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Old 12-29-2007, 08:04 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Shocker! ForkenSwift's identical twin under construction...

Geo Metro Electic Conversion Project

What a jolt ... to discover a couple of guys are taking what looks like the ForkenSwift's identical twin Metro, and they're doing a budget conversion on it.

To top it off - the car's in Hawaii! Don't ask me why, but I find it very cool that the ForkenSwift's twin is being built in freaking Hawaii, while today I was out in the snow & ice, squirting oil into its body panels to try keeping rust from coming back and ruining the bodywork I did this summer.




They started documenting on Oct. 14 ('07), and just before Xmas the motor was installed on the transmission:



OK, looking at that motor it suddenly becomes obvious they're not quite as low-budget as the ForkenSwift.

It looks to me like a brand new D&D motor. Apparently they're using a Geo Metro EV kit bought through Wilderness EV's.

Some other neat vehicles in their fleet too. I notice a gen2 Prius in the background of one pic, and the author of the blog has also done a WVO Mercedes. The kicker is: I remember watching the video of this guy's Merc earlier this year. The interweb's a small place.

It would be interesting to find out exactly what year the car is, whether it's 2- or 4-door, and what specs they're aiming for (ie. voltage, controller power, etc.) Maybe if we're lucky they'll let us know.

Nice work guys! Looking forward to watching the progress.

http://electricmetro.blogspot.com/

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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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Old 12-29-2007, 08:54 PM   #2 (permalink)
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It's the current thing to do.
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Old 12-29-2007, 10:46 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
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Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

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People's resistance to the idea does seem to be going down.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 12-29-2007, 11:13 PM   #4 (permalink)
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There's definately less reluctance to conduct these kind of experiments.

I think the potential has always been there, but with these gas prices, folks are getting pretty wired. I really get a charge out of these stories.
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Old 12-30-2007, 02:09 PM   #5 (permalink)
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A series of forkenswifts - nice
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Old 12-30-2007, 02:20 PM   #6 (permalink)
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90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

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SW: I can't compete with that!
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 01-03-2008, 05:35 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

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I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that they're using bed frames for the battery racks. I wrecked more than 1 drill bit on bed frame metal making the FS's racks...

http://electricmetro.blogspot.com/20...ts-puzzle.html
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 01-07-2008, 01:25 PM   #8 (permalink)
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It looks like you have a 3rd twin comming up MetroMPG. I was just messing around on craigslist and found this today:

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/wan/530645053.html

I believe I've seen links to this guys site before... maybe off gassavers?
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Old 01-08-2008, 12:08 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
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Interesting. I hadn't seen this guy's motorcycle conversion before.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 01-09-2008, 12:27 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Hey that's my bike!

I just finished reading all 26 pages of the Forkenswift thread.

I get to the end and click the "twin being made in Hawaii" link and get to this one.

Read through and find that somebody has actually referenced my crappy web page for my cycle build.

I had to laugh out loud. I have never experienced anybody "talking about me" on the internet before.

This must be what it feels like to Google yourself and actually get a hit.

I just added a hit counter to my web page. I would have done that originally if I thought anyone was going to actually VIEW IT!

I love the motorcycle, but it isn't so great in Wisconsin rain and winters. I started looking around for some info on a light/cheap EV conversion - anything with 3 or more wheels on the ground and a roof would do.

The closest thing I could find to what I am looking to do is the Forkenswift.

And, yeah, that Craigslist listing was mine too. I did find a guy with a junked out forklift in his garage. It is about 10" diameter 48 Volt. It doesn't have an info plate on it, so I will have to go over there sometime and yank the thing off the forklift to get a better look at it.

-Ben

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