Electric car conversion: Project ForkenSwift

[MPaulHolmes]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

A couple of sharp hammer whacks on the drum freed it up instantly, but it stuck again on the next application. I'll have to pull the drums and lubricate the cable & pivots.

Been there, done that, bought that t-shirt!

-Paul

[bennelson]

How's this for a video?

YouTube - Forkenswift Electric Car Geo Metro on CBC

[Peakster]

^ at 2:45: Does your neighbour actually own a white hummer Darin?! Or was that just some sneaky product placement to create some contrast?

[MetroMPG]

Peakster, that was legit - it belongs to Ivan's neighbour.

The reporter & videographer spent 3 hours here getting various shots (several of the ForkenSwift going past the Hummer), and interviewing us.

Then hours more with the Ottawa group, and several more with the owner of the electric Porsche 914. Then they distilled it all into a couple of minutes.

[Peakster]

Yeah, that's usually what happens with video. In order to get the best shots and quotes, they need A LOT of footage.

Sort of like how artists will draw thousands of designs for a prop to be used in a movie before they finally settle on the one you see in the film.

[Christopher Jordan]

Excellent bit of TV news! More and more similar EV coverage are appearing in my area since it is very close to Silicon Valley. Many are very interesting, but some just left me wondering what happened when they disappear!

Hearing about the Forkenswift projects from start to interview gave me a "front row seat"! THANKS!

[jakemacd]

Needless to say, it has taken me over a week to read and attempt to digest and truly appreciate every word on this 36 page thread. I'm a new member here and even though I have been so, for as long as I've been reading this amazing story, this will be my first post. So many times I would hear myself laugh out loud at the wonderful humor and still do catch myself smiling as I reflect back on a particular "episode".

Darin has a marvelous way with the written word. As I got to know them better thru ever increasing "reveal-ations" in verse and video, both he and Ivan have become dear to me. They are indeed the kind of young people that breathe hope back into a generally speaking greedy, oil-thirsting, globally ambivalent society. I hope this story will go on and on. But I've only just began to scratch the surface here. It is clear that the members here are intelligent, talented, cognizant folk.

Yeah I'd like to do an EV. Do you think I could do a bicycle guys?

Jake in the Falls

[MPaulHolmes]

Bikes are super easy. Maybe a day of work, and you're done. Very efficient too. Like 1500 mpg equivalent or some such ridiculousness. Mine cost about $300. Check out ebikes.ca for a really thorough site on e-bikes. The cheapo crystalyte brushed hub motor works really well. I can cruise on the road at 48v and not be passed by too many cars. Almost like a motorcycle, but then I can switch to the sidewalk and not obey any traffic laws, since the cops just think it's a regular bike with a weird box on it.

[WannabeEVer]

Yeah i was thinking about doing a bike too. Do you mean like a pedal bike or a motor bike Jake? I was thinking of just using a starter motor from a vehicle, getting a controller and you pretty much have an electric pedal bike right there.

[MetroMPG]

Hi Jake - congrats on making it all the way through the thread!

Really, I'm older than I sound. It must be my youthful typing style.

I think doing a bike EV - either pedal or motorcycle - is a great way to whet your appetite and learn the basics common to all EVs.

There haven't been any recent ForkenSwift updates because I've been spending my tinker time modding the gas car. Also, I haven't even driven locally in about 3 weeks (bicycle). So Ivan's had it just about since the start of July.

We've agreed to set aside a weekend in September to spend some time on it before winter: rust treatment (oil & undercoat), front belly pan & grille block (not for aero, but to keep the motor bay clean). Before then, I'll also swap in the "good" battery pack. Probably use those for the next year or so.