D.I.Y. Electic Car

[TomS]

This news story might be of intrest to some of you. Especially if gas prices keep going up.

[Chris C]

Interesting article, Tom. Have to give the old coot credit, huh?

[IndyTom]

I love that idea. I can see it now...... honey, im gonna put the camper project on hold while I convert my Explorer to battery power...

Although, I am looking at an electrical assist kit for my bicycle. I just might be able to make that 40 mile round trip in a reasonable time without burning gas.......

BTW, I just had to make this one last post tonight so I could graduate to Teardrop Master..... I never thought I would make it, but I would like to thank my parents.............

[Arne]

Back in the early 70's, the "Mother Earth News" had similar plans using an airplane starter motor and some kind of reostat system for speed control....

They did not include it, but I always thought a 6-8 h.p. Briggs & Stratton running at a constant speed connected to a generator to recharge the bats would be a great idea. Engines tuned to run at a constant speed can be much more economical than having to run a varying speeds...

Now, Toyota went and stole my idea.....

[sdtripper2]

I enjoyed the article...above...

Then took the tip from Arnereil and went to http://www.motherearthnews.com/search/
Mother Earth Site and used "Electric Car" in the search box. Lots more reading if your interested.

[gailkaitschuck]

Lately I've been riding my bike back and forth to work.

It would probably sound more "noble" if I didn't live just two miles from the VA.

Fellow employees think it's kinda funny seeing a...ahem...middle aged woman wobbling on a bike. But, I grew up in a bike riding family; my mom is from Belgium, never learned to drive and was riding a bike to the store for groceries until she was in her upper 80's.

I remember traveling with her to Belgium and seeing all the bikes on the road.

Last fall there was an interesting discussion on small gasoline engines attached to a bike. I bought the kit but haven't purchased another bike (the one I ride is a 30+ year old racing bike and I doubt the light frame would hold the engine).

With gas prices increasing (and the hill near by home "growing"), I'd better get that bike soon!

Gail

[Arne]

I have 2 recumbent bicycles. One is 'electrified', and is good for about 20 miles (the electric is only used as an assist when needed)..... I, too, live on a huge hill, one I'm too old to get up without help.

But, I usually use my 2002 Honda Silverwing. It gets 50 mpg, and can handle highway speeds with no problem.

The Honda Odyssey van is getting used less as the weather gets nicer...... When I lived in Amsterdam, bikes ruled. They had their own little bicycle roads, with traffic signals, etc... I lived in the center of the city, near the train station and the Anne Frank house. I could get anywhere in the city in 15 minutes.....

[Q]

Great looking car!

I've been using my Chinese engine powered bicycle for my daily 28 mile commute. I really enjoy cruising along at 28 mph in the bike lane on the semi rural roads. 150 mpg.

Q

[Arne]

Q, being a member of several power-assisit groups, I've looked up some of these add-on bike packages.... some are quite impressive.

Did yours come as an existing unit, or did you add a motor to your own bike?

Honda is making some nice 4 cycle engines in the weed-whacker size that are being used on bikes and on larger radio controlled airplanes....

Some very nice technology is evolving...

I use a Currie electric package on my recumbent.... with the new NiMH batteries and improved motors, longer distances have become the norm... when LiPo batteries become cheaper, long distances at 30 mph will be acheivable.....

-------

In another vane, Hummer reports sales are up substantially.... people will be stupid till the oil runs out.... and the rich will always be able to afford gasoline (if there is a supply available.)..

[halfdome, Danny]

I walk less than 50 feet to work, I save a lot of gas. Danny

[Arne]

Most are not that fortunate, and the country needs better alternatives to what we are doing now... like killing people for oil.

[Chris C]

I, too, walk 50 feet to work............ .............and somehow still put about 32,000 miles a year on my auto's odometer!!!!! (never have figured that one out!)

[Mike B]

Like Electric? I do. Try these links:

Commputer Cars Corporation
EV World
Zap!
AC Propulsion
Electric Dream - conversion of 1992 Saturn to electric
Electro Automotive
Azure Dynamics
Electric Fiero
Light Electric Vehicles

Mike
Hayden Lake, ID
Proud owner of a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid

[angib]

Which brings us all nicely back to teardrops, but electrically-powered ones like this one by Jerry Dycus:





And for the epoxy-wood enthusiasts amongst us, please check out Jerry's glass-reinforced wood swing arm:



Anyone who wants to say it's dangerous to use a wood car might like to look at the second photo above which shows Jerry's car after it was rear-ended hard enough for the other car to scrape the underside!

Andrew

[Q]

The one I'm currently commuting on is a $100 cruiser bike from Sears and a $170 Chinese engine kit. Installing the kit takes a few hours. Here's a picture of my bike: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/QDM/mybike.jpg

The first powered bikes I built used a Honda GX31 4 stroke weed wacker type engine and a belt drive from Golden Eagle Bike Engines. They worked well but lacked the power to pull much of a hill. The Chinese 2 stroke engines have much more power, and I like the manual clutch for coasting and peddling with the engine off.

As soon as someone comes up with an electric bike that will do 30 miles at 30 mph and isn't real expensive, I'll buy one. The Chinese engines aren't real noisey but it's hard to beat the quietness of electric.

Q

Q, being a member of several power-assisit groups, I've looked up some of these add-on bike packages.... some are quite impressive.

Did yours come as an existing unit, or did you add a motor to your own bike?

Honda is making some nice 4 cycle engines in the weed-whacker size that are being used on bikes and on larger radio controlled airplanes....

Some very nice technology is evolving...

I use a Currie electric package on my recumbent.... with the new NiMH batteries and improved motors, longer distances have become the norm... when LiPo batteries become cheaper, long distances at 30 mph will be acheivable.....

-------

In another vane, Hummer reports sales are up substantially.... people will be stupid till the oil runs out.... and the rich will always be able to afford gasoline (if there is a supply available.)..