Electric Go Kart

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I thought it would be pretty cool to make an electric GoKart.  I have several electric RC Cars. So I have a basic idea of what I would need.First of all does anyone know what kind of motor would be good for one? (And I don't want a slow golf kart one). Do they make brushless ones in that scale?Where would you get an electronic speed control for the motor? Also what kind of batteries should I use? I was thinking about Lithium Polymer(Lipo) batteries.If anyone could help me that would be great.
Reply:My friend and I just did one using the motor and electronics from an electric mower. Everything you need is supplied by that mower. Go out, search the trader papers and find one used and cheap. At most retail places a motor alone with cost you more than a new mower new($300). My friend found his for $100.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:People usually use alternators, but that stuff gets really hot fast cause they are made for short runs. I´ve heard of people using wheelchair goodies for their own. Electronic speed control, motor, batteries...etc...golf cart engines will do great, since they are rated for 1000+ lbs of load (including kart). Making a go kart that is 250 lbs with a guy on it (check out my new go kart thread my chassis barely weights 80 lbs without engine) will make it a lot faster, you could also change final sprocket ratio and make it faster but without greater top end speed. Depends on you.
Reply:How many hp does a golf kart have?I have found a motor on ebay that has 5hp. Do you think that would be enough?Elvergon your go cart looks great!!
Reply:I found another great motor that will produce 2.5hp at 120vdc.There is a picture of it and here is also the ebay link http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1I will probably buy something like this and about 10 car batteries which will give me 120volts DC. My only problem is what do I have to get so that I will be able to control the speed of the motor. I know that little rc cars have electronic speed controller (esc). but what would it be called for this thing? Also could someone  post a link with a speed controller for this motor from ebay. Attached Images
Reply:Ty man blue. Have you ever seen a barstool? check out this site it has a lot of good info on them. www.barflyracers.com  . People usually run 6.5 HP engines over there, and they go up to 30 MPH. You might wanna check that out. I really don´t know how many horses an electric golf kart has but I think it should be close to the 7-8 hp
Reply:Originally Posted by manblueI thought it would be pretty cool to make an electric GoKart.
Reply:There´s a guy in here which made a wagon with some batteries and motor with electric controler. Might wanna register and ask him about that. http://www.barflyracers.com/showthre...ighlight=wagon
Reply:I registered and made a thread
Reply:Look at what is available for the heavy-weight class in battlebots.  They have some large motors and speed controls.  Also you could run your cart from remote control.  Cool Stuff.http://www.robotcombat.com/marketplace_motors.htmlJust Google for more info battlebot motors.
Reply:Use a Golf cart axle For that go kart. Proven technology used for fifty years. I will try to send some pictures laterBilly
Reply:for the price of all those batteries you could buy a gas motor, but if you want electric then look at some mototrs for jr. dragsters, they are bad a$$ for electric motors.
Reply:95% of regular electric motors are about half the horse power that they say they are, such as compressor motors and such.
