The Homebrew Electric Car Saga - Escort EV Installment 1

Here is the beginning of our journey into the world of EV conversion. This is a 95 Ford Escort being converted from gasoline to electric power - stay tuned for the fun! Ken.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ev
• electric car
• green no emmissions

[Sohave]

Thrige Electrics. That is a Danish motor, or it used to be if it is over 25 years old :-) Greetings from Odense the hometown of the Thomas B Thrige Factories. Great videos mate.

[hipofalcon]

@Sohave - the Thrige I have in the car was only maybe 6 years old at most. The forklift was a 2004 or 2005 model Hyster retired from a GM plant here. There were 2 motors in the forklift - one for traction and the other for the hydraulic pump for the mast. I only took the smaller pump motor (the Thrige) and used it as my traction motor. The other one was huge - 11" diameter and likely 200 lbs. Too big to fit in the Escort.

[julesrichard]

@hipofalcon ...can you share some info... is it absolute to use the flywheel and clutch? Are there advantages/disadvantages with or without? also, without a clutch, is it easy (for safety purpose) to shift out of and into gears? thanks.

[hipofalcon]

@julesrichard - it is not required to leave the clutch and flywheel in the car if you don't want it. I just found it easier to connect the motor to the transmission using the existing components. Direct coupling through a Lovejoy or similar connection works fine. I never used the clutch to shift while driving. It did come in handy when going into reverse. The tranny is old and was really difficult to get into reverse and the using the clutch seemed to help. Not required in electric car - Ken.

[urbex2007]

This is a brilliant conversion demonstrating very good mechanical skills. Far more interesting than most of the other EV stuff on youtube. EV will never catch on until battery technology improves - it is the low range and high UK cost of electric to recharge that stops me! Can't you build a charger circuit powered by the car itself? Maybe a small generator driving the motor would be far better. They do that on trains!

[hipofalcon]

@urbex2007 - that is what the Chevy Volt is (not diesel but gasoline), but it misses the whole concept of the EV. "Electric" is the key word here. If one has to use petroleum of any kind to produce electricity on-board the vehicle, then it's a waste. You always lose energy through any conversion, so nothing would be gained by it - other than superior traction power. When batteries become better and cheaper (and they will), you will see a huge increase in the true "electric vehicle". Ken.

[julesrichard]

@hipofalcon ...thanks... I may ask more when I'm ready to do my build.

[medicalforever]

This is the kinda thing we need more people doing, forget about what the big companies are doing and quit depending on them to dish out something electric when it has been their main goal since 1914 to keep electric cars off the road. We need to show our youth and coming generations that Things used to be manufactured hear in the states and that we havent always just been consumers.

[Sohave]

@hipofalcon Hi thanks for the interest. I have just this day uploaded a video where I talk about the project and show my engine it is called Benny's EV vol. 1 ENG

Yes two stroke pollutes more than four stroke. Trabant Is also almost made for an easy convertion. they are super light, easy to work on and need no pumps for the breaking system. My Mother and I removed the engine with our bare hands because it was so light :-)

[hipofalcon]

@Sohave - that would be me! Kaj is an interesting fellow. I am the only one (I think) that Kaj knows over here with an EV. At any rate, what you see is what I have. One motor only for the drive, but two would work - but more complicated. A Trabant! Excellent choice. Those 2-stroke engines were air pollution waiting for a place to happen. Keep me posted on your progress. Ken.

[Sohave]

@urbex2007 A diesel electric hybrid. Only problem is that done in this way it would be a bit inefficient. Diesel electric locomotives uses the electric traction as their transmision, with an electric car convertion you still have the original gear box unless if you remove it and make a more direct drive hookup of the electric motor. Or you can just use it as a range extender for a batery electric car, and don't care about the energy los to power two transmisions.