I've been away from this site for quite some time so please forgive me if I ask questions that have been answered many times.

I bought the Ron Champion book when it first came out and built the chassis as a college project, however when my working pattern changed the college (assuming that I wasn't going back) used my chassis as tube stock.

A few years ago I decided to have another go at a build. I bought all the tube I needed plus the later edition of the book (and the Haynes Roadster book as well) and it's all sat in my garage since.

Since then I've developed an interest in converting a car to electric power (part of my job is to manage FLT drivers). So why not combine the two? I'm guessing by now that someone must have built an electric locost. If anyone has website or blog addresses for builders who have done it I'd appreciate the info. Or even better - if you've done it yourself I guess I'd like to be in contact with you.

Would building an electric car from scratch have any effect on SVA/ IVA?

Electric Lotus 23:

http://www.szott.com/zot2/zot2.html

There's a couple of MK Indy electric cars, I had a drive of one once, it was rapid!!!!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ieQ3jzaN3E

[Edited on 19/05/04 by PAUL FISHER]

There was one in one of the kitcar mags ages ago, probably 5 or 6 years ago, I'll see if i can find the article, but don't hold your breath!

What happened to the Westfield electric 7? Weren't they going to have a race series with them?

Here is a link to a good DIY EV site

http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/

South Notts College have an electric MEV that they use to train mechanics.

So what would be the cost of the electrics for a 100bhp motor and batteries.

I quite fancy it.

quote:

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Originally posted by matt_gsxr
So what would be the cost of the electrics for a 100bhp motor and batteries.

I quite fancy it.

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Me too, plus i believe electric cars are tax exempt ??

The one I drove, I was informed the electric bits cost around £8000

electric cars arn't cheap - especially for a "toy" car which wont make any savings vs. a ICE(internal combustion) on mileage - cos it'll probably do 1000 miles a year at most.

Plus the range is still a problem, as is battery weight.

It can be done, but its the "low cost/high range/high power" triangle - you can only have two.

Some v interesting things going on around this at the moment - its not a kit car but look up the Tesla Model S, if it delivers what it says it will it, then its a real game changer in terms of true electric cars. For those too lasy - 300 mile range, 0-60 5.6 seconds, 7 seats, swapable battery (3 mins swap time) and 62 miles of range per hour of charge time

If my company were forward thinking enough we would all have them as company cars in 2013.... unfortunately I will just have to dream of owning one.

Since I started this thread I've done a little research. One of my main aims was to do this on the cheap (using a fork lift motor) however there seems to be a lot of contradictory information about these (some love them, others say they're pretty useless). Buying a new electric motor seemed totally cost prohibitive. I have to admit that saving the planet is not my first aim, I just want to see if I can do it. For batteries I was going to use second hand deep cycle from a caravan breakers.

I live about 4 miles from where I work so range wouldn't be a problem as with a normal payload of a wife, two kids and a Dalmatian a two seater wouldn't be my main car.

There also seems to be arguments for and against AC or DC motors. I've found a site www.arcvillage.org which has converted a Fiat 126. Does anyone have an idea how much a Locost weighs? Taking off the weight of an engine and adding an electric motor and batteries I'm guessing that it must be similar to a fiat 126 (aroung 600Kg). This site says it can supply everything for £1600 (batteries extra). That is using a 12Kw motor. I've no idea whether that is AC or DC, or what 12Kw equates to for performance.

Are electric cars subject to the same IVA rules as petrol cars?

I'll post again when I've researched more.

I've just had a look at some old posts about Locost weight. Seems to be anything between 450 - 650Kg so going for a sub 600Kg target weight shouldn't present too much of a problem. I'm assuming about 90Kgs for the batteries and for the petrol engine to be slightly heavier than the electric motor. Also I would save the weight of the radiator, fuel tank and fuel. Add on an electric heater/demister. I'm probably looking at a very similar overall weight.

12kw is circa 16hp

Thanks for the info.

I think that's going to be far too underpowered. I don't expect to race it but I would expect it to hold it's own against a milk float.

Back to the drawing board.

Just had a look at the Electric MEV. Apparently that had a 11 Kw 3 phase AC brushless motor. However it only weighed 290KG. Looks like grinding down my welds and losing a bit of my own 16 1/2 stone.

Found this on Youtube its an electric conversion of an Audi A2. Think there is use full info there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKwYMIIJP5E

Check out this page as well, an electric Birkin.

http://www.birkin.com.au/electric-birkin-s3-for-sale.php

EValbum.com is a great starting point to look for motors and batteries combinations and their performances.

For example this one:
http://www.evalbum.com/2971

quote:

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Originally posted by Dangle_kt
Some v interesting things going on around this at the moment - its not a kit car but look up the Tesla Model S, if it delivers what it says it will it, then its a real game changer in terms of true electric cars. For those too lasy - 300 mile range, 0-60 5.6 seconds, 7 seats, swapable battery (3 mins swap time) and 62 miles of range per hour of charge time

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Not entirely relevant but this shows what can be done. The car is called White Zombie.

http://www.plasmaboyracing.com/whitezombie.php