#3) Project ForkenSwift EV: first electric test drive

http://www.ForkenSwift.com - Officially, we're only at the battery rack building stage of the project. But while waiting to get a welder to finish the job, Spring Fever struck and against better judgment we piled 6 batteries into the car, hooked everything together and went up & down the street a bunch of times.

(Oh - and by the way, if you enjoy spotting continuity errors in movies, you'll have a field day with this one!)

Again, apologies for the video quality - 20 year-old video camera, makeshift way of getting the pics into the computer for editing.

In case titles are hard to read, here they are:

1. a BIG ForkenSwift milestone
2. Officially... we're at the stage of the project where we're making battery racks.
3. The racks will hold four batteries up front, and four in the hatchback.
4. (Cardboard mockups - help figure out positioning and clearances.)
5. But while waiting for a welder to finish the trays... we got SPRING FEVER
6. and decided to "set up" (ahem) the car for a little test drive
7. Here's the forklift pot box, modified to talk nicely to the golf cart controller
8. Surplus forklift battery charger.
9. Umm... Don't try this at home. :-O
10. Darin's actual first drive ...
11. Shhhh... Listen...
12. Listen to this: unsolicited feedback from a guy fixing a car in his driveway...
13. "HEY - WHY'S YOUR CAR SO QUIET?"
14. " BULL$#!T ... REALLY ? "
15. " AWESOME! "
16. THAT WAS NOT MADE UP :-)
17. Ivan takes a spin.
18. Coming up: more comments from the peanut gallery, in ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...
19. " Can you turn the muffler up a little bit, Ivan? "
20. An impromptu car show with the car repair guy and his friends ...

---

Project ForkenSwift is an electric car conversion made using parts from a Suzuki Swift, Geo Metro, Baker electric forklift and a golf cart.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

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

[unclesonnyonutube]

what did it start out as....you guys are calling it a swift which is suzuki but it has geo metro badges and a pontiac firefly hood...

awesome project with an identity crisis...easy to find replacement parts though.

[ForkenSwiftDotCom]

The registration says "Geo Metro" - but it's got lots of parts from a Swift and Firefly in there. They're all the same (other than engine/trans options)!

[92mmm]

yo know this electric car is good but why on a rusted car lol

im sure you got that car because its light but still lol

[ForkenSwiftDotCom]

For host cars, you have "light", "good" or "cheap".  Choose any two! lol

[atvking04032]

have u goys toped it out yet if u have what ahe top out at ?

[ForkenSwiftDotCom]

Top speed is about 70 km/h, with a long run up. Doesn't accelerate well past about 40-50 km/h, so 50 km/h is more like it's "effective" top speed.

[theoneagain]

we should all rip our engines out and do the same great video

[rjcuk]

We need more determined people like you in this world.

[jeepers2655]

too bad you can`t make a plastic motor to put under the hood,to cover the electric motor .....watch them freak out! LOL

[ftpmarco]

why is your car so quiet: It has a nuclear reactor

[crazybry79]

Love the idea! Glad to see you guys doing it.

Did you leave the muffler under there for stealth mode?? Pull up at the emissions testing facilities with that thing! Watch e'em be baffled! :P

[turbodudehere]

Awsome awsome awsome!!!! great job man

[AxLstyle]

thats a nice stop....dunno why i'm saying this....i do'em the same

[JESUSSDAD]

that was funny .. every1 looking under hood ... like at a performance car meet.