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DIY electric car
pekwah1 - 31/10/19 at 10:00 PM

Anyone on here dabbled with an EV conversion?

I’m seriously considering one on the cheap, not expecting mega performance or range but think it would make a fun project and if it gives me enough range to get to work and back then I’ll be laughing fuel wise!!!


loggyboy - 31/10/19 at 10:24 PM


rusty nuts - 1/11/19 at 07:08 AM

Can’t help but wasn’t there an electric Lotus Elise shown at Stoneliegh a couple of years ago ?


Schrodinger - 1/11/19 at 08:00 AM

About 15+ years ago somebody did an electric Tiger (cat I think)


cliftyhanger - 1/11/19 at 08:25 AM

Penty of fori out there with people using written off EV cars as donors. May be the cheapest solution? But, and possibly a big but, I have no idea how registration would work, getting some of the advantages of an electric car. ie congestion charge, VED and so on.

Or just buy a Leaf? but where is the fun in that.


hobbsy - 1/11/19 at 09:42 AM

My good friend Dan made this a few years ago...

https://youtu.be/MbnwdR6Duvc

Wasn't cheap mind...


nick205 - 1/11/19 at 10:03 AM

How far is your commute?

Considered cycling?

I've done it and many others do. A bicycle will cost less, take up less space and really does you good.

On the other hand I can see the interest in building an EV.

Keep us posted!


pekwah1 - 1/11/19 at 01:16 PM

That Westfield looks awesome, do you which motor and batteries he used?

Commute is 18 miles each way, I’m not bloody cycling that, especially as I need to go down the a23


coyoteboy - 1/11/19 at 01:46 PM

I was very tempted to go EV instead of V8.

But I like the sound of a V8 and soon they'll be gone.

Cycling 18 miles is about 1hr, I used to do that a few times a week as it was quicker than driving down the A580 each day. I was healthy back then.


McLannahan - 1/11/19 at 02:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by pekwah1
That Westfield looks awesome, do you which motor and batteries he used?




Whole thread and info here - Have read it before, it's an epic build!

https://forum.wscc.co.uk/forum/topic/121032-the-fastest-accelerating-westfield-in-the-world-the-megawatt/


Mr Whippy - 1/11/19 at 08:23 PM

May seem a bit boring but really the most effective and cheaper option would be to just buy a second hand leaf. I looked into converting classic cars before and the cost to do so was many times greater than the final value of the car. Unless you have money to burn or just have to do it an engine will be much more cost effective especially for commuting to work etc


Mr Whippy - 1/11/19 at 08:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy



I love how the heaviest part of that is the old landrover windscreen. Imagine turning up to the IVA in that...


Toys2 - 1/11/19 at 08:45 PM

There was a good articale in Complete Kit Car magazine a couple of months back
about an EV Mev, with such moderate power it didn't even need a full IVA (11HP??)
But because of the different power delivery it wasn't the slug that you'd imagine with so little power

I'd love something like that with 50 mile range as my daily driver

https://www.performancepublishing.co.uk/search/for/electric+mev/


Simon - 1/11/19 at 09:34 PM

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grasshopper-Senior-Pro-Electric-Single-Seat-Golf-Buggy-Golf-Cart-Recon/162302248995?hash=item25c9f7c823:g:TfIAAOSwA3dYPo0v< br />


scimjim - 2/11/19 at 08:42 AM

Read about the one in Barbados - linked in this thread.


miskit - 2/11/19 at 11:46 PM

I bought a motor + controller + plate a year ago for the Sandrail that I didn't use in the end. It was originally used to power a BMW so good enough!
This is the original sale thread https://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144802 with the spec, I will get round to doing a proper advert on here but drop me a PM if it is something you are interested in.

Motor
http://www.evmotors.com.au/products/8inch.html

[Edited on 2/11/19 by miskit]


JC - 4/11/19 at 07:00 AM

I was half pondering an electric trike...
In my internet trawling I discovered this from Stuart Mills - can anyone explain the R100 issues please?

Linky


40inches - 4/11/19 at 09:32 AM

quote:
Originally posted by JC
I was half pondering an electric trike...
In my internet trawling I discovered this from Stuart Mills - can anyone explain the R100 issues please?

Linky


Looks like it is no longer relevant http://mevowners.proboards.com/thread/10088/electric-kit-cars
So, you can get a 48v car through IVA and then replace with any voltage you like


Mr Whippy - 4/11/19 at 12:29 PM

When you include the cost of the batteries, controller, motor, gearbox, adapter & chargers - then compare it to any comparable IC alternative, electric really makes zero sense for a kit car unless you have to have one and are willing to just throw masses of cash at it

If you want to have an electric car just buy a production one which will work better and cost much less. Then again I looked at one too but my dinky 3 cylinder petrol works out half the running costs of even the cheapest options, at half the price to buy, much much less deprecation, no battery degradation and no range issues... they'd have to quadruple the price of petrol to make me change over

[Edited on 4/11/19 by Mr Whippy]


jimmyjoebob - 4/11/19 at 05:17 PM

Australian guy converted his Land Rover Lightweight to electric. Not cheap but effective!

Land Rover Lightweight


nick205 - 7/11/19 at 01:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by pekwah1

Commute is 18 miles each way, I’m not bloody cycling that, especially as I need to go down the a23



My commute is 19 miles each way with a mix of A, B and dual carriage way roads. I can cycle it in under an hour each way, it makes you feel awake and keeps you fit. There's e-bikes to take some of the strain as well if you wish. If you don't fancy cycling on the A23 then check for alternative routes.

This time of year when it's dark earlier might not be ideal, but summer time, get out there and pedal!