Teenager Builds Electric Car - $0.02 a mile to operate!

[freebeard]

This windscreen is much, much better than the one in Post #1, both aerodynamically and for sight lines.
Not to mention fabricability.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

This windscreen is much, much better than the one in Post #1, both aerodynamically and for sight lines.
Not to mention fabricability.

We just bent the acrylic to conform to an aluminum frame that hinges from the front, bolted it on, and cut the excess.

The crazy thing is all those sponsors donated just by me walking into the store, asking if they wanted to sponsor our electric car by providing things like batteries (in the case of Les Schwab), and they said yes. Then they just handed me batteries and I walked out of the store. Same story with the aluminum, acrylic, coroplast, bicycle wheels... we got a sign company sponsor us so we could acknowledge our sponsors with the lettering.

We never figured out rack and pinion steering, so the "wheel" was just something to grab onto the rod and move right/left. Brakes were an absolute joke on that tiny rear wheel (never bothered putting brakes on the front wheels). I had to get very creative to pass the braking test, like let run low pressure in the tires and scrub speed/lengthen travel by steering hard during the braking run, and generally driving under the speed they wanted me to be at the beginning of braking.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Logic

Now I imagine the absolute bliss of [stuff].

Have you had any success replacing what you lost to theft? I'd like to help, I even have a Shopsmith Multi-Tool I need to be rid of; but Northwest of Normal here is basically the antipode to S. Africa. Shipping is a deal killer.

Toolsradar
What is a Shopsmith? (Explore Its Unique Multi-Functionality!)
Jan 6, 2026A Shopsmith is a versatile, all-in-one woodworking machine that combines up to 12 power tools into a single, compact unit. It pivots between functions like a table saw, jointer, planer, bandsaw, disc sander, drill press, lathe, shaper, horizontal boring machine, router table, and scroll saw—often in

It's for parts, but I saw a really nice one at the recyclers for $300. It needs about 2x5ft of floor space (I don't have).

[Logic]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Have you had any success replacing what you lost to theft? I'd like to help, I even have a Shopsmith Multi-Tool I need to be rid of; but Northwest of Normal here is basically the antipode to S. Africa. Shipping is a deal killer.


It's for parts, but I saw a really nice one at the recyclers for $300. It needs about 2x5ft of floor space (I don't have).

Thx, but shipping is the killer here:
Tracking works fine till it hits the SA port.
After that tracking consists of already employed scammers contacting you about fees, levies, fines, taxes or whatever else they can suck out their thumbs.
Once you 'fix' that person and it gets passed down the chain, the very next person starts the same BS all over again...