Moving on, finally!

[NewcastleFalcon]

While looking for an an image of the type of electric cart Peter mentioned and putting the phrase "1960's platform electrically powered goods carts" into google half way down the page this appeared....



I like a nice Spitfire anyway, but the image sprang from an article entitled "Top 5 Electric Vehicle Conversions".

Now that captured my interest.

Along the way I also found this article with a little bit of detail in it of this...



and.....It was converted as a High School project

Built by North Johnston High School students in Kenly, NC this car was designed for participation in the Carolina Electric Vehicle Challenge. This car proves that electric cars don't have to be slow, difficult to drive or ugly! Competing against high schools from across the southeast US, the Spitfire was recognized at the competition as being the best designed and constructed vehicle there, and on the autocross track clearly dominated the competition!

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Wow

[NewcastleFalcon]

Wow

Just imagine what the combined wisdom of the FCF could achieve if it took on its own FCF Electric Power Conversion Project I would suggest a Renault Floride/Caravelle as per my avatar, plenty of free space in the engine bay and the architecture may even allow a bit of cribbing from North Johnston High School save re-inventing the wheel. Not having a garage I would have to volunteer for the role of "Test Driver (Northumberland) June-July-August" .



Regards Neil

[Peter.N.]

Wow! indeed. Doesn't look like your run of the mill electric vehicle of the time. Presumably it used lead acid batteries although they don't sound very heavy for the capacity needed, although it probably wasn't designed for long journeys.

I see it uses a gearbox, an overdrive one at that, probably not really needed with an electric motor but gives you more options. I should see if its still about Jim.

Peter

[CitroJim]

The space in that Renault Floride/Caravelle engine bay is a dream... After years of working on Xantias with the larger engines such a bay is almost unbelievable!!!

If not the Renault Floride/Caravelle, I reckon an electric H Van would be a great project... Loads of room for the batteries...

[white exec]

http://www.ahooha.de/[color=#FF0000]Mes ... ]/lang_en/
KR E-800R € 9.950,00*
KR E-800L&C € 11.150,00*
* All prices shown without VAT, ex factory Málaga / SPAIN

Gosh, Neil. How did you know?

[white exec]

Always thought it was a pity that early offerings of "city" electric cars were so damned ugly and naff to look at. Presumably done deliberately, so that no-one would want one. Finally, Renault offered the Zoe and Clio EVs, and others followed. No reason now to have to take the Noddy-car option.

Old lead-acid conversions were always fun. I remember back in about 1963 a neighbour of ours built his own: old Austin Seven chassis, with a single motor directly driving the rear diff. Back seat and boot full of lead-acid batteries, and largely plywood 'coachwork' to keep the weight down. Called Baby Zeta and painted Post Office red, it would click and hum its way between his home in West Ealing to his office in Kensington iirc every day for years. Biggest problem was not getting run over by it, as it was virtually silent. Lovely.

[white exec]

Also remember the conversation I had with the milk-float repair yard in Alfold, back in the '70s. Guy said that most of the Express Dairy and other floats they worked on were 72v dc motors, but batteried-up with only 24v, or sometimes 36. That way, the motors would last more-or-less for ever. Motor speed control was pretty basic: a set of iron resistances to vary the field current, and located under the driver's seat, it made some attempt at winter warmth.

Although 600v d.c., many London Trolleybuses were so well built that their traction motors lasted the life of the vehicle, in some cases more than thirty years. When the system was finally (and tragically) scrapped, word was that the scrap value of the high quality overhead cable actually paid for the entire cost of dismantling. In the last months of operation, the newest vehicles (Q-type, built in 1950), and seating 70-72 passengers, were sold off to Spain and South Africa. In Spain, they ran in several cities until the late '80s, when the Spanish government issued an extrordinary decree compelling local authorities to discontinue electric street public transport. Only a few years ago, one (?two) of these Q1's were rescued, and shipped back to the UK to the Trolleybus Museum in Sandtoft, Doncaster.

[CitroJim]

Chris, a most interesting and enjoyable couple of posts

[NewcastleFalcon]

http://www.ahooha.de/
KR E-800R € 9.950,00*
KR E-800L&C € 11.150,00*
* All prices shown without VAT, ex factory Málaga / SPAIN

Gosh, Neil. How did you know?

Not sure if it actually happened Chris do you know of such a factory in Malaga...website has this bit of info

translated from the German by Google
A new factory hall for the production of the new MESSRSCHMITT vehicles in MALAGA / Andalusia is being prepared. Production start is March 2015!

regards Neil

[Peter.N.]

I remember trolley busses, in fact I remember trams, sad they have gone although there are a number of places where they have been installed again. The museum at Crich Derbyshire is worth a visit as is Beamish where you can ride round all day for nothing once you have paid your entrance fee.

Peter

[white exec]

I visited Crich many years ago (venue for a Rover P6 rally). Think I still have the "1d" tram ticket somewhere!

[Peter.N.]

I should use it Jim before we go decimal.

Peter

[Hell Razor5543]

Browsing through a few articles I encountered this one;

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technolo ... ntp#page=1

[Peter.N.]

Interesting, with its better power to weight ratio than a car I would have thought it ideal for electric power, maximum torque at zero revs has got to be good for performance.

Peter