Ben's Citicar

[bennelson]

Ah, you forget I ALSO have a recent speeding ticket!

In the Electro-Metro EVen.... (I did mention that in here didn't I?)

25 in a 15 zone.....

Progressive is who my main vehicle policy is through, so that should be no problem then.

[bennelson]

I got to work on the Citicar brakes today!

Rich, Mark, and I got together to do the brakes on Mark and my cars.

Thanks again to Rich for all the help, skills, tools, and making my trailer lights work as well.

We pulled the brakes apart, cleaned out, honed the master cyclinder, degunked the spiders (angled brake cylinder things) and fixed the parking brake.

Rebuild kits are on order at the parts store, but to me, the brakes feel like new compared to what they were.

The Citicar now does donuts on the gravel parking lot really well, although I should make sure to bolt down my batteries first before I do that again.

I stopped at a restaurant on the way home with the Citicar on the trailer. Two guys in a sporty car pulled up next to me to ask about the car. The were shocked that it was electric. I explained how I wanted to up the system voltage for more speed. They thought it would be cool to race one.

[SVOboy]

You'll be burning up the drag strap in no time,

[vinny1989]

Originally Posted by bennelson

...The Citicar now does donuts on the gravel parking lot really well, although I should make sure to bolt down my batteries first before I do that again...

Any chance of a video of that?..

Cute car, i hope you get it running properly and without too many more problems.

[Ryland]

How soon before you have that citi-car on the road and are you bringing it to the MREA's renewable energy fair in June?
I currently have my Commuti-car out and working, altho I busted my PakTrakr gauge yesterday while adding the amp meter pickup, so I'm running without a "fuel" gauge now until I find out if I can get a new one under warenty or if I have to pay for it.
I'm currently useing it as my main vehicle, my Civic vx is sitting at my parents house leaving me with the electric car, a motorcycle and a bicycle, I plan on brining the Commuti-car to the Energy Fair and donating a "2-3 mile ride in an electirc car" to their silent auction fundraser, wasn't sure if that would void my insurance (no hiring out your vehicle) but Progressive said they would cover me at an event like that seeing as how it is a gift on my part, so if you do bring yours we should see who can get a higher bid.

[bennelson]

I can make another Citicar video some time. It's pretty much in up and running condition now, although there are still plenty of little things to do to it (who needs a horn!?)

I am planning on having my Electro-Metro up at the MREA Energy fair.

Last I checked, they were still looking for more Alt. Vehicles for it.
The Metro gets towed with a bar, and I don't have any way of transporting the Metro AND Citicar at the same time.

ALTHOUGH, Rich, Citicar owner #2 in the Milwaukee area, has a Citicar, AND works with trailers professionally. I suppose there is a slight possibility that I could get a big trailer borrowed? Would have to borrow a big truck to go with it too I suppose!

I have Progressive Insurance too. One thing I can NOT do is deliver pizza. The insurance specifically exempts that. As much fun as it would be to have a Citicar with a Pizza Hut sign on top!

[bennelson]

I must have a weird Citicar.

All of the battery configurations I have ever seen are sort of a "swastika" pattern - 4 batteries, each turned 90 degrees and offset by the width of a battery.

Two of these patterns, side by side under the seat in a Citicar or front and back battery boxes in the Commutacar, give you 8 batteries time 6volts = a 48v total pack using 6v batts.

My car has the batteries under the seat. It also has the motor under there! The two battery trays each measure 15" by 18" - not enough room to fit size 6v batteries, and only enough room for TWO of my 7"x13" gel batteries.

That means I can still get 48 volts, but at only 100AH instead of 220ah - only half the range of the intended vehicle. And that's if I had new batteries, I know my used gel batteries aren't as good.

I have one group 24 flooded trolling motor battery kicking around. Those are about 7"x10".
If I turn one of the gels at a right angle to the other, I can have it stick an inch over the front edge of the battery box, that leaves enough room to add the other gel battery AND the group 24 flooded both at the same time. The group 24 flooded is a 95ah battery, so it's almost the exact same capacity as the gels.

I THINK I can fit 4 gels & 2 flooded in the seat of the Citicar.

There is also a smaller single battery tray in front of the motor that appears to be designed as space for a group 24 battery for 12V accessory use. I could either put a full-size 12v battery there for headlights, etc, OR I could possibly use that space for the PWM controller and main and reversing contactor.

I would only have to buy two group 24 flooded batteries to make this all work. (The one group 24 I have is bad.)

That would make a 100ah times 72V pack. 7200 watt-hours. Still wouldn't be a huge range, but better than what I have.

[TomEV]

Sounds like you have one of the transition Citicars - Batteries under the seat, but with a Dana differential and a 6HP motor.

At 48v about the best configuration you can get with your setup appears to be with 8v batteries - two under each side, and two straddling the motor. This would give about 6kWh, or about 24 miles. I have six 8v batteries to save weight, but have room for 8 batteries if I want to move things around as I have a Terrell axle. The original pattern was two under the driver, another two under the passenger, and four in the center in the 'swastica' pattern.

The batteries I use are US8VGC. It used to have 6v US 2200's which are about the same physical size. Some people use the grocery shelf for a few extra batteries. For 72v, you could put three 8v there, and six under the seat...

[bennelson]

The vinyl roof on the Citicar is very old and torn up.

I peeled the rest of the vinyl off. The roof is cracked on both sides from somebody using standard rivits instead of the fancy ones that spread out into "legs" when you squeeze them.

I am working right now to clean up the adhesive on the roof, and apply new vinyl.

Also also stuck my head through the motor compartment with a little mirror, and sure enough, the motor is stamped with a 6 HP mark!

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by bennelson

The vinyl roof on the Citicar is very old and torn up.

I peeled the rest of the vinyl off. The roof is cracked on both sides from somebody using standard rivits instead of the fancy ones that spread out into "legs" when you squeeze them.

I am working right now to clean up the adhesive on the roof, and apply new vinyl.

Also also stuck my head through the motor compartment with a little mirror, and sure enough, the motor is stamped with a 6 HP mark!

I would get some plumber PVC cyclolack welder to fix up the roof, if the cracks are wide a syring and a couple lego blocks do wonders

That motor is about as good as it gets for a Citicar, it should work nicely and get you up around 40ish once you get everything straight, lubed and working nice. The nice part with that type of axle is that you can upgrade the motor unlike the terrell motor axle combo.

I think some have gotten that motor up to 60 volts safely, a little advance and trimming along with a more powerfull fan can give you a boost. You just have to watch temperature. Also your 2nd gear becomes much more usefull at 30v since you can go 25mph as opposed to 21mph. If I had the original Citicar and not my commuta I would add a couple double battery boxes hung off the bumpers front and back to fit another 4 batteries in addition to what you have, perhaps a future upgrade?

Also there have been a couple folks with the original citicars that have trailer hitches, add a little light snowmobile trailer or motorcycle trailer and you have a cheap pickup truck

Lets see if you beat me to the energy fair.