New here with a goal to build an electric car...
 

Hi everyone,
My name is Bernd and I'm from Minnesota. I got the idea of building an electric car while looking at my old battery powered 3600 lbs Yale forklift. Batteries are dead but there is a motor...:) I'm not sure where to start here in the forum looking for advise especially on identifying the motor (9" dia x 14" ??) and what it takes to get it up to speed. I have an old Saab 900 w/ manual transmission which would make the donor car. I am happy for any guidance.
Bernd

Welcome, I'd begin asking questions in one of the subforums

The Saab has a chain drive from the clutch output shaft down to the transmission. That actually might make it quite easy to hook up an electric motor as the upper chain cog has it's own bearings and all you would need is a short new drive shaft from motor output to the cog internal spline.

Only downside is that it's a relatively heavy car.

You are right, the weight might pose a problem but it is a car I have available..
Bernd

shells can be bought for cheap tho

ive seen pretty good complete bugs (w/o engines) go for $500

True! I have to check that out. Makes probably more sense...

Do it with the saab! Use the extra 500 dollars for more battiers or better batteries to offset the weight!

Read the electro-metro thread and all the other ev build threads on this site for ideas. Are you a mechanic, mechanically able or a machinest?

Or sell the saab for $1000 and use the extra 500 dollars for.....

I'm a mechanical engineer and have a machine shop. That makes adapting motors easier..:) My goal is to reach a top speed of min 65 mph and a range of min 50 miles. I was thinking of maybe adding a small fuel or gas powered backup generator for extending the range by recharging the batteries while driving...
Goes a little against the pure electric motor princpal but the car must also serve a practical purpose. .

I actually talked about that in the hybrid forum