Electric Go Kart Project
I got my inspiration from the this somewhat wacky site called The Workshop
and a British site called Built for funwhich is highly reccommended for it's wealth of knowledge, plans and links to parts suppliers.
So I fancied having a go myself - A kids go-kart seemed like a good idea and would get the lad involved in making it, so started looking around for a base chassis. I kept my eye out for mobility scooters, 3 wheeled ATVs and Lawn tractors and I finally scored this sorry looking chassis of ebay for about £20:
It has some nice features like front suspension, differential and brake
And some not so nice features such as a butchered chassis:
July - Chassis rebuild
So first job was to replace the butchered chassis rails (someone cut them to make room for larger tyres I think).Needed to order about £70 worth of steel (some for stock)
August - Motor
Ordered a Unite MY1020Z-3 36 volt 600 watt gear reduction motor from a stranger in china which cost a little over £100 delivered. It turned up badly packaged but in once piece a couple of weeks later.I didn't really want a 36v motor because it means I need three batteries and the chargers are more expensive - but that was the only one they could supply so I had to take it.
Front wheel is missing because I wrecked the bearing trying to get it off the stub axle - and the size is totally custom. I've replaced is with piece of Nylon for now.
First test drive
Took it out for its first spin, me on the battery and Croyde on the Molegrips for steering:
September - Batteries
Spent £150 on three Lucas [Prince of Darkness] 33AH batteries - each one weighs 11 kilos. I did consider smaller ones, but I've over engineered everything else, so might as well spent the few quid difference and put some meaty batteries on it.I Burnt my thumb trying get the motor wire of the battery as it welded itself to the terminal with the startup current.
Update: I think I went a bit mad on the batteries, as I've not even charged them up yet!
October - Speed Controller and throttle
Purchased the speed controller and throttle. The controller is a reversible 4QD Vortex VTX40 and the throttle is a Magura 5k resistive unit attached to a simple T-Bar steering handle.
Second Test drive
Croyde and Tania take it for a spin with the new speed controllerDecember - paint and final assembly
So with the build largely complete, we stripped it back down to a bare chassis and painted with rustoleum.
I came up with a circuit that allows the batteries to be switched into parallel configuration which enables me to charge it up from a standard car battery charger.
To follow - battery cover and ignition switch.
Costs So far
Chassis £20Metal £30
Motor £100
Batteries £150
Speed Controller & Throttle £115
So that's over £400 - which frankly is a crazy amount of money to spend on a [big] kids go cart.
I really should of bought a mobility scooter and stripped it down, but it wouldn't of been as satisfying to build. I enjoy researching each component and fitting it.
Next up is safey items, such as boxing the rear in and fitting the ignition switches and reversing button - oh and brakes.