Build a car from scratch....

[toyobug]

WOW! this project sounds very ambitious. I say DO IT! The only way we ever learn new things is to push the envelope! Without people out there willing to do that, we can't grow. Case in point; the atom smasher project in Switzerland.
Blue Bomber- if you think you can do it, then DO IT!
I'll be reading along.

[Blue Bomber Man]

I have to admit the engineering that I will need to learn along the way is daunting but I am very capable of self educating myself in various subjects.

Unfortunately for most that are interested in where this is going is that it will be fairly prolonged, many might be interested for a while, but the time period that this will involve will probably be longer then most people's attention span.

My first task to actually start designing is to buy a program (probably SolidWorks for students:$150) and a new computer that has the horse power to run that efficiently (Perhaps spending around 9-1200).

The first real topic I need to research is how much hp my motor needs to be drive various masses. Compounding that researching is estimating how efficient the vehicle will move. For example by modeling the probe v can I actually get it drag coeefficient, or perhaps even better? Then I have to consider rolling resistance. The heavier the car the more it compounds various problems like motor size, battery size, and frame strength.

I need to learn more about battery tech. The leading possibility that I've found so far is Lithium Ion Polymer batteries. Very weight efficient, supposedly great life span, still reading up on charge cycles (some manufactures quote 300 cycles which is probably too low to be useful, others claim 700+) I think earlier a calculated that a 16kw pack equivalent to the chevy volts capacity would only weigh around 350 pounds (I think the price was $9000, and was actually like 500 cells that I would have to wire together, incidentally, 500 cells was the MINIMUM order lol) There are other difficulties that I might not be able to over come with these batteries such as reliably balancing the charging of all the cells.

I hope to kind of make this whole thing some sort of "Open Source Engineering" project. btw I am laying claim to coining that term *grin*

[Blue Bomber Man]

Fell in love with a motor, but I REALLY doubt I can afford it, but I might write to them to get information, maybe get them to fall in love with my project

http://www.bluwavsystems.com/whitepa...kWHubMotor.pdf

Its a motor in the HUB of the wheel, so of I would need either two or four. They claim it would do 0-60 in 5 seconds in a 3000lb car with four motors, wonder how two would do in a car that was say 1800lb ^_^

[toyobug]

Originally Posted by Blue Bomber Man

I hope to kind of make this whole thing some sort of "Open Source Engineering" project.

Sounds cool.

Where are you located in upstate NY? I'm a military brat that went to highschool in Rome, and college in Utica.

[Blue Bomber Man]

South Glens Falls, about 20 minutes from Saratoga Springs

[Appalachian Trail 2007]

Hey I Live Near There Too!!! We Should Meet Up Sometime

[Doofus McFancypants]

Those would make a sweet custom EV - with the weight near 1800 lbs - two of these powering rear wheels would be a nice little package.

If I ever do build the locost 7 EV - these would be awsome..

steve

[moorecomp]

Originally Posted by Blue Bomber Man

I'm planning on spending around two years in the design process of the car and the first decision I need to do is find a suitable design program that could handle a project of this complexity.


If anyone has any experience with some nice 3D design programs and could suggest some to look into that would be very helpful.

Blue,

You really should check out the FREE design software that is available for students from AutoDesk:

Autodesk Student Community

Best of luck

[CobraBall]

Mad Blue,

Have you priced bidirectional carbon fiber? (Carbon Fiber/Graphite from Aircraft Spruce) Ouch!

[Blue Bomber Man]

Thanks, Im checking out the software right now, seems like the Inventor software is what I want to use, but I may get the Architecture version as well, I want to design and build my own duplex with my roommate next year. We both have some experience with contract work and have access to the tools we would need to build a house. Once that is built I would have a nice garage to build my car

Im curious to see how powerful this is compared to solidworks.