View Single Post
Old 08-17-2009, 10:10 AM   #2 (permalink)
MetroMPG
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
A golf cart motor and 48v would work, yes. Being a smaller motor, it would be more succeptible to heating up, but if you're only using it for intermittent duty, it would probably be OK.

The biggest challenges are:

1) the motor may not have a drive end bearing - many golf carts use the differential to hold the end of the motor shaft in place. So you'd have to fab something up with a bearing in it

2) where would you install it in your car? What would it drive? Options are: 5th gearset; drive shaft (either sprocket onto a FWD axle, or inline or sprocket on a RWD shaft); 5th wheel; chain/belt drive off one of the rear wheels

3) Series DC motors (assuming that's what you're considering) aren't ideally suited for regen. Perm magnet motors (Etek) would be better, but still require either a special controller, or some custom circuitry.

It's not impossible. Mike's Honda Insight 5th wheel is running 48v with an Etek motor, and Coyote X's Metro is running 72v with a small motor as well. (Search for details)

Remember the 2070 lb ForkenSwift is also 48v/400A and can get up to 40+ mph on the level (eventually).
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote