what we'll do, for now. I'm going to ask the forklift company guy who's been supplying me with batts if he'll connect me with his supplier. There's apparently a guy who drives around delivering new & picking up used batts. I want to meet this guy

Also, is there an concern about hydrogen buildup in the charging area? I don't know much about batteries.

Yes. The closer a flooded battery approaches full charge, the more it will "gas", releasing H2 and O2. Many conversions with batteries enclosed in the trunk or in battery boxes in the passenger compartment (ie hatchbacks), run brushless fans to circulate outside air through the boxes.

Originally Posted by Silveredwings

That's terrific! Thanks for showing us the current state of the tests you're conducting. I was shocked to see that the Neon guys got a charge out of it too.

You're welcome. I was quite amped about the whole thing myself!

[Peakster]

What gear were you in when you reached your top speed? I would think that electric motors would love revving at high RPM in a lower gear than doing a lower RPM in a higher gear.

On another note, maybe some electric-motor braking (instead of coasting in neutral) would act like regenerative braking on hybrids? I'm sure driving an electric car is a totally different ballgame than an ICE powered one.

[MetroMPG]

You're right - it is a totally different

[Snax]

Originally Posted by theclencher

You and the Prius guys might have to rig up a playing card in the wheel spokes like us kids did to our bikes.

No. Just attach two short chains to the undercarriage so that the free end of each drags upon the ground. They'll serve double duty as an audible warning and as 'electrical pickups' (or so one might say), as they spark along the ground.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by theclencher

You and the Prius guys might have to rig up a playing card in the wheel spokes like us kids did to our bikes.

You're closest to what I'd actually like to do: I want to use a bicycle bell. Maybe hooked to a solenoid to sound it.

I'm actually already fairly concientious towards pedestrians since 40-50% of the time the Blackfly is moving, its engine is off. I often tap the horn to let people know I'm there.

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

You're closest to what I'd actually like to do: I want to use a bicycle bell. Maybe hooked to a solenoid to sound it.

I'm actually already fairly concientious towards pedestrians since 40-50% of the time the Blackfly is moving, its engine is off. I often tap the horn to let people know I'm there.

How about half a door bell?

[OdieTurbo]

Awesome stuff! Just had a chance to read the whole thread and watch the video! I am duly impressed! Now if I could just do this to say a '65 Spitfire...

[MetroMPG]

SW: good idea! But which half? The "ding" or the "dong"?

Oldie: re the Spitfire - watch for Toecutter's thread. That's his plan.