Low cost EV

[begreen]

This is a fun project put together by a young mechanical engineer. He details in other videos the complete process, but this is a good overview of the project, the results, and final costs, including mistakes and specialty tools he used. I like his pragmatic approach. The vehicle has a range of 100-150 miles which is fine for his daily usage. After conversion, the car only weighs 50# more than stock. Are there alternatives? Sure, a used Leaf can be had for the same money but this is a unique vehicle that was a great learning experience too.

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[EbS-P]

Cheap, fun, safe. Pick two!

 

[EbS-P]

I drive a 1963 Midget for almost 9 months probably as a Junior in high school. Unless the car was free I would never have chosen a British import to convert. Three words lever arm shocks (maybe they changed by this model year. Heck a VW probably is safer with the spare tire in the frunk

 

[Dajolu]

I have a 1980 Pinto I’ve always wanted to convert. Cheap, Fun, no gas tank to explode so safe?

 

[blades]

just lithium batteries to go poof - flame on litterly.

 

[EbS-P]

I have a 1980 Pinto I’ve always wanted to convert. Cheap, Fun, no gas tank to explode so safe?

Safer…… ????????

 

[begreen]

Tough crowd. I see this as growing American know-how. The country is rapidly losing core construction and repair skills that come from tinkering, problem solving, and backyard projects like this. Putting this car together as a practical daily driver had to be a great learning experience.

 

[EbS-P]

Tough crowd. I see this as growing American know-how. The country is rapidly losing core construction and repair skills that come from tinkering, problem solving, and backyard projects like this. Putting this car together as a practical daily driver had to be a great learning experience.

i agree with you. But it had to be an MG. I can guarantee that it is 100% more reliable and has 1000% fewer oil leaks. I hope there are still some token Lucas parts on it just so he had the true MG ownership experience

We need projects like this in schools maybe on a smaller scale. We are still producing great minds and people that can solve difficult problems. We need to reach more! Our population as a whole needs to embrace change and innovation. I believe it all starts with an our commitment to education and learning.

 

[woodgeek]

Tough crowd. I see this as growing American know-how. The country is rapidly losing core construction and repair skills that come from tinkering, problem solving, and backyard projects like this. Putting this car together as a practical daily driver had to be a great learning experience.

Meh, the kid probably had Claude walk him through it.

 

[stoveliker]

Sure. Or a book from the library.
Yet it is not the information source that I think is the point here - it is the actual doing, the tinkering, and some thinking of how do implement the instructions (the latter b/c Claude does make a lot more errors in its output than Dr. Shannon did...).

 

[EbS-P]

Meh, the kid probably had Claude walk him through it.

By repetition at least he learned righty tighty, lefty loosey

 

[begreen]

I imagine he used a host of materials for research including manufacturer's specs, YouTube videos, EV forums, etc., books, etc. I like that he told of his mistakes and accounted for them. It's the learning process and skills accrued that are important. We need a lot more of this.

 

[Dajolu]

I’m not joking when I say I have a 1980 Pinto that I have always wanted to convert to an EV. 20ish year ago I swapped in a manual transmission into it just because. I have the nack to tinker. Just need the time. Lots of other projects on the list.

 

[EbS-P]

I’m not joking when I say I have a 1980 Pinto that I have always wanted to convert to an EV. 20ish year ago I swapped in a manual transmission into it just because. I have the nack to tinker. Just need the time. Lots of other projects on the list.

Ford was selling electric motors and controllers for a while for projects like this.

 

[semipro]

just lithium batteries to go poof - flame on litterly.

And gasoline doesn't?

 

[semipro]

I hope there are still some token Lucas parts on it just so he had the true MG ownership experience

Reminds me of the old adage regarding Brits drinking warm beer...Lucas refrigerators.