My New EV - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

bennelson · 05-06-2008, 10:07 PM

I just bought a new EV.

Got it cheap at the auto salvage yard. It even has an AC motor!

Now before you get too excited, here it is:

http://web.mac.com/benhdvideoguy/iWeb/Site/EVmower.html

OK, so if it were a riding mower would you consider it an EV?
I got this more to save on maintenance than to save on gas. I always have trouble with small gas engines, especially 2-cycle.

It runs, but I should probably pull the motor out and take a look at it, see if there are any brushes left, etc.

I would love a G.E. Electrak, but you have to pry those from the owners' cold dead fingers....

SVOboy · 05-06-2008, 10:09 PM

Time to find some electrak owners to murder...

Nice find! Gonna add some batteries?

bennelson · 05-06-2008, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Gonna add some batteries?

Nah, just going to use it for trimming around the house. Just needs an extension cord.

Nerys · 05-08-2008, 12:08 AM

I got sooo lucky I got a B&D cordless (batteries) mower for nothing on craigslist!! its got a cracked motor magnet but it still works and a whole new motor is only $130 (the mower is worth over $500 new so a deal) its got one new battery too (damn there $111 a pop!!!) Once the batts die I will try a NIMH conversion but I think these batts will last a few years at least. I LOVE it. More than enough power for all the grass at work and enough for the grass at home as long as its not wet. Damp grass drains it at about the 3/4 mark :-) I am so pleased! NO more fraking oil to cut the lawn! and its insanely quite :-)

LostCause · 05-08-2008, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennelson

It runs, but I should probably pull the motor out and take a look at it, see if there are any brushes left, etc.

I may be misinterpreting you, but if you mean commutator brushes, AC motors don't have any.

I remember back in the day mowing the lawn with an electric mower. The one I used was corded. If yours isn't, I'm jealous.

- LostCause

bennelson · 05-08-2008, 10:10 AM

Doh! You're right. It might not have any brushes! Depends on the exact type of motor inside. I believe it could be a "universal" motor as well.

It doesn't always spin up when I hit the switch. That's an AC motor thing right?
It is a corded mower. I'm fine with that! No batteries to maintain or replace!

WaxyChicken · 05-10-2008, 03:42 PM

I had an electric mower before.
I ran over the cord twice before i sold it at a yard sale.

Nerys · 05-10-2008, 03:59 PM

Hehehe yeah I could see that getting annoying right quick. Thats why I got a cordless battery powered one. problem solved :-) no more money to exxon and the other ilk at least to cut my lawn. I also have one of those manual reel to reel mowers. They work surprisingly well and are not all that hard to push the problem is ANY stick even a twig stops then dead in there tracks :-)

bennelson · 05-10-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaxyChicken

I had an electric mower before.
I ran over the cord twice before i sold it at a yard sale.

Yeah, I think whether I actually use the corded electric mower will all depend on "cable-management".

I calculated how much money it costs to mow my lawn. Too much.

Maybe I should do some "prarie restoration".

Nerys · 05-10-2008, 09:23 PM

I wonder. 1500watt inverter and a good deep cycle battery. How long would that thing run? How big is your lawn?

LostCause · 05-11-2008, 12:50 AM

I've mowed lawns forever using a corded mower and it's not that bad. I thought cleaning out the clippings bag was a bigger PIA. If you are going to make the thing battery powered, you might as well go full bore and make an RC mower.

Personally, I'd use a push mower and not send money to Big Oil or Big Electricity.

The ecomodder outline should be:

Human Power > Animal Power > Electric Power > Gas Power.

- LostCause

Nerys · 05-11-2008, 01:14 AM

ehh I would remove the animal power from the list. MY list would go Human Power - Self Power - Electric Power.

Self Power can be any form of power where YOU made it yourself. Such as electric that is solar charged. Since the mower is only used once a week and takes a full 24 hours to charge I am thinking it might actually be practical to solar charge it!

mimsmetro · 05-11-2008, 02:09 AM

can't beat the bicycle mower!

Nerys · 05-11-2008, 02:19 AM

WOW! thats cool and scary! One thing with those reel mowers even so much as a twig stops them dead in there tracks. Wonder what would happen on that bike :-) hehehe

bennelson · 05-11-2008, 01:06 PM

I have heard of a fair number of people who use solar-charged electric garden tractors. Because they have big batteries and aren't used too often, they are perfect candidates for solar charging.

I don't have great solar access, and my yard isn't that big, so I think corded is fine, although I do love the idea of the remote control lawn mower!!!!!

I also heard about a guy who had a round lawn with a stake in the middel. He ran a rope to a self-propelled mower. As the rope runs round the stake, it gets shorter. The mower runs itself in a spiral around the stake while he sits in a hammock drinking lemonade!

metroschultz · 05-11-2008, 03:23 PM

I purchased a "Neuton" mower three years ago.
Battery powered,
Looks like a UFO
neighborhood kids think I'm crazy,
I told 'em its nucular powered,
Fill the batt from the outlet, power comes from NorthAnna Nuclear Plant, put it in the mower.
TaDa Nucular powered mower
now I need a "Mr. Fusion" sitting on the back.
Schultz (add E.T. voice here) Phone Home

IndyIan · 05-15-2008, 03:27 PM

Animal powered is good, we use goats! They keep 5 acres behind the house trimmed down quite nicely. I have a neighbor that mows 5 acres for fun basically... I don't really know why else he does it. I won't tell Nerys what we do with the goats after, but its another way to eat sunshine.

Our lawn near the house is a bit wild so for now its a gas mower, 4 stroke at least and I doubt I use $20 in gas a year so its not too bad. I'd love to get a robotic one like schultz(how does it handle hitting 2x4 scraps?) as we have a robotic vacuum and the cleanest floors we've had in years!
Ian

Nerys · 05-15-2008, 03:54 PM

Hey I eat meat like anyone else and do not have a problem with it. I just prefer to find alternatives to animal power if an option is available. The day we have replicators is the last day I will eat meat since on that day there will no longer be a logical reason to kill an animal for food. Till then. I enjoy my meat :-)

Nerys · 05-15-2008, 04:03 PM

Dolt it double posted...

IndyIan · 05-15-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerys

Hey I eat meat like anyone else and do not have a problem with it. I just prefer to find alternatives to animal power if an option is available. The day we have replicators is the last day I will eat meat since on that day there will no longer be a logical reason to kill an animal for food. Till then. I enjoy my meat :-)

Sorry Nerys, somehow I got you confused with the vegan-powa guy. Not that anything is wrong with being vegan either. We are doing some sustainable agriculture with goats and chickens and are trying to work up to the 100 yard diet