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A project log for Electric Car Conversion

Converting a 1993 Honda Del Sol to electric using the guts of an electric forklift

james-hobsonJames Hobson 01/15/2014 at 02:313 Comments

We did it. We took a 1993 Honda Del Sol, and a equally old electric forklift and merged them together into something we like to call the Delsolectric Car.

It might not be pretty. But it worked. We even managed to get it up to 100km/h on the used batteries!

Unfortunately when we looked into getting it insured, we were met with a lot of red tape. Being poor university students we weren't able to pay for the insurance -- or buy new batteries for it.

It sat in Ian's backyard for the next 2 years until we decided to take it apart and scrap it. Was it a waste of time? No. It was an amazing learning experience. We fully plan on doing another one after we graduate and start working -- which by my count, should be soon! Ian's recently bought a truck and is tempted to convert it into a hybrid using the big drive motor from the fork lift. 

Until next time... Let me know if you have any comments, there's also more information on my original project blog at www.delsolectric.wordpress.com

Discussions

ion_medical wrote 04/23/2014 at 11:41 point
could you mention here the specs of DC motor you have used.

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Mike Szczys wrote 01/17/2014 at 15:05 point
I'd be interested in hearing more about the insurance issues. Was it purely cost, or an even bigger barrier like needing a crash test?

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James Hobson wrote 02/11/2014 at 11:37 point
Mostly cost issues. Insurance is typically a bit trickier (and more expensive) in Canada unfortunately. The majority of insurance companies we called flat-out refused. That left our only option as government insurance -- which isn't cheap.

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