I am an adrenaline junkie!

[zoot]

I want guidance towards building an electric kart that would do around the 50mph zone for roughly 30 minutes. I know 50 is a huge ask and many of you will say you won't need that speed but I do! I've spoken to a local track which I have competed in 125 & 250 shifter leagues and they're more than happy to let me use the track for non-league races providing I complete a risk & safety assessment and address any concerns they have. I have never done anything in terms of electric go karts before however have put together a few chassis' for previous go karts.

I am an adrenaline junkie, the speed isn't an issue as long as it's safe to do so

I am assuming 2 x 2000w brushless motors & 2 x controllers will be needed but literally have no idea where to start or where to look in terms of reading up and gaining some knowledge on build this thing.

Will be as basic as possible to save weight and draw from the batteries.

Thanks for any help you're willing to give!

 

[itsid]

hmm.. don't!

and by that I mean do not install two motors and controllers...
while that'd work it's less than ideal and not exactly cheaper
than buying a 4kW motor and a matching controller..

I think a 6kW powerplant would serve you best tbh, since the 50mph is a huge task,
and the closer you are to the limits of the motor(s) the hotter they'll get (which means less efficiency and bigger battery drain...)
Also one bigger set is usually lighter than two smaller ones.

take a look at mars or motenergy motors (say ME0708 or the slightly smaller ME0909) for example;
brushed DC motors.. both..
there are also brushless motors available (like the HPM 5000B) which is a bit more expensive than the ME0909 providing roughly the same power and so is the controller...

Anyways, doable, NOT trivial!
Be aware of a crazy amount of money to be spent, high power electric is not going to be cheap; especially not if done right (and safe!)

'sid

 

[mckutzy]

So, since we see this question often about "I want to go 50-60mph cheapest electric way possible "...
What are we looking at off hand as far as the electric setup on cost? Say a good decent to the best setup.... Not including the the chassis/brakes/tires ect...
I know its crazy $$$... but how far crazy...

 

[itsid]

hmm..
used and free parts can lower almost any number, but to get a few ballpark numbers:

good & new set up:

5-6kW brushed motor : ~600 USD
matching controller : 200-600 USD
amount of lead acid batteries involved: minimum 4.. likely 8 (70-100 a pop)
throttle, contactors, thingamabobs ~150 USD
chain, sprockets, cables, wires, fuses and such again ~150 USD I'd say..

roundabout 2000 ('ish)

brushless likely 300 more or something
Lithium are twice as expensive at least

best setup?
uhoh.. I have no idea..
you can have a custom wound motor for your application for 7-8 THOUSAND dollars...
that'd be ideal and surely expensive LOL
let's just say there's barely any upper limit.

lower limit?
sure, find a usable golf cart on the scrap yard for a dollar and a beer and you cut the price in half just like that..
have your uncle bring in some chevy volt batteries for free from his battery recycling job
and you can bolt something decent together for almost free.

(short: I don't know what's available on CL that you can reuse for cheap)

'sid

 

[zoot]

Thanks so far for your help, I appreciate it!

So 1 x 6kW brushless (or brushed) motor & controller research is my first step. Nothing about bragging rights but how fast could a 1 x 6kW go on a light/bare minimal chassis with me on (as a rough figure I am around 150lbs). I want to see if it's a viable solution as a practise day kart. Would I be right in saying an electric kart, if done properly, is reliable? What's the lifespan of the motors? It will be getting a thrashing, in door use only or dry circuit in controlled conditions so water damage wouldn't happen.

 

[itsid]

a tiny bit of math

practise day yes, practise.. NO!
if done right, an electric kart is reliable sure..
depending on the quality of parts that is
(just as a true Honda gx200 is more reliable than a cheap chinese 90 dollar clone)

Lifespan depends on how you treat the motor more than anything else really,
if you do not regularly clean and service the bearings, they'll fail,
if you allow dust (especially tyre dust) to accumulate inside the motor it might not like that either.
if you constantly run the motor at it's limits (hot) then throw in the trailer in the winter (at freezing temps)
I wouldn't be amazed to see cracked insulations and even see a coil shorting out

On the other side there are 1950-60s electric golfcarts around that still run their original motor (not batteries though )

A good motor should last if maintained regularly (cleaned with shop air, lubricated where due etc..)
that can mean decades.

'sid

 

[zoot]

Cheers for getting back to me again.

Maxing the kart out and pushing it to the limit from a full charge twice a day, would this become an issue as long as stored in cool temperature conditions and all maintenance is carried out? Sorry if I am vague, I have no real experience with electric motors but if they can take abuse will be a very good solution.

Cost aside if we had 2 karts with the same chassis, one with an electric setup to do 50mph and one petrol to do 50 mph which is going to be lighter? Lithium batteries I am assuming would make the electric one lighter but what about the acid solution? Would it still be lighter?

 

[Functional Artist]

Here is a Bintelli factory built electric go kart

https://bintellikarts.com/product/exb-electric-racing-kart/

It comes with a ME0909
...a Sevcon 330A controller
…& Optima (blue top) SLA batteries

Top speed: 30 - 38 mph (depending on gearing)

It can be yours for a little over $5,000.00 plus freight

…but, the battery charger costs extra

 

[zoot]

Very nice kart but am looking for a project. Out of curiosity I dropped them a mail to see what delivery charges would be, I was looking at $600 + import tax. Could make a 212 predator gasoline kart for the same cost as delivery. Still looking into this but with a bunch of other projects so think I will finish my monkey bike whilst continuing research on this.

 

[Functional Artist]

Very nice kart but am looking for a project. Out of curiosity I dropped them a mail to see what delivery charges would be, I was looking at $600 + import tax. Could make a 212 predator gasoline kart for the same cost as delivery. Still looking into this but with a bunch of other projects so think I will finish my monkey bike whilst continuing research on this.

I wouldn't spend $5K+ for that thing either

It was for reference purposes "only"

X motor + X gear ratio on a race chassis can potentially go X fast

 

[Quinc]

Easy peasy. Race kart, Leaf/electric car batteries etek motor and a decent controller.

Some motivation on what you can do. However, it will be much cheaper and easier to stick with 2stroke.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=68543
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=68543