Mer-Chevy Flywheel coming?

Well, it looks like I finally got a lead on a manual transmission flywheel for the Mer-Chevy project. Unfotunately, it's out of town, and I need a friend to stop out for me to get it from the seller.

That's not going to happen for at least a week.

So here I wait, HOPING to get that flywheel. Once I have it, I can start working on mating the Mercedes diesel engine with the 5-speed manual transmission.

Spring is just around the corner, and with warmer temperatures comes being able to work outside on trucks.

I'm looking forward to it.

Open ReVolt T-shirt!

Today is my birthday.

Look what my sister made for me!!!!

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That's right, a genuine Open Source T-Shirt!!!

Actual screen-printing - not iron-on!

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Solar Panels picked up!

I got the call from my friend, Swee, yesterday that the solar panels were in.

We did a bulk order of three pallets between 4 or 5 people. His store doesn't have much of a loading zone - only the street parking directly in front of the store.

I wanted to get there as soon as I could, knowing the the panels were most likely just leaned up somewhere, taking up space.

Being used to "consumer packaging", I almost expected every panel to be completely covered in inches of styrofoam and cardboard boxes. Nope! These were pallet-shipped - nothing but solar panels stacked on top of each other with some heavy-duty plastic wrap to pin them all in place.

We loaded up my share of the panels into the back of my truck. They fit well between the wheel humps in the back of my Chevy S-10 compact pickup truck.

Today, I tested one of the panels, and then stacked them all in my garage.

In cool, sunny weather, this panel was sending out about 95 volts DC open-circuit! I'm not used to working with HIGH-VOLTAGE panels. Most of my experience with PV has been on 15 watt or smaller 12V units.

Next up? Figure out how to make all that high-voltage into something useful to charge an electric car, cordless tool batteries, and run a few lights.

Harley Sparkster for Sale!

Last Summer, my friend Mike converted a Harley-Davidson Sportster into an all-electric motorcycle. Thus, the SPARKSTER was born.

I helped Mike just a little bit on the project, with a few recommendations on parts, and the initial controller programming.

Alas, as hard economic times befell many of us recently, Mike does now need to sell this slick bike.

The cycle is in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area.

Here's a classified I made on the cycle. If you are interested, please give Mike a call.

For Sale:
The Sparkster - 1979 Harley Davidson Sportster Custom Conversion

This Sportster has been custom converted to a totally battery-electric vehicle, using an energy rate of 100 watt-hours per mile. That's roughly the energy equivalent of 300 miles per gallon! Clean, quiet, and powerful! About a penny a mile to operate. Electric motors feature an amazing torque curve!

The cycle features:

• Briggs and Stratton Permanent Magnet DC Motor Etec 24-72V -
• Alltrax 7234 programmable motor controller
• 5 Sealed, (spill-proof) lead acid, 12.00 Volt, 55 AH batteries
• 60 volt system
• Transmission-less chain drive
• Charger included - plugs into standard outlet
• 35 MPH top speed - great for in-town use
• 25 mile range per charge
• Acceleration similar to original gasoline design

Custom conversion was completed in May 2009, and about 350 miles were put on the bike since then. Motor and controller both support a 72 volt system, so cycle speed and range could be increased by adding one additional 12V battery.

Total invested in conversion project was $3500. Only asking $2500, obo.
Specs on this cycle can also be seen at the EV Album:
Mike Mangan's 1979 Harley Davidson Sportster

Please contact Mike Mangan at ebikemike@yahoo.com
with any questions. Please let him know where you heard about the cycle from.




See a few more photos at Flickr.

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