My Kart got stripped... want to convert it to electric

[CatmanDobbins]

Well my kart's engine has been stolen, huge bummer but it's my fault for leaving it out. Left it at my old high school who I gave it to, but it was very well hidden. Still, the thief found it somehow and got the engine and transmission and even the license plate! (While I have this post open, anyone know any good ways to find a thief?)


Anyway, after mourning our losses we decided we wanted to convert it to electric power.

Let me remind all of you that we are beginners at everything we try. We really don't know if it will work and just go with it because it sounds awesome.

If you have seen my post history you'll know that the kart we made is a very strange creation. It is a 3 seater with 6.5hp (not anymore ) and large golf cart wheels on the back. It has a one wheel drive system and is made out of a metal gazebo. There will be pics below when I can get them up. The pics are now up along with some showing what the thieves stole.


Here's our problem: it's heavy. With 3 people on it, it can weigh upwards of 700lbs. We want to be able to have 3 people on it though, but we also don't want to have a top speed of 10mph (it went 30-33mph with the old gas engine). There are obviously huge problems with this because sure electric motors have a lot of low end torque, but they can't use a torque converter like the old gas engine in order to get better high end speed.

Golf carts on the other hand can weigh anywhere from 500-1000lbs and yet the electric ones go very slowly. People on here often recommend the 1000w dc motors for electric go karts (as seen in this post: http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9700), yet, looking at videos of electric karts using those motors, they don't go very fast at all and are 1 seaters and much lighter.

Here's a video of a 1800w go kart: https://youtu.be/2B564IsxMVQ?t=68

As you can see it doesn't have much power even for a kart that size.

I'm thinking realistically that there really isn't a way to get up to nearly the same speed as it used to with electric power without spending $1000's. We'd have to buy high power batteries, high power motor, and good speed controller just to start.


What do you all think? Can it be done?

 

[itsid]

first and you need to be really aware of that issue:

you can reinstall a gasoline engine with a new torque converter for roughly 200 bucks
and have it back where it was in less than a week (shipping incl)
OR you make it an electric cart...

in which case we talk about a ~4-6kW motor (400 bucks) and a matching controller (200?)
plus what feels like a metric ton of batteries
(IDK how long a charge should last for your amusement.. but let's just say another 600 dollars isn't unlikely for just batteries)

Soo 1200 bucks is the LOW end,
(no cables yet, no connectors, no throttle no nothing; just the essential parts)
another 200 can come quickly.

If you are willing and capable of spending upwards of 1400 bucks
(I'd say you should plan a 2k budget and hope you have some left to celebrate once you're finished )

Then yes.. it's surely doable, even with a heavy kart like that.

but frankly IMHO as much as I like electricity..
I'd say it's not worth it really.

but that decision is not mine to make..

'sid

PS If by any chance you still have the box of the engine you might find it's serial number on it.
(if you haven't noted it down anyways)
one day a kid will show up/brag about his kart... and all you need to do is compare the numbers
also check the local classifieds maybe it'll show up there

 

[CatmanDobbins]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Makes sense, I didn't really think it would go too well without spending $$$......$ anyway.
Guess it's time to buy a predator