This fella has done/doing exactly want I want to be doing, except Id probably use a hybrid system so I dont have so many lead acids weighing the thing down.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/electric.m ... d_box.html

Fez

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1965 850 Mini Van
1972 Clubman Van
Member of SDMC

if this thing actually works, it be pretty cheap to run! i dont know how much juice from the battery it would use??

wonder how fast it will go?

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GTi Turbo'd mini, abused daily

WOW..!! Although is a mini still a mini without the mini sounds..??

Why not go all the way and build a real car!

As I understand it, those electric vehicle builders are getting unreal performance now, like ferrari-beating acceleration. Which is impressive given the weight of the batteries - he runs coil-over springs as well as the standard Mini cones!

One thing I love is the torque - it runs no gearbox, just plant boot and go - the ultimate town car. Now if you could hook it up to Wellington's trolley bus lines, you'd be traveling pretty cheaply (albeit with a rather limited route...)

thats a very interesting conversion!!

That dude has way too much time to dream that up, AND do it!

Well spotted Clayton. That is such a simple conversion, well thought out too!

Might use that as a basis, but with an AC motor & controller, just to make it more of a challenge...

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Re: Awdmoke,

Yeah an AC motor would be great. The torque curves from standstill means you can pretty much direct drive the car. Where as the guy with the pickup would still likely need the gearbox. I'm pretty jealous of that guy, having both a pickup and it being electric, lucky sod.

For those of you who want a good example the T-zero is a car that runs on an ac motor.

Clayton

PS (Awdmoke): I about that moke engine, I found its only ceased the slightest bit so, a bit of a hone and shes going to be fine. Cheers!

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1965 850 Mini Van
1972 Clubman Van
Member of SDMC

Hi Guys,

Michael emailed me to say that you had been discussing my electric Mini
conversion, so I thought I should drop in and say G'day to you all

I'm in Cardiff, South Wales (UK) , so am about as far as you can get from Oz,
but well a Mini nut is a Mini nut whereever in the world they are, right?

It's nice to see some positive responses about the Mini, I've had quite a few
people over here ask about it, especially at the few car shows I've managed to get
it to. Good to see that people all over the globe are thinking "outside the box", even
if only a little bit.

The performance is ok, I'm limited by the mechanical strength of
the belt system I used to attach the motor to the drivetrain, but
that's set to change, and the electric parts are capable of MUCH more...

I'm about to get a 100 HP AC drive system, not sure if I'll put it into
the pickup, or into my other Mini ( a nice 1992 Cooper injection, leather seats, etc )
The pickup would be easier, as it can carry enough batteries to produce the
high volts the AC drive needs. The controller in the pickup is not
the one that's in my webpages - I swapped that out for one that can
dish out 120 HP, though it is turned way down to avoid breaking things!

But yes, the torque band from the AC drive will be awesome - full torque from
zero RPM right up to 6000 RPM, then it stays at constant 100 HP power
right up to 9000 RPM !! So direct drive is likely to be the easiest
way to do it.

So far, I've done around 3000 miles in the electric Mini, mainly for
short trips around town to go to the store, Mini club, etc.
The longest trips were when I took it into work twice, that's
25 miles each way. Luckily my firm doesn't mind me recharging with
their electricity... 25 miles is about the absolute maximum range with
the old lead-acid batteries I've got.

For more range, the answer will be either Saft Nicads ( big flooded ones ),
or Lithiums. ThunderSky Battery in China do some cheaper lithiums, there
have been a few bulk buys organised here in the UK and in the USA, with
people reporting good results. Still expensive, but they work.

The bright yellow Mini certainly attracts attention, with kids pointing
and people smiling as I zip by, with even more weird looks when they realise it's
totally silent ( why's that Mini still moving when I can't hear it's engine? )

The coolest thing is not having to buy any petrol for it EVER - I just plug it in!

Anyway, if you guys have more questions, fire away!

Regards

Richard Bebbington
electric Mini pickup
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/electric.mini/

Welcome Mate....you seem to be dabbling in the future

BTW...I'm impressed....all that right-tin...and not one boy-oh

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"Show me the Mini!"

i think everyone would be curious in a dollars and cents kinda way

- how long does it take to charge the fella up?
- and does it just plug into a 120/240 volt socket?

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The weight of the batteries seems to be one of the big issues, is there anything on the horizon as an alternative to batteries ie, hyrdrogen fuel cells etc, to get more power with less weight and also a greater range. Obviously the 6 trillion dollars (exaggerated) for fuel cells might be a problem.

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225hp atw on 14psi. 1/4 Mile no idea. Take one 1971 Mini Clubman, one Starlet GT Halfcut, Simmer over a warm MIG Welder, and Voila Minstar! www.mpdesign.id.au

The tray top would be a good place for a large solar panel, should add an extra 3% travel time to the car.

and it would make it more mini like....you know... not being able to drive in the rain

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How cool is that shot of the pick-up in front of the tree?!!!

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