Go kart for handicapped.

[MrLouies]

Hi, my name is Louie, I’m new here. I’ve got an idea that I wanted to discuss with you guys. I would like to build an electric go kart, that charges its own battery . I want to use an electric motor with an alternator to charge the battery, the rear axle would move the alternator, also, it will have taller tires so there’s more clearance from the ground. I want this because I’m a paraplegic, and this way I can go into the store with it and also it will give me more freedom to move around the neighborhood. I have a power chair, the store is far from me, the chair might take me there but it won’t bring me back. So what do you guys think ?

 

[TT540]

The charging concept will only work on deceleration. Do you maybe have a downhill portion on your trip to store?

Is it an option to add additional batteries to your power chair? Perhaps even newer fresher batteries will give you a much longer ride time.

an option is to bring your wall charger with you as you ride your power chair to the grocery store. Then, once at the store, transfer yourself over to one of the store's power chairs while your charge you personal power chair.

I'm thinking there are better options to spending a lot of money to build something that might not be much better than what you have.

 

[itsid]

You can most likely upgrade your wheelchair with so called "regenerative braking"
that's basically what you have in mind for your kart as well..
No need for an alternator or anything though..

the motor does that just fine (if you use a brushless variant it's even reasonably good at it )
-well, fine and good is a bit of a stretch tbh-
Just the controller that needs to allow for that sort of thing.
(needs to have a internal charging /rectifying circuit...)

The benefit is rather minimal though for most uses..
As TT540 correctly pointed out.. a downhill portion on the trip is required, and the longer that is, the better of course.
And while RB 'works' even if you just stop at a traffic light,
it's efficiency is.. well minimal (and it'd be WORSE if you add an alternator! the additional drag and weight would in fact reduce your milage overall)

So yeah, the best thing you could do in fact is upgrade your batteries..
higher density LiPos and/or a bigger pack [higher density means more Ah of capacity w/o adding weight, bigger or more batpacks increase the weight of course ]

So if you're saying you want to build a go kart for fun .. we'll be here to help you with that.
If you "need" a commute to the store, we can help as well, but there are better ways to get you safely there and back than a go kart IMHO.
Especially since AT the store, you very likely will be allowed to recharge a wheelchair;
I doubt they'll be as happy to see you charging a go kart [jus an assumption of course ]

BUT tell us about it.. the weight you need to move (your weight, average shopping etc.), the general road conditions (hills, flats, straights, number of traffic lights, time to get there etc..)
How fast you want to go (and/or allowed to go)
How much money you're able to spend for such thing (about'ish is good enough)
If you're able to work on it yourself, what skills you have (welding, electronic tinkering etc..)
Or if you need to have it made for you (which means a likely unfortunate amount of additional spendings)

And in case you want a kart, what type of kart you desire..
is it okay to sit -well- on a go kart (straight legged on the floor basically) or if you need your knees to be at a more convenient angle to get in and out of the kart...

'sid

 

[qtband]

Can you modify an electric golf cart?

 

[anickode]

Another thing to consider here is the legality of it... Power wheelchairs are allowed on sidewalks. Go karts are not. If it looks like a go kart, it will draw attention, and it might be difficult convincing a police officer that your go kart is a mobility device...