all terrain electric go kart

[alteran]

hi i wanna tri and build a go kart that all terrain and electric.
im going to 1st dissing it on auto desk inventor and i need dimensions and all so i need help for Wat kind of battery, lights, engine, alternator, motor controller, and a few other things then post the link for the blueprints wen im done.

i wanna 1st find out a couple of things.

5 rechargeable batteries 4 for engine 1 for light's
1 or 2 alternator
1 12v solar panel for light and other small things like radio or music ( not to big )
motor controller
electric engine
wheels
chain or belt ??
for 1 person how much HP need ??
how big the suspension ?
cooling i already know
speed controller ??
suld i add gears like on a bike ??

PS i wanna make it weather proof if i can

can any one help with the info ??

all at a price range of 2,000$/2,500$ Canada

if i can find out all this IL make the plans and post um =)

the kart will be for 1 person and hopefully reach 25/50KM for a charge of 2h lowest and the solar can charge the big battery also i say about 500pounds with average person on it the steel or iron will be 1"x1" squer toobing bar. i hope that enuf info given for pipole to help =)

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum alteran. Have a good look at all the threads in the electric section. There are some realy good ones that will give you some good advice.

There is a good sticky on electric engines that you might find useful

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9700

 

[alteran]

yea i already read that but i still dont know how to calculate how much power i need for how much HP i need for how heavy it may be and the sercuts for ataching the altornator to the battery's and baterys to a speed controler and all. im new at this that y i need more help then wat i read in the forms. and thanks =)

 

[landuse]

Wait for someone else to give their opinion. I am useless when it comes to electric

 

[fowler]

An alrernator does not simply make electricity
It must be spun
So what motor do u have to do such thing

U can't use an electric motor as it is a waste of time
It will use more power than it makes
That is the facts of physics

If u get a petrol motor to spin it then u must calcululate what rpm the alternated produces the most power at
I believe it is 3500rpm usually but don't take my word for it

Then u can work out gearing, if I'm right then u can use a 1:1 ratio

Then u can connect the leads to the battery
Make sure u get an alernator with a regulator

 

[alteran]

=) i wase thinking about wen i atach the engien to the drive shaft i have the gears like a bike on it just tufer and the altornator atach to the driveshaft as well so wen im driving around it can charge the batery a bit like make it last like 30min more or bether depends if i can get the RPM with the gears and if i get a fast and strong electric engien

 

[alteran]

wat about solar panels culd that help on a sun shine day ?? like 4 12v small solar panel from canadien tier ?

 

[alteran]

Wat i done so far for dissing of this kart or doun bugy

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/album.php?albumid=340

if you guys culd add stuff on it pleaz tell me and i may cnsider it

so far it will be driven by a 3 way axel in the back with 27" wheels for road and off road im still trying to find out the wight off the whole thing to find suspension and power for it. so far i wanna go with a gulf cart engine 12HP 48V and battery's i still don't know Wat to get i want it to last at leas 2h-4h drive time im going to add 1 12v solar panel (small ones) per battery. im adding full suspension on it i need to find a front axel also. if you got any ideas pleas Leta me know.

PS sorry for my spelling

thanks

 

[fowler]

With 27 in tyres and full suspension u will struggle to get it rolling
If u want to get good performance u will need a far bigger motor

The thing u are creating would usually run a 30 to 100 hp engine

It is unfortunate to rain on the whole enviromental thing but electric isn't really suited to performance or longevity

 

[alteran]

yea well i have a tendency to over think. i also Thoth of adding 2 electric engines and around 6-10 battery's but if wen i build it and i get the part and all and doesn't work i can just build a smaller thing and add the electric stuff to it and add a gas engine to this one and i just wanted to add 4 suspension in the back and 2 in front im not going extreme and the tyres i culd get smaller one's as long im hight enuf so i can go in trails and i just thot also wat about a car electric engien ?

like this ones but my frame a Lil bit smaller and for 1 person and it dosent have a car engien

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHR3a7mCiEk

and the max im going to pout on this project is 5k $ cuss if it works i may be abal to get a job out of it and maybe half of a scholarship for design and engineering.

 

[fowler]

If u want to make something that is a good design and something that is for why it works not how then go for it

That buggy in the vid works well because he put a lot of thought and money into the suspension

I'm willing to bet it doesn't go very fast or last very long

I'll have to take back my previous comment that electric is no good
The electric motor is great and works well
But running them on batterys isn't a viable idea if the vehicle is for fun

If it is used as a demonstration then I'd try and build it as it would be " intresting" to see
But some parts should be changed

 

[alteran]

i say is all about how heavy it is and the power sours and if it doesn't work i can add a gaz engine in it and maybe i wont add front suspension and only rear suspension culd help drop the wight of the project and make it essayer to design. but i wanna tri and see if i can make it electric and if it work cool for cruising and if i want i culd make it easy to switch between electric and gaz just a quick mounting system i culd and tri =/

 

[Jake.B]

Electric starters for some lf the huge diesel dump trucks,
tractors and other large diesel engines put out lots of torque.
I would definantly look em up and go to scrap yard and try to find one.

 

[fowler]

u gota mod them u cant just bolt them up
but they would work ok

 

[GrownUpKid]

http://www.ecoeatv.com/products/e-force-atv/

This link will give you a place to start with your calculations. Its amazing how each upgrade (more speed, range, weight capacity) also requires more weight in batteries, larger & heavier motor, beefier frame & so on.

 

[GrownUpKid]

Unfortunately, nothing can beat an internal combustion engine for weight/power ratio.

I'm afraid that you are barking up the wrong tree with the idea of using an alternator driven by an electric motor to produce electrical power. This works with gas engines when the belt spins (mechanical power) to produce electrical power. There is a cost (although slight) in HP to provide this electrical power.

A good example is a windmill. Wind spinning the rotor would be the mechanical power. The spinning alternator is then able to convert this mechanical power into electrical power.

 

[GrownUpKid]

Don't be discouraged though. Build it, do it!