EV with Gas. Just Plain Wrong.

[bennelson]

Can you spot what's wrong with this picture?



I will give you a hint:
That's an electric car.

This is the first time there has been any gasoline in that car in over a year - since the car's gas tank was removed to make room for batteries to power an electric forklift motor that replaced the car's gasoline engine.

Unfortunately, I have been neglecting my lawn for the past two weeks as I was traveling to an "eco-bed 'n' breakfast" and then off to the big renewable energy fair.

While my car is powered by electricity, my lawn mower is not. Nope, I am stuck in the fossil fuel age when it comes property maintenance. Although my long-term goal is to have a bigger garden and planted areas, for now I must trim my lawn to acceptable neighborhood standards.

A few weeks ago, I had an appointment to go see an Electrak (GE-built electric riding lawn mower) that was for sale, but had it stolen out from under me by somebody who swung by and dropped off a load of cash, sight-unseen!

My friend Tim, with help from all our EV Buddies of the Milwaukee Electric Car Club, are converting an old Simplicity lawn tractor to battery electric. Once done, Tim will be able to mow his lawn fossil-fuel-free.

Although I am busy with several other projects, I think something similar would be great. We'll just let Tim be the Guinea Pig on this one.

So for now, I have to use my electric car to go buy gasoline for my petro-mower.

The irony is not lost on me!


(PS: Safety first! Gasoline fumes and electric components are not a good mix! Yes, I did have my windows down for ventilation, and was NOT engaging or disengaging sparking electric parts while transporting volatile fossil fuels!)

[dcb]

HA, well I really like my corded mower. Had a reel mower but I was too much of a gorilla with it and broke it. Makes me wonder if anyone can pull off a corded riding mower (beat up rider with an extension chord) ? With some built in cord management on a small mast or something?

[bennelson]

I have actually SERIOUSLY considered designing a CORDED riding lawn mower!

Perhaps some sort of overhead lines, like a trolley? (But insulated cable, not sparking bumper-car technology! )

[Christ]

I was working on building a 5 HP battery mower before I moved up here... another one of those projects that's taking a back seat until I get my house built.

I planned on doing E-Mower conversions with older "broken down" gas mowers, using L&G Batteries salvaged from the tractor shops around town.

[Christ]

I also just got a reel mower from the same guy that gave me the diesel engine for Cara's heart transplant.

[NiHaoMike]

Originally Posted by bennelson

While my car is powered by electricity, my lawn mower is not. Nope, I am stuck in the fossil fuel age when it comes property maintenance. Although my long-term goal is to have a bigger garden and planted areas, for now I must trim my lawn to acceptable neighborhood standards.

Why couldn't they just allow the grass to grow the way nature intended? (God did *not* invent lawnmowers!)

[MPaulHolmes]

YA! I never mew my lawn (is that the past tense of mow?) until I got one of those push types that makes a blade spin. Human power. It's super fun! If you race around the yard, it still cuts really good! Well, not REALLY good, but sort of good.

[Clev]

Originally Posted by Christ

I planned on doing E-Mower conversions with older "broken down" gas mowers, using L&G Batteries salvaged from the tractor shops around town.

Craigslist usually has a ton of free gas lawnmowers that don't work--perfect for a cheap EM conversion. An starter motor, a car battery and a 12V contactor would get the job done cheaply.

[NiHaoMike]

Or use a vacuum cleaner motor for a lighter mower.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by NiHaoMike

Or use a vacuum cleaner motor for a lighter mower.

Wouldn't drive a rider.