Go Back   EcoModder Forum > Introductions
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 11-01-2009, 09:27 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 2
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Just peeking around

Hey everyone,

Just figured I'd give a nice, "Hi," to everyone here. I'm a broke college student considering an EV-on-the-cheap and stumbled into here. Still a long ways away from anything, but this looks like a trove of information. I sold my '94 Honda Accord a year or so ago and have been mostly-fine without it. I'd like a little in-town car for short trips, which seems to translate well to a cheap EV. Anywho, I'm off to poke around the conversion forums and start poking around Craigslist.

--Corcis

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 11-01-2009, 09:35 PM   #2 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,485

Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 286 Times in 181 Posts
Welcome, Corcis. I wish you success in your quest.
__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 09:54 PM   #3 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

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
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Hi Corcis -

Welcome to the site! Yes, more than a couple of cheap-o EV's hiding around here for inspiration & information.

We had a lot of fun making the ForkenSwift ... heck, it's still not really finished.

But I have to say that I often find myself thinking: "I don't really need this car!" And it's true! The vast majority of my local trips are by bicycle. And when Ivan has custody of the car, he uses it even less than I do.

The second nickname I have for it is "Electric Umbrella." It's basically a great alternative to the bike when the weather is crappy. Or for the rare occasions when I have to carry something bulky that won't fit easily on my bike's DIY cargo trailer. Or if I'm just feeling lazy.

Once the novelty starts to wear off, you might find yourself wondering if the expense of keeping a "short haul" electric car - energy, repairs, insurance, registration, etc. - are worth it.

Don't mean to discourage you if you're hankering for an interesting mechanical project - just something to keep in mind. Sounds like you're doing OK without a car!

Keep us posted.

Darin
__________________
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
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 09:59 PM   #4 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Metro- you made an electric pusher trailer for your bicycle right? Do you use it?
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 10:09 PM   #5 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

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
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Nope, never actually added power to the trailer. But I use it regularly - carried 100 lbs of marine batteries across town on my latest trip, last week.

FYI: Atomic Zombie has an example and video of an electric bike pusher trailer. His site seems to be down at the moment, but check Atomic Zombie if you're interested.

EDIT: link to his electric trailer page (link to vid at the bottom):
__________________
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
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 10:16 PM   #6 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Thanks... site is up now...
__________________



Last edited by Frank Lee; 11-01-2009 at 10:28 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 11:49 PM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 2
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Darin: I have access to a really nice transit system, several bikes (even a longtail), but there are still gaps in my needs. At night, the bus service is nigh-useless. Winter weather is heinous for utilitarian riding around here. I do short trips about every other night, 10mi or so, to pick a friend up from work. It's all stop and go, too - that will affect choice in electric motors and controllers, I'm sure.

Anyways, my objectives may or may not change. Checking out my possibilities.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2009, 09:37 PM   #8 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

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
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
I bet it rains a bit in WA in the winter, too eh?

Hey - "gaps in my needs" - that's a great description of what the ForkenSwift fills for me. It's very far from a primary vehicle. Still fun to make, I still get a big kick out of driving it.

Last time I used it was this week for an 18 km round trip to pick up some bulky/awkward used aluminum tubing for the gas car's boattail project.

__________________
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
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2009, 12:16 AM   #9 (permalink)
Moderate your Moderation.
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Troy, Pa.
Posts: 8,919

Pasta - '96 Volkswagen Passat TDi
90 day: 45.22 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,369
Thanked 430 Times in 353 Posts
Darin -

That pic looks like you're getting ready for the tail light extensions for a full boat tail? Kudos!

Corcis -

You may poll your school for "project funding" to help you build your car on scholarship. Often, there are unused funds "laying around" for just such an occasion, but you need to go through the proper channels to have access to it.

__________________
"¿ʞɐǝɹɟ ɐ ǝɹ,noʎ uǝɥʍ 'ʇı ʇ,usı 'ʎlǝuol s,ʇı"

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com