Welcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: Join our community! |
| Geo Electro; 93 Geo Metro Electric Conversion | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 31 2016, 11:44 PM (879 Views) | |
| geo electro | Jan 31 2016, 11:44 PM Post #1 |
|
New Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Hello I have a 93 Geo Metro that I have been working on converting to electric. It was purchased last spring but the guy I hired to do the welding was not capable of doing the work. Unsure of how to get the welding done, I got discouraged. I think evmetro might help me out which would be awesome. This would get the project back on track. I have the wildnerness ev #2 kit and batteries. This kit has a 72 volt 40hp motor, controller, and charger. I'm not a car guy. No one taught me about cars when I was younger. I started working on a honda about 6 years ago, but I have not done much. I learned a lot about how to work on cars from the internet. It has been a great resource. I am planning to do this conversion myself except for welding the battery boxes and motor mount. I have been trying to do it inexpensively. The kit cost me $950. The batteries were about the same. The car cost $300. I have been thinking about making this thread for a long time as a place for me to share my project and have you guys taking a look at what I am doing. My goal is to do a good job without spending more than I have to. I want to be able to register this car as an ev in California. I think I know what I have to do but this part is important and I am not sure about some of the requirements. ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
|
| Stubby79 | Feb 1 2016, 03:04 AM Post #2 |
![]()
|
Quick look on wildnerness ev's site, I only see the one kit with the 10" ME1002 motor. Is that what you're putting in here? That's one big motor! Otherwise:
|
![]() |
|
| geo electro | Feb 1 2016, 11:07 AM Post #3 |
|
New Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Hey thanks for taking a look. I have seen your ev project thread. This is the url for the kit I have: http://www.e-volks.com/about2.html The motor is on the smaller side. If I really want I think I could force air cool it and run it at 120 volts. I would have to buy a bunch of new stuff to do that though so that's an option for later once its all done. |
![]() |
|
| geo electro | Feb 1 2016, 11:11 AM Post #4 |
|
New Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
![]() I have done a lot so far. This is not the most recent pic but its looking a bit better with the windshield replaced |
![]() |
|
| evmetro | Feb 1 2016, 01:41 PM Post #5 |
![]()
|
Getting it registered in CA as an EV is really easy. Once it is ready for the road, you just make an appointment with a smog referee, and have him do the inspection. The inspection is really easy, since he just looks to make sure that your ride is electric only. No place for gasoline, no evidence of having a generator. Once he is happy that you are electric only, he gives you the same smog certificate as the one you get for your gasoline cars, but it will say pure electric on it and be good forever. It is also free. Take that to DMV, and register it like any other Metro, and you will never get a smog request from DMV ever again. |
![]() |
|
| Stubby79 | Feb 1 2016, 02:39 PM Post #6 |
![]()
|
Totally different web page then I got when I went looking! That motor should get you around town just fine, particularly if you can keep the weight down by using lithium batteries. Your motor is the ES-15A. It's rated for 48v to 72v. I doubt you'd want to run it at 120v. 96, perhaps? Particularly if you're running lead, which will have a higher sag voltage under heavy load. Then you would need a different controller...anyway, I'd do a search around to see who else has over-voltaged said motor and how it's held up first. Generally speaking, motors are ok if you keep your average power to the continuous rating, which is 9hp for the ES-15A. You might be able to handle a little bit more then that, since you'd be able to run at higher rpm and the cooling fan will be able to cool that much more...just remember that it isn't designed for it, so you're gambling. I wouldn't mind like a small series wound motor like that, for a different project...
|
![]() |
|
| geo electro | Feb 1 2016, 03:34 PM Post #7 |
|
New Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks for your input evmentro. The things I am concerned about are the registration are having the batteries in the cabin in a sealed and vented box and having an emergency shut off on the outside of the car. I have read before that these are requirements. I also hope that it is fast enough to be registered as a normal ev. I think it will be okay. I plan to have the batteries in a box in the back. I am not sure about venting it. Also I plan to have an emergency disconnect hooked up to the clutch like the forkenswift. I have read before that the emergency disconnect has to be on the outside of the car so it can be activated externally in case of a crash. Pretty much all of the electric cars I have seen do not have this, so I think the clutch emergency disconnect is fine. |
![]() |
|
| geo electro | Feb 1 2016, 03:45 PM Post #8 |
|
New Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I just plan to use this car to get around town. I figure it should have a 10-15 mile range I have looked into forced air cooling these motors. They do well and it allows them to perform at higher voltages. There are some advantages to forced air cooling your motor. It will cool down when you are sitting still. I have seen old airplane starter motors being used with forced air cooling. I know I would need a new controller, more batteries, a new charger and blower / adapter. That would make the car much more capable but the cost is too great currently. It would be really good to get it finished with what I have. The batteries I have are lead, but they are pretty light because I only have 7. I am kind of preferring having less to keep the weight down, and the cost of replacing them. |
![]() |
|
| Stubby79 | Feb 1 2016, 10:08 PM Post #9 |
![]()
|
Good to hear that you've done some research on it. Ar you doing 6 batteries for the motor and 1 for the accessories? Or are you planning on sneaking in an extra battery when the voltage settles down low enough after charging? (6 fresh-off-the-charge batteries = 86v, 7 settled/cooled off batteries = 88v, both should be under the 90v limit of your controller) And yes, I'd stick with what you have and take it from there. You have to be careful with sucking too many amps out of your 6 or 7 lead acids, as they're probably not designed for heavy, continuous loads, and the more you suck out of them the less range you'll have. Granny it, and they'll last twice as long and twice as far, if not more. I saw a converted small truck for sale locally with 4 Costco deep-cycle 2v batteries, and when I asked him the range of it, he said it only got 2 miles per charge. Way too much power being drawn out of those batteries. Let me know if you'd rather i just sit back and watch, and I'll keep my mouth shut. I know I prefer to find things out for myself rather then take advice from strangers over the internet.
|
![]() |
|
| geo electro | Feb 2 2016, 12:35 AM Post #10 |
|
New Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I am using 6 batteries plus one for accessories. I think it's going to work fine. I appreciate your input, that's a large part of why I made this thread. I'm sure I could use the help. Thanks |
![]() |
|
| Stubby79 | Feb 2 2016, 11:00 AM Post #11 |
![]()
|
FWIW, you could get ~72v worth of 100ah LiFePO4 batteries for about the same price as that kit of yours is listed at. Something to think about (later), if it's worth it to you. |
![]() |
|
| geo electro | Feb 2 2016, 12:44 PM Post #12 |
|
New Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I got everything in the kit for 950. A guy had installed it on his metro but it was a salvage title and he was not able to register it as an ev. The kit was only used for one test drive |
![]() |
|
| Stubby79 | Feb 2 2016, 01:53 PM Post #13 |
![]()
|
Lucky!
|
![]() |
|
| geo electro | Feb 2 2016, 02:49 PM Post #14 |
|
New Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
It was partially luck, I was also searching all over. I ended up driving 6 hours each way and camping out but it was worth it. |
![]() |
|
| Stubby79 | Feb 2 2016, 09:55 PM Post #15 |
![]()
|
Well deserved bit of "luck" then! |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Project Forum · Next Topic » |


Welcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.


![]](http://z3.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)








I wouldn't mind like a small series wound motor like that, for a different project...

7:23 PM Jul 10