Ben Nelson's Electro-Metro Build thread

[bennelson]

I got the charger working with the Kill-a-Watt last night.

After driving just over ten miles, and charging overnight, the charger used 2.8 KWhrs of energy.

That's right around 280 watt-hours per mile and is the eMPG of 133!

I just hit #2 on the Ecomodder home page for fuel economy!

(Curse You 1976 CitiCar! I will get you soon!)

[MetroMPG]

Congrats, Ben. That's just about what I'm seeing in summer driving too.

I like the pic of the conduit sticking out the front of your car - I had exactly the same thing on the ForkenSwift before I trimmed it.

[Tango Charlie]

Originally Posted by bennelson

I think your car's Italian. It's getting ready to suck up some grey spaghetti.

[bennelson]

Well, today I made official 1st. use of the car.

I drove it to work. Granted, my office is only about 2 miles from home, but I took the long route to stop at the auto parts store on the way, and carried a LOT of stuff with me. Far more than I would have been able to on the EV motorcycle.

Car still needs work: gauges, cabling things up better, etc., but it is in working condition!

[orange4boy]

Congrats!

You have no idea how jealous I am. I will have to wait to start mine. I can't wait to NOT come home with a six pack dangling from one handlebar.

Great job! An inspiration. Bravo! (and assorted encouraging sayings).

And thanks for taking the time to post all that.

[bennelson]

I just finally got the title in the mail today!

Yea!

Hmm - now I just have to go in for emissions and get that all straightened out....

[Tango Charlie]

Yay!

Wait, you get mail on Sundays?

[bennelson]

Was working all day Saturday.

Mail actually came Saturday, but didn't get it til Sunday, wise guy.

[bennelson]

Got to do a little work on the car today.

I removed that lifting strap that got "built-in" when I wrestled the engine in. Unfortunately, it was easiest just to cut it out.

The Vacuum system for the power brakes wasn't working right. I tracked it down to the thin hose that runs to the vac gauge. I wired up the vac pump so that it runs when you press the brake.

After doing a test run, I think I can say this is a good system. Just getting started powers up the vacuum and I don't think I ever saw it drop below 10 on the guage while braking.

I rigged up the forklift throttle in place of the hand potentiometer, so the car runs with the original gas and brake pedals now.

I also re-installed the ammeter and a large 0-100V voltmeter on the dash.

The car is much more "car-like" now that the power brakes turn on and off automatically, and it runs with the gas pedal.

I also finally rigged up the main contactor to run off the keyswitch, so I can't try to drive it without unlocking the steering any more!!!

[toyobug]

Originally Posted by bennelson

The car is much more "car-like" now that the power brakes turn on and off automatically, and it runs with the gas pedal.

isn't that the "go pedal" now?

I've thoroughly enjoyed following your build Ben. Any future plans for the metro, or is it on to the citi car now?