A few random sightings....

[AndrewJ]

So while at work today I saw a few intersting things.

First, outside a grocery store, around back there were two used forklift batteries sitting on a pallet awaiting disposal. If only I had a use for them. They're 24 volt batteries, and the aH rating on them is 878!!

Unfortunately they (probably) each weigh more than the Forkenswift does! Most batteries in this size range are >1500lbs!

I didn't have a camera with me, but this batt is close.



Then, on my last stop of the day, I saw a car that I've never seen before, a Datsun B210GX



Just imagine that exact car with +25 years of rust. It's an astonishingly aerodynamic shape for such a car of it's age. One just might make a nice project car someday If anyone ever stumbles across one.

[Big Dave]

If you find a B210 it better be from Phonix or someplace equally dry. A friend of mine had a B210 and came out to the parking lot one day and the McPherson strut towers had corroded so much the struts were sticking through the hood.

Very thin metal.

[bennelson]

If I found a forklift battery like that, I might be temped to steal the Anderson connector from it.

Worth a decent amount for scrap lead.

People have asked me if I was going to use the battery from the forklift for my car. The answer is no, because it didn't come with one, but even if I did, I wouldn't, because they are huge, heavy blocks!

A couple of golf cart batteries is lighter and much more flexible in where you can put them.

In forklifts, the battery is also used as a ballast or a counterweight against the load they lift.

[AndrewJ]

I still kinda like the idea of an EV using a few smaller 12v "lift truck" batteries. They're lighter (only ~400lbs) but still have some awesome aH numbers.

The part I really like is the idea of the "quick-change" capability. If you had modular batteries, and you had two sets, you could quickly swap your depleted batts for the freshly charged set, and go out again without waiting for a charging cycle.

[bennelson]

The battery compartment on most forklifts is a big rectangle with rollers on the bottom.

This really does let you "quick swap them".

Still, they weigh a lot, and you need another forklift or other power equipment to handle those batteries.

Quick swap batteries is something talked about all the time on electric vehicle forums.

[Chris D.]

I used to have a B210 like that and it was one dam comfortable car..
It wasn't going to win any races, but I never thought about it for gas
milage because back then, gas was only 99 cents a gallon lol

very simple cars.

[DifferentPointofView]

^ One example of how far we've back traveled with fuel economy :/

[Chris D.]

back traveled?

[zjrog]

The old B210 was a not a fun car to drive. And they were really tiny inside. I'm 6'3" and it was not a comfortable fit or ride. Top that off, the ones I drove in the late 70s could barely get to 55MPH with an automatic. The 4 speed was better because you could at least row the shifter...

[H4MM3R]

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

^ One example of how far we've back traveled with fuel economy :/

I agree!