Other Electric Vehicles

I am doing this to show how to upload pictures and say I modified my wife's Shark UV-617 to semi-corded vacuum. I used some marine 16 AWG wire and attached it to main battery pack terminals via #4 terminals. Ran the wires along handle thru old charger port and tied it to handle by using yellow wire ties. Now I have nearly unlimited time to use VAC. old battery pack was 8.4 volt at 7 cells times 1.3 is 9.1 volt and using a 9.6 volt pack along side it gives about 1.2 volt for the 9.6 volt pack so close enough. I still have three speeds one LED. two LEDS. three LEDS. and low power light doesn't come on hardly now. So for uploading pictures click on my computer and check re-size pictures to handheld 240x320 and save. Now to see if it works. I am not very computer savvy so....
Rusty

This is my very first post. My name is Pete and my interest is electric transportation in the snow. I have worked at a popular ski area in New York state for many many years.
The liability to drive snowmobiles is over the top and they old 600cc Polaris needs to be replaced soon. I have been playing with a sno-runner personal ski bike.

This is just a hobby for me but if you got help; I'll take it. First snowfall is November 20th !!!

http://ecowatercraft.com/

I'm building an electric tug to push/pull my Cessna out of the hangar. I got a PowerTow frame (single wheel tug with arms that grasp lugs on the nosegear and push and pull the plane) and have installed a 4 hp 24v DC motor (supposedly its a Ramsey winch motor). Solenoids are used to accomplish forward/reverse. I wanted a 24v application since my aircraft's electrical system is also 24 volts ... that way, I can also use the tug as a battery cart for the airplane to run avionics on the ground when updating databases, etc., and also as a source for a jump start should the master accidentally be left "on" on the airplane!

Gasoline models of this tug are also typically about 4 - 6 hp and easily move a plane as big as my Cessna 206. I've geared the motor down with a belt/chain reduction drive that gives a final reduction of about 12-13:1. I use an idler pulley/clutch for engaging/disengaging power (this is what the gas tugs use). However, the electric motor runs a really high rpm when unloaded and I'm afraid it may still run the wheel a little too "brisk" across the ground, although I think the torque is sufficient. I'm also afraid the high rpm's may lead to fairly short belt life with the belt slipping as it engages/disengages.

It appears to me a speed controller would be desireable. I assume I need a "heavy duty" unit like a golf cart uses, etc. I notice some controllers are for 24-36 volt motors and some are for 36-48 volts. Can I use a 36-48 volt controller on the 24 volt motor? (Seems I can find more of these reasonably priced!). If not, anyone know a good source for an inexpensive 24 volt or 24-36 volt unit? I notice a lot of these units are rated for 225 amps. Supposedly my motor runs at 40 amps, 80 amps peak. Any comments, advice, alternatives, or sources would be appreciated!

I switched on my 2004 Currie USPD for the first time this year and all the LED's on the battery light up. I put in brand new batteries but the bike still won't go. Does anyone have an idea what this means? Sorry for the newbieness but i'm really stuck here. Any tips would be much appreciated! :)

I currently have an Exkate X-24 Powerboard (skateboard). It uses a 24 volt, 750 watt motor with 4 ea. 12 volt, 9 amp hour sealed lead acid batteries in series and parallel for a total of 24 volts and 18 amp hours. I would like to convert to LiFePO4 batteries and have found battery packs that will fit within my battery case. The problem is that they are rated for up to 350 watts (24 volt, 12 amp hour). Is this due to the (battery management system)? Could the BMS be modified to work with a 750 watt motor? I am new to electric vehicles and would appreciate any help and information that anyone can provide me.

Hey all; Okay I have this electric vehicle that I drive (it's a company golf cart)
The golf cart that I drive around usually has a full charge that is kept on the charger over-night.
When I am driving it around during the day, before the end of my shift; usually the golf cart has a turtle light that comes on the LCD panel screen. What happens with the turtle light is that the complete system goes into low speed mode, it's barley driveable but just enough to make it to the charger.
My question is, my company has already replaced two batteries and it was running fine for a little while. Then all of a sudden the turtle light mode would come back on and the same procedure would happen (slow mode).

Does anyone know what the turtle light symbol actually represents???
Or does it simply mean slow mode? The turtle light will happen after one bar line disappears (battery indicator symbol)
Also what else could be making the turtle light symbol come on again?

Hi, I'm having a little trouble with the battery pack in my roomba. As a self respecting EV advocate I like the idea of a self propelled EV that cleans the floor for me ;-)

It's been a few months since I last used the Roomba. I don't remember whether the charger has been plugged in the whole time or not. When I went to use it this morning the charger was unplugged and the power indicator did not respond. So I plugged the charger in, the red charging light started blinking, and after awhile it turned green.

It gets maybe 2 minutes run time once the light is green. I've gone through this twice now, charge it to where the light is green and set it going and get 2 minutes of run time.

In the past it would do maybe 20 minutes of run time.

If this were an e-bicyclist or e-scooterist reporting a similar problem I'd be thinking "uh oh, it's likely by leaving the battery off the charger that the battery self-drained and is now damaged and will never hold a charge again". e.g. lead acid batteries if left discharged for awhile don't hold a charge. On the other hand if it's a lithium or NiMH pack then leaving it partly discharged doesn't cause damage.

My question is -- maybe someone knows what kind of battery is in the Roomba battery pack?

Maybe someone knows something about the charging behavior of the Roomba? Like, if the light turns green that should mean its fully charged but maybe it's lying and I'm really supposed to leave it for a long time.

Delivering mail goes electric with T3 vehicle
http://www.ocala.com/article/20081101/NEWS/811010998

T3 motion systems (http://www.t3motion.com/) has designed a very utilitarian three wheeled scooter. The above article discusses a trial going on with the U.S. Post Office where it's being used for mail delivery. "Mail", you know, that quaint paper stuff that uniformed men drop almost every day.

The company is clearly positioning this for governments, industry, security forces, etc, and not the you and me who'd maybe want to use this for grocery shopping.

Speed Range: User-Selectable -- 5 mph, 8 mph, 10 mph, 12 mph or Maximum [Chain Drive] Up to 25 mph (Special Order Only)

Cargo Capacity: 450 pounds (rider + equipment)

I've a coworker in the hot-air balloon business who wants to turn one of his baskets (gondola) into an electric vehicle for fairground usages.

He's thinking basket, and three people would weigh 600#. This would not include batteries, motor(s), etc. He wants 15MPH for about 4 hours per day, for 7 days per year. Mostly flat surfaces, with the exception of a slight incline to the parking areas, about 1/8th mile away.

Anyone have any idea what I can tell him?

:)

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