Paul & Sabrina's Cheap EV Conversion

[MPaulHolmes]

It was a brushed DC motor from Ebikes.ca. That was over a year ago. It might be more like $190 now. Also, the controller is now $75 instead of $65. Maybe because of higher transportation prices???

[offroad1994]

And converting US$ to C$ is about the same. Still a great price, but need to check if they have a sister equivalent USA distributor.

Looks like ebikes.ca is sold out of that wheel size. Still a great price, but I will continue my shopping. Right now the cheap ebay price is $300 (about) with all shipping. But that includes lead acid battery and controller.

[MazdaMatt]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

Maybe because of higher transportation prices???

Great, now the price of gas is making electric conversions cost more...

[MPaulHolmes]

Originally Posted by offroad1994

Right now the cheap ebay price is $300 (about) with all shipping. But that includes lead acid battery and controller.

Remember that not all hub motors are created equal. Make sure you find out what type (Crystalite??? That's a good brand). The DC brushed motor I got can get you up to like 35 or 40 mph on flat ground if you help it pedal to that point. I think Golden Motors are pieces of number two.

[bennelson]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

I think Golden Motors are pieces of number two.

I had a Golden Motors hub kit. Worked fine, no problems with it whatsoever. I have heard good things about Crystalite, though.

[MPaulHolmes]

Originally Posted by bennelson

I had a Golden Motors hub kit. Worked fine, no problems with it whatsoever. I have heard good things about Crystalite, though.

Don't misunderstand me! I think poop is really good! It is really useful as fertilizer, because we need food just to stay alive!!! (maybe it was Bronze Motors that I was thinking of. Yes, now I remember.)

Actually, it was just 2nd hand information that I had. I don't really know what I'm talking about 99% of the time, even if I say something with authority...

We are going to put all 8 batteries in a box in the back of the car, surrounded by 1/8" x 1.5" x 1.5" angle iron. My estimate was $20, and it was $21.07! Holy cow, I'm awesome. I have to make the stupid box. I bought a 4'x8'x0.5" plywood thing to make the box out of. I don't know when I'll get the stupid batteries, but I think I'll get 8 85ah ones from Costco instead of 8 125ah batteries from Walmart. It's cheaper, but is it 85/125 cheaper??? No. It would be almost 500 pounds of batteries if we got the bigger ones. Hmm... What to do... It would be like Oprah was riding in the back all the time. That's a problem! The lighter batteries are about 320 pounds instead. Hmm... That would be like Oprah on the down swing... (she fluctuates from being a cult leader to being really overweight) What to do...

I measured the friggen 125ah batteries at Walmart, and they are slightly too big. OHH that makes me mad... Well, maybe 115ah will be good? Or 85 ah? OH, if only Oprah were here to provide wisdom,...(edited by wife).

[MPaulHolmes]

That stupid angle iron is really annoying. It's going to be tight, (dude, that is tight) but not that kind of tight. It's going to be a snug fit. I accidentally cut one of the angle iron pieces a little too short. I'm stupid. But I'm welding them together, and it will be strong anyway, and maybe I can weld a piece to the back to fill in the gap, or not, it don't make no differnce. Box not started yet. I figured that it's best to make sure I'll know how big the stupid angle iron is going to be before making the box. Then, I'll gently connect the box and see if the stupid batteries fit in it. That's my wife's idea. I think she, with good reason, thinks that I'm a stupid idiot and a sloven piece of monkeypoo. Just kidding, she is hovering over my shoulder and wanted me to know that it's not true. Anyway, I forgot what I was talking about. Oh ya, I sure hope the dang stupid stimulus check gets here really soon. That would kick so much bottom.

[MetroMPG]

Don't go with the smallest amp hour battery. If the larger ones are too much to go all in the rear, you'd be better off to split the pack and put some up front as well. Don't forget that the larger capacity pack will last longer if you're not drawing the batteries down as deeply as the smaller pack each time you use the car.

[dremd]

have you tried fitting 2 batteries under the seat?i doubt that they would fit; but i'll encourage anyway. (trying to move a little weight forward)

[MPaulHolmes]

We decided to make the car a 2 seater, with the former back seat the spot for the battery box. That way, we have a nice rectangular platform to attach the angle iron to. Also, that spot is designed to hold a good amount of weight, like 2 big adults, which would be the weight of 8 Costco 115ah batteries. Plus, the weight is in front of the rear wheel. PLUS, we're about 100 pounds lighter in the engine compartment right now because of the engine/motor swap. So, I did a little math (that's a lie, I'm just winging it) and I found out that the weight distribution will be perfect with all 8 batteries in the "back seat" which no longer exists. I set it on fire. That hay stuff burns really well. Why do they put thin little hay nuggets inside a beetle? Beetles are like horses. They both have lots of hay nuggets inside of their bodies.

Well, 17 compared to 23 "units of distance" is a pretty big difference I suppose...


Let's pretend that the voltage stays constant at 48v as it gets run down.

The energy in the big pack is: 48v*230a*hr*3600sec/hr =
39,744,000 Joules

Let's pretend that the car will use 300 watt*hr/mile (keeping speed down, on flat ground). I have no idea of the actual energy per mile.

Then it uses 1,080,000 Joules/mile, which would be 36.8 miles at 100% discharged! Wow! That's amazing! derrrrrr...

So, assuming 50%, you get 18.4 miles per charge. That's not horrible!

HOURS PASS (I forgot to submit this stupid note thingy that I am writing)

The battery box is just about finished. The size of the back seat is exactly the same size as the 8 batteries. Wow! Isn't that amazing. Unbelievable. Wow...