Reply:As was pointed out earlier, the problem you will face is scaling the technology down to a usable level.   That 120vdc motor you are looking at will certainly do the job, but you will have to carry 400lbs of car batteries (10 X 40lbs) to have the 120 volts you will need.  You will also have about 10X the current that you will need.   I’d recommend starting out your research looking for a decent 24 to 36 volt motor and using 2 or 3 deep cell marine batteries.    The marine batteries will last longer (both in holding their charge and in the # of times you will be able to recharge them from a depleted state).   If you can find them, 6 volt batteries are an even better option, but you’ll just need more of them.   They tend to have a longer lifespan than 12 volt ones.Another reason I’d recommend going with a lower voltage system, is voltage (speed) control.    Your DC motor will most likely be a permanent magnet motor.   You can’t just decrease the voltage going to these motors and expect it will slow down.  Yes it will slow down, but it will also most likely burn up the armature.    Because AMPS x VOLTS = WATTS, by decreasing the volts to the motor, you effectively increase the amps the motor will try to pull.    DC voltage (speed) control can be accomplished by using a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller.   That’s a fancy way of saying a “high frequency on/off switch”.    The PWM controller applies full voltage to the motor, thus full power, but switches it on and off very fast.    The frequency of the PWM controller can be adjusted to lengthen or shorten the time the power is applied and also the time the power is off.   There are sophisticated controllers that can also adjust the shape of the power-on curve.       The circuit for switching the battery power on and off, is fairly simple, but fragile.   A small voltage spike can easily render the circuit dead.   The business end of the PWM controller, where the actually battery power is channeled through has to be very stable and be able to withstand very high temperatures.        Cheap PWM controllers are iffy at best and ones that can run an electric car can cost several thousand dollars.      That said, you can save yourself a lot of grief and expense by going with lower voltages.I say, go for it!   It will be a great learning experience, and when all the oil is gone, you'll be a step ahead of the rest.There are no small projects
Reply:I had an electric mini bike when I was a kid. It used a single 12 volt car battery and the motor appeared to be a starter motor. If I recall correctly it had two speeds controlled by some kind of resistor, start speed and haul a$$ ! I built my 10 year old a mini bike last year and used a Chinese copy of the 5.5 hp Honda engine (gas).... the Honda is like $400, the China was $169 all parst interchange with Honda and it had a 2 year guarentee.  It HAULS too !Not a beginner, not a pro !
Reply:Well I have this idea for my Harbor Freight cart using a trolling motor..Look at it like this..A 45 Lb thrust Minkota will push a flat bottom bass boat with 400 lbs worth of people and gear pretty good!!..And thats pushing thru all that water and undercurrents going the other way..(I do it here all the time in the summer)So with little resistance..wheels VS water..This seems like a no brainer for me..6 forward speeds and 4 reverse..And those little plug in the wall 18 volt car jumpers (a good one) are light and last 3 hrs on the water...So I will do this project in the spring..You'll see.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I think if I was to try to accomplish this on the cheap I think I'd try harvesting a couple electric scooters. Everybody bought them a couple Christmas' ago and then found out they were illegal so they're just laying around if you can find em'. Two motors wired together should go pretty fast.
Reply:The only practical way to make an electric cart would be to use golf cart technology.  120v on batteries would never last long enough.  Also, golf cart 6v batteries last the longest and we use them on RV's too for dry camping.  2good golf cart 6v's wired in series (for added voltage) will last longer than 2-12v deep cycle marine batteries wired parallel (for added amperage).  Most speed contolled motors are DC so look for a good used 12 or 6v car starter motor or 6v golf cart motor, and 2 6V golf cart batteries and speed controller.  Plan your gear ratio, or two speed, to match your desired speed and keep the weight to a minimum.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterWell I have this idea for my Harbor Freight cart using a trolling motor..Look at it like this..A 45 Lb thrust Minkota will push a flat bottom bass boat with 400 lbs worth of people and gear pretty good!!..And thats pushing thru all that water and undercurrents going the other way..(I do it here all the time in the summer)So with little resistance..wheels VS water..This seems like a no brainer for me..6 forward speeds and 4 reverse..And those little plug in the wall 18 volt car jumpers (a good one) are light and last 3 hrs on the water...So I will do this project in the spring..You'll see.....zap!
Reply:Agreed.  Trolling Motor is not a practical option. It wouldn't have enough power to get it moving, although, once you had some initial speed it may be able to keep it going. It might work on your pedal cars you use on the frozen lake if you get it going.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:I was thinking of making a 2 stage starter motor plus scooter motor powered scooter. Starter for extra power when needed until hot.--------------------GMC WLDR 140A Stick Arc cheapskatenow with 90% more burnthrough
Reply:Ask AZ on :http://www.atomiczombie.com/forum/default.asp He builds bicycles and has built all types encluding electric.
Reply:2 recomendations, either a electric winch motor or a old starter/generator, I had a starter/generator from a wheelhorse tractor on a minibike frame and 2 12V gel-cells from a wheelchair , I used 2 solenoids and a dual pole dual throw switch, flip it one way and it went forward and flip it the other way and it used the generator side to charge the battery and stop the bike pretty quick