CarBEN EV5 Full Sized Prototype Construction - 5 Seat Electric Car From Scratch

[freebeard]

IIRC he was trying to find someone in the USofA to do manufacturing under license. So be a matchmaker and benefit from the local sourcing. Easier than making the parts yourself, right?

Else the XR3 is build-it-yourself from plans.

[2007 ion2]

my ion uses a torsion beam rear suspension. they switched from the independent rear suspension used in the S series because it intrudes less into the trunk area of the car. the cruze then switched to a z link rear suspension. both worth looking into, as properly set up, torsion beam can perform pretty well and it's light, and rugged.

people have damaged their rear suspension pretty bad and just un bolted the old, bolt on the new, with no damage to the car itself. also, as mentioned, this design is easy to mount to a car. ions had different sway bars available integrated into the beam, from soft ride, sport, really sporty (redline), to ridiculous (cobalt ss/tc). fe1, fe2, fe3, fe5. fe4 got stuck in the well with timmy...

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Google

Saturn ION - Wikicars
wikicars.org/en/Saturn_ION‎
Apr 2, 2010 – 103.5 in. (Red Line). Weight, 2,752 - 2,945 lbs. ...

I stopped reading there.

[NeilBlanchard]

Over at the Aptera Forum, someone suggested the rear suspension for the Porsche 914:

Hart's 1973 Porsche 914 Restoration / EV Conversion: Rear Suspension Installed

It looks possible, but it might be too wide at the pivot tube. Maybe I can narrow the pivot, and then add a lateral link at the hub to the center of the car, like I was planning?

[samwichse]

What's your rear track width?

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Google

PORSCHE 914 FAQ | Ask.com
www.ask.com/faqcentral/PORSCHE_914.html‎
Jump to how much does a 1971 porsche 914 weigh? – The 1971 Porsche 914 weighs 2138 pounds...

Citroen 2CV?

[Jyden]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Citroen 2CV?

Good thinking. Dosent come more simple than those.

[samwichse]

Cheaper and mountable with only one main bulkhead attachment.

But the track width is about 50 inches.

Sam

[freebeard]

Are you sure? That's a Type I pan that's been cut ~6" ahead of the rear torsion bar tube. At least it's a sub-2000lb vehicle.

A Type III has a rear sub-frame that is mounted in 3 rubber bushings.

[2007 ion2]

I was simply making a point in favor of torsion beam over irs. though, the rear suspension on fe1 is so soft, it might actually be closer to working than you think.