[ausev] question about Geo Metro conversion

[Chris Robison]

Hi Lisa,

First, we really don't have enough information. What is the size of the
motor? By "no controller", does that mean "contactor controller", or
literally no controller at all (just a simple switch), meaning there's
nothing between "coast" and "full throttle" ? What size are the batteries?

Honestly, I doubt this car would be worth much at all. Probably far less
than the value of the parts. It sounds like your friend is making a lot of
mistakes in his design that are seriously limiting his car's usefulness.
96 volts is barely enough for a satisfactory vehicle, and 120 is generally
the minimum I'd recommend. At the 72 volts your friend has planned, this
car will be confined to slower, smaller streets. It won't be very useful
as a car (not in the US, anyway).  The choice of batteries also sounds
suspect; Interstate makes all sorts of batteries including deep cycle
marine and RV batteries but if he's using their far more common regular
car batteries, they will be quickly ruined by the deep discharges they'll
experience while powering an EV.

Finally (and this is not as big of a deal) the shunt-wound motor is going
to be less than ideal for use in an EV. Series-wound motors are more
advantageous, giving higher startup torque and a smoother torque curve vs.
RPM.  There are EVs out there that have been built with shunt motors, but
not many.

  --chris




On Tue, January 2, 2007 11:00 pm, Lisa Korf wrote:
> I have a friend who is working on a Geo Metro
> conversion using a shunt motor.  He wants to sell it once it's completed...
> any idea how quickly it would sell, and how much he should ask for it?  It
> will have 12 6-volt Interestate batteries, and no controller I
> believe.  Thanks for any input you can provide.  I really would like to get
> multiple opinions about this.
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Lisa - new to the EV community, awaiting arrival of my
> electric Honda Civic hatchback for me and my dogs :)
>
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