Don't know where these guys are located (their Web site isn't up yet) but their first two videos covering the electric conversion of Geo Metro are worth watching. The project is called ForkenSwift and the crew is using a hydraulic motor salvaged from a forklift. The first video showed a quick power-up using one battery. Now the team has added two more batteries and a controller from a 48-volt golf cart. They seem to know what they're doing and it looks like they've got a hit series out of their garage. Can't wait to see more of the conversion.
[Source: YouTube]
ForkenSwift: Electric car conversion on a beer budget
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Ah another crazy garage effort that will boost prices of the maligned metro/swift. With Koni struts and Jackson Racing bars, it was quite a decent handling car. Hmmm, it was 1600lbs with a 55bhp combustion engine. Should be closer to 1300-1400 without it. And the idea of mating a torque heavy low rpm motor to the 5-speed might be a good combo. How much motor is the electric good for 25bhp? Now where are the lithium ion batteries so it can go 100 miles between charges?!? Sounds like a fun time and can't wait to see the finished project.
Posted at 1:05PM on Jan 13th 2007 by LaughingTooHard
3. Location? Ontario, Canada.
My buddy and I have been tinkering on this project for not quite a year now. (Beer budgets require patience and resourcefulness ;-) )
It's basically a fun project to make a grocery getter / commuter EV (live in a very small city). From the outset, our goals were: 1) low cost, 2) low cost, and 3) low cost. Which means we'll end up with a "Metro NEV", not a garage-built Tesla.
Putting up the ForkenSwift web site is pretty far down the to-do list, but if you want ALL the gory details NOW - from the day the proverbial light bulb went on, to the present - there's a (long) running thread on our progress, at GasSavers.org:
http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=386
As for boosting the prices of the Metro/Swift variants? More likely we're boosting scrap metal prices! Everything we've used has been snatched from the jaws of the crusher and given a new lease on life.
4. (Just adding this comment so I can keep keep tabs on this page with the new "E-mail me when someone replies to this comment" feature. Nice option to have, ABG.)
Posted at 10:07PM on Jan 28th 2007 by MetroMPG.com
5. ForkenSwift update: first electric test drive vid posted at YouTube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDERyAILOak
Yes, to appropriately mark the occasion, beer was drunk afterwards.
Posted at 10:06PM on Apr 15th 2007 by MetroMPG.com
6. We host a forum for those converting their cars to electric. It's at http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/ See you there!
7. I am full agreement on not using the fork truck EV-1 drive panal,as it will be too costly in amp draw,and repairs.Question? Why not use a battery condition meter for your fuel guage?I also recall that most gulf carts have a reverse on them,and that would drop the need for a trans.What are the batterys on the front floor for?
Posted at 9:01PM on Mar 5th 2008 by Delores Dougan
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1. thanks for this informtion
Posted at 11:29AM on Jan 13th 2007 by brad