#5) Project ForkenSwift electric car: shifting gears

http://www.ForkenSwift.com - Since the car has no clutch, people often ask how I change gears. The purpose of this video is to show just that.

EV's with more power than the ForkenSwift don't need to shift much - some just leave the transmission in one gear for city driving, and only upshift for highway speeds.

The ForkenSwift needs to be shifted because it's a low voltage car with a low power controller.

So how is it done? With a firm hand and a little patience for upshifts, and by rev-matching the motor speed to the transmission speed when downshifting.

There's no need to use a clutch in an EV when stopping or starting out. An electric motor doesn't idle like a gas engine - it stops when the accelerator is released and the car stops.

At about 3:40 you see one potential "problem" of driving an quiet vehicle - a pedestrian steps off a curb - backwards! - into my path as I am slowly approaching. I don't think he would have backed up right into the car, but I tapped the horn to let him know I was there anyway. Disaster averted! (This has only happened to me once in 6 months.)

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• EV
• electric
• car
• vehicle
• conversion
• NEV
• LSV
• auto

[jamzva]

any problen in the rain days??

[ForkenSwiftDotCom]

Nope, no problem in the rain or snow.

[Dongskie2]

Why didn't you use an automatic tranny?

What was the motor you are using?

[ForkenSwiftDotCom]

Automatic transmissions will reduce range compared to a manual (because of the slip in the torque converter). Maybe 5-10% less. It doesn't sound like a lot, but ever kilometer counts when you have limited range.

[Floridaboy7777]

why did you need 2 cars?

[ForkenSwiftDotCom]

We didn't plan on using two - we gave up on the first one because it turned out to be too rusty underneath. So we got a second car (same kind) and combined all the best parts into one car.

[panyolito1929]

sir how much the top speed of you electric car can you try that in free way ??

[myasskick]

no power steering

[foryoutocallmehaha]

that musics from gran torismo cool.

[Dongskie2]

@ForkenSwiftDotCom: oh I was thinking you may remove the torque converter and directly couple the electric moto into the auto tranny main drive shaft.. Thats what I tried...

[ForkenSwiftDotCom]

Thanks, bdrman. Appreciate the comment.

[bdrman2004]

You guys should be proud of what you have achieved. I really wish that more people showed such a pioneering spirit. And for all that cant, they should learn to recognize it when they see it.