102 replies to this topic

[malynch27]

I have to agree with minilandy. This is THE coolest build on here. Anyone can stick a V8 or rotary lump in their mini but what you have done is way cooler. Hurry up and get more cells and then do a vid!

[joezone2001]

Just read your thread. What a great project! I'd love to do something that clever to my mini. What sort of range are you expecting?
Joe.

[minimikej]

This build is simply wonderful, so well considered. I remember looking at someone's website years ago who built a yellow pick-up with what I think was milk-float parts and some clever engineering to mate the motor to the original box. Wonder what happened to that one..

Cheers

[stretch tech]

wow just found this and i've got to say some clever stuff here 

 

i mean usually a mini and fancy electrics are like chalk and cheese but you've made them work together 

 

regarding the cold start issues: why not incorporate a heating element of some sort around each motor and link them to the choke cable for that proper mini cold start feeling 

 

anyway great work. keep it up 

 

Rhys

[minimaxie]

Also just seen this thread. What an awesome build! Very inspiring to see something different in a Mini. All I'm wondering now is, regarding that MOT, what was the MOT testers face like when they opened up the bonnet to see an electric motor?! Must of been a bit of a shock for sure

[MalcolmB]

Time for an update, and thanks for the comments guys!

 

I installed the rest of the pack. It's still very small for an electric car (about 6 kWh), but prices and energy density are improving all the time. I've not tested the maximum range yet, but should be around 25-30 miles.

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And with the lid on. The holes aren't cup holders ... they're so I can check the battery monitors and adjust the high-voltage and low-voltage cutoffs.

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I got a charge point installed outside my door for free! It's from PodPoint. Part of the government's incentives to promote electric cars. It uses the same charging plug as the Nissan Leaf and supplies up to 3.6 kW, so I can get a full charge in 2 hours.

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And fitted a matching charging socket to the mini. The charge point doesn't supply any power until the plug is firmly latched into the socket. Just a safety feature. Yes, I know, my mini is sorely in need of some paint. Anyone got any advice on painting crazed gelcoat?

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Just got this working today! I fitted a bluetooth sender unit to the battery pack. It's paired to my Android tablet and creates a digital dashboard that displays useful information about the state of the battery: charge remaining, power, current, voltage, battery temperature and 'fuel consumption' (in watt hours per mile). It runs on most recent Android devices as long as they have bluetooth and GPS. The sender unit and app come from emotorwerks in the states.

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The next big job will be to install a bigger controller. This is the bottleneck right now, the motors and battery are capable of a lot more. The mid-range power is decent, but takeoff is underwhelming – think Morris Minor. The new controller should double the available torque from zero up to about 2500 rpm. I'm hoping to get this done over the summer holidays. 

Edited by MalcolmB, 29 June 2013 - 08:21 PM.

[stretch tech]

great work - love the charging station  is this a mini minus ? sorry for the dumb question 

 

Rhys

[MalcolmB]

regarding the cold start issues: why not incorporate a heating element of some sort around each motor and link them to the choke cable for that proper mini cold start feeling
Rhys

It's the batteries that don't like the cold, not the motors. It's fairly easy to fix though. I just need to insulate the battery pack. I'm also thinking of ducting the warm air from the chargers, which are in the boot, underneath the battery pack. The chargers could be timed to switch on first thing in the morning to preheat the batteries.

[stretch tech]

 

regarding the cold start issues: why not incorporate a heating element of some sort around each motor and link them to the choke cable for that proper mini cold start feeling
Rhys

It's the batteries that don't like the cold, not the motors. It's fairly easy to fix though. I just need to insulate the battery pack. I'm also thinking of ducting the warm air from the chargers, which are in the boot, underneath the battery pack. The chargers could be timed to switch on first thing in the morning to preheat the batteries.

 

 

sounds like you've got it sorted then  although i still think you need to incorporate the choke somehow 

 

Rhys

[MalcolmB]

All I'm wondering now is, regarding that MOT, what was the MOT testers face like when they opened up the bonnet to see an electric motor?! Must of been a bit of a shock for sure

Nah, they're a dour lot at my local MOT station and acted as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Some people take to the idea of electric conversions and others just don't see the point or think you're some sort of eco warrior. Me, I'm just trying to create a life-size version of the Scalextric minis I had when I was a kid...

[MalcolmB]

is this a mini minus ?

It's a Domino mini. Heavier layup than a Minus. This one was built around 1990.

[stretch tech]

 

is this a mini minus ?

It's a Domino mini. Heavier layup than a Minus. This one was built around 1990.

 

 

ah i've never heard of one before, learn something new everyday i guess  still a lot lighter than a regular mini then i take it ? must help counter the added weight of the battery packs 

[MiniLandy]

Some people take to the idea of electric conversions and others just don't see the point or think you're some sort of eco warrior. Me, I'm just trying to create a life-size version of the Scalextric minis I had when I was a kid...

 

 

Gotta agree, there are a vast spectrum of reasons. I just like the idea of getting 30 miles worth of driving for a couple of pence of electricity. Oh, and the fact that you get all of the torque at anything above 0rpm, that too. 

 

Seriously cool build, this, looking forward to that new speed controller and video!