Has anyone here built an electric Go Kart?
I'm thinking about building something for my daughter that would be significantly cooler than some plastic Power Wheels thing (yes, I have seen modified Power Wheels).
My thoughts are something nice and quiet, with a 12v motor and a car battery.
Suggestions?
I've been toying with this idea, but have nothing to offer. Subscribed!
I have seen a couple of mini bikes with batteries powered by a starter motor and "V" belt drive. no reason it couldn't power a go kart!
I build these with my students:
Toyota starter motor, boat trailer bobble rollers, push-button throttle.
With Video: http://youtu.be/v2fWkfiBLlU
The starter motor is a little, um, "intense." For a daughter, I'd suggest a wiper motor.
Shameless plug: http://www.gwellwood.com/crazy-projects/the-midget-kart/
Do you sell the plans? I only saw the sample pages. Very cool btw!
golf kart, pop body off and lower that puppy. 
SkinnyG wrote:I build these with my students:
Toyota starter motor, boat trailer bobble rollers, push-button throttle.
With Video: http://youtu.be/v2fWkfiBLlU
boat trailer rollers? This gives it what.. a coefficent of traction equal to a big wheel? Has to be a ton of fun for burnouts and drifting
Man, put some sticky tires on there, and figure out a way to drive the motor with a PWM circuit, and I say we're in freaking business! Although it's actually a DC motor so just a DC controller would probably work mint.
SkinnyG wrote