Electro-Metro Adventures
 

Hey everyone.

I just realized how long my "Electro-Metro Build Thread"!

From now on, I am going to have construction and tech info in that thread, and I am starting this one to talk about all the fun adventures I go on with the car.

Starting with the annual bonfire this past Saturday.

My wife and I have been doing a bonfire at my parents house (big back yard, very private) for about the last decade.

My parents live about 10 miles away, so I wanted to take the Metro there and back.

Of course I have to drag along a jacket, chips, a couple cases of soda, booze, flashlights, and everything else with to have a good old time.

http://gallery.me.com/benhdvideoguy/...C07093/web.jpg
http://gallery.me.com/benhdvideoguy/...C07094/web.jpg

We didn't have much wood this year, other than the pallets I have been snagging any time I see them and then drop them off over there. Down the street is a cabinet shop that I have full rights to dumpster dive in.

My brother Andrew and I zipped down there in the Metro to see what was in the dumpster to burn.
Of course I didn't have the pickup truck with, and there wasn't another good vehicle at my parents house to load up, so we threw a door, 4x4s, and other assorted goods straight into the back of the car.

http://gallery.me.com/benhdvideoguy/...C07095/web.jpg

Back at the ranch, my EVil brother actually ENCOURAGED me to off-road our way back to the bonfire, reasoning that it is "so much easier than getting the wheelbarrow..."

http://gallery.me.com/benhdvideoguy/...C07096/web.jpg

The ground was a little soft, and we did leave some mud on the grass in a place or two. Tire traction was the limiting factor, NOT TORQUE! The car is front wheel drive, and I think there wasn't much weight on them with the batteries and all that wood in the back.

http://gallery.me.com/benhdvideoguy/...12245410110001

It's a steep, long hill to get back from the bonfire area. I had no problems going up that hill. I did it in second. If I had to, I suppose first gear would run this car like a tractor!

So, anyways, who needs an SUV, when you can have an all-electric, carbon-neutral good time!!!

i want pictures of the bonfire!

Just imagine that pile of wood on fire, with a couple pallets and a bar stool on top!


This is Ecomodder! You are supposed to lust over the car, not the fire!!!

(Seriously, I never take photos at the fire. Too busy talking, drinking, and stoking the flames!)

Thats quite the load of wood. Keep that up and you'll have to rename it to the Electro Metro Hauler.

I have door just like that that I just took out of the house and was planning on burning as well...

Went for a ride in the rain tonight.

I was out of cream for my coffee. (No, not for tonight, tomorrow...)

I knew I could be terribly disappointed tomorrow morning when I didn't have any cream. Yep. me a non-morning person/coffee addict.

It wasn't too late and I didn't feel nearly as bad running an errand like that to the grocery store, in an electric car.

My wife actually ENCOURAGED me to go to the store in the car. (Must have wanted to get rid of me...)

It was cold and rainy. Remind me to get new wiper blades. The ones on the Electro-Metro are not very good.

Surprisingly, the car's performance was especially good tonight! I think the temperature and modifications I have been doing lately, etc, have gotten the throttle potentiometer to a better spot. The acceleration was really good.

Also, there was very little traffic tonight. That was great. I got to drive 25-30 mph the whole way!

I'm really starting to like this car! :thumbup:

Been pretty excited too about how popular the Instructables on the car has been. About 6000 views last time I checked!

How much of a power draw are the lights and wipers in the rain?

I have no idea! I don't have an ammeter for the 12V system. Getting one of those is one of many small things I would still like to do on the car.