[im3733]

Hello, I'm new to this site (AKA I found it yesterday). I'm planning to build an EV from the ground up, frame, body, etc. I'm basing the design off of the Lamborghini Embolado, a concept car that looks amazing. I've already figured out the majority of how I'm going to build the body, I'm just needing to know what I'll need for the motor/drivetrain/electronics part of it.

Thanks.

Pics of the Embolado:
http://dminas.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/lamborghini-embolado-2-lg.jpg
http://img.tamtay.vn/files/2008/11/18/ngaothientuan/photos/312163/49316b6d_embolado_2.jpg

 

[surgy]

beautiful car, you have a HUGE job ahead of you to say the least, but if done right with fiberglass it should show great advantages in your final curbweight, therefor producing greater efficiency and betetr miles per charge. If it were me starting this project I would start with a Pontiac Fiero and chop the boddy off and build my new fiberglass body on top, that way you get to keep the fiero tranny and suspension/subframe. And the Fiero has been converted a million times and is a VERY popular car to convert, not to mention the fact that its rear engine so it matches your car nicely. I would also use a 144V system with LifePo4 batetry packs, this will be an amazing project, and I'm going to be watching very closely, Good luck and I can't wait to see you get started.

 

[im3733]

Thanks for the support. I was actually planning on building the frame and all from scratch using either carbon fiber or aluminum. This was mainly because I was going to have custom door hinges on it. Forget Lambo doors, check THIS out! I also run into being able to FIND a Fiero near Lansing, MI. I'm gonna start looking some more, but my internet is being a pain.

 

[ithinkidontknow]

If you could get that kind of look with the doors designed that way that car would be the BIGGEST HEAD-TURNER EVER! This is wonderful and I am looking forward to your progress!

 

[im3733]

Thanks for the support. I'm hoping (once I find and get a donor vehicle, AKA a fiero, kudos to surgy) to post at least weekly on my progress.

 

[im3733]

Does anyone have any idea where I might look to find a fiero that is suitable for modding and isn't too overly expensive?

 

[dtbaker]

Does anyone have any idea where I might look to find a fiero that is suitable for modding and isn't too overly expensive?

craigslist.com

 

[markllar]

Check the junk yards for the carcass. Good luck. If you are good at electronics give serious thought to an AC system.

 

[im3733]

About what level of skill are we talking? What would be the advantages/disadvantages of AC over DC? I'm planning on having a alternator/generator attached to the non-drive axle, and solar panels on the roof.

 

[surgy]

Lol nice idea with the doors, those would be awesome on a show car, or concept car, but in reality, what happens right after a snow storm when you have been driving around in knee deep muddy slush all day and then your door folds down into it? "OOOPS!!!!!!! there went a $5000 custom door panel!!!" or "Man, these doors are awesome, but the sure do fill the floor up with mudd right after a rain storm"

Another point on AC you can get WAY more range and power from an AC system than a DC system, but they are WAY more expensive and have more parts and are more complicated. (using WAY as a technicle term here meaning , WAY out of my skill range, lol)

 

[im3733]

Actually, the doors fold down into a sealed underbody compartment. They talk about that in other parts of the website. They also tested them and found that the floors and interior actually stay DRIER during a rainstorm than with traditional doors.

 

[im3733]

On their website, the one I linked to, it talks about how he doors actually go into a sealed underbody compartment. They also did tests and found that the interior stays drier in a rainstorm than with the traditional door hinges.

 

[im3733]

Ok guys. Honestly, I have NO IDEA where to start. This is my 1st EV and I know it's a stretch. My biggest problem is I don't know ANYTHING when it comes to one electric motor vs. another. I am a quick learner, though. But if someone could point me to a site or page that explains the differences and the advantages/disadvantages of each, I'd be forever grateful.

 

[ftaffy]

DC = cheaper and simpler but less effiecient and no real intergrated option for regen braking.
AC = expensive and possibly complicated but more efficient, higher RPM, regen braking.


You have 2 choices:
Direct drive - no gearbox but a diff still in place
Standard drive clutch- gearbox and a clutch. Easier gear changes but losses in the clutch.
Standard drive no clutch - Requires you to "wait" to change gears but more efficient.

The how much power do i need question? Look at the wiki.
You can also read the calcs i posted in a direct drive thread to help you get started: http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29799

 

[Anaerin]

You have 2 choices:
Direct drive - no gearbox but a diff still in place
Standard drive clutch- gearbox and a clutch. Easier gear changes but losses in the clutch.
Standard drive no clutch - Requires you to "wait" to change gears but more efficient.

I count that as 3 choices.

Also, if you're using a clutch, there is a potential problem with lateral force on the motor's bearings, as the clutch has to "Push away" the motor shaft. If the motor can't deal with a fair bit of lateral force, it may be weakened and degraded by being pushed by the clutch mechanism.

And, as another note, the "Wait" for clutchless gear changes is in the realm of a half-second to a second. Not too bad at all, really, it just means no racing changes up and down the box.

 

[im3733]

DC = cheaper and simpler but less effiecient and no real intergrated option for regen braking.
AC = expensive and possibly complicated but more efficient, higher RPM, regen braking.

Ok. Thanks for that...but i still have a few questions

1. what is regenerative braking? Wikipedia and the internet don't want to tell me it would seem
2. How much more complicated is AC? Like average # of parts, etc.
3. Price range for each? I'm looking at a Pontiac Fiero for a donor vehicle, if that's any help. I'm also rather interested in speed and acceleration (accel being the less of the two).

 

[Anaerin]

1. what is regenerative braking? Wikipedia and the internet don't want to tell me it would seem

The site has given you an answer - Click the dashed link in your (and my) message for a full and complete overview of what ReGen is.

2. How much more complicated is AC? Like average # of parts, etc.

Number of parts is typically the same. Instead of a DC controller, you'll have an AC inverter. The problem is...

3. Price range for each? I'm looking at a Pontiac Fiero for a donor vehicle, if that's any help. I'm also rather interested in speed and acceleration (accel being the less of the two).

DC: Can be done for a "Beer Budget" (Under $1000 - Check out Forkenswift).
AC: Very (Very!) expensive - $4,700+ (bare minimum) for motor, $5,500+ for inverter. Also requires high (300+) voltages, meaning lots and lots of batteries. MetricMind.com has some AC systems (Where I got my prices), and they seem to be the only places that bother to list them, because of the very high price.

 

[im3733]

WHOAA!! With price tags like that I'm going with DC. I'm just a poor college kid (I'm actually 17, I just graduated early) working part-time at Arby's. NO WAY could I afford the prices you were talking for AC. DANG! Ok. So. I was able to find some info on reGen, and i get the gist of it. So. What is a realistic range for a DC system on a Fiero. And what would you recommend for voltage? MI has no restrictions that I could find.

 

[ithinkidontknow]

I'm planning on having a alternator/generator attached to the non-drive axle, and solar panels on the roof.

Solar panels on the roof could be nice but aren't really worth the money if you expect to get a whole lot of range out of them. An alternator on the non-drive axle is not really a good idea, you will end up burning more electricity to drive the alternator then the alternator will generate. If you want energy gains from axle rotation, what you need is regenerative braking, where your motor essentially turns into an alternator and will have sort of an "engine braking" effect as you brake your vehicle. Also, there are DC motors that offer regenerative braking, you just have to make sure to get a compatible controller, plus they are usually more expensive. Hope this helps!

 

[ithinkidontknow]

WHOAA!! With price tags like that I'm going with DC. I'm just a poor college kid (I'm actually 17, I just graduated early) working part-time at Arby's.

Exactly how much money do you have to spend? This sounds like a $30,000 project minimum... maybe 20,000 if you have connections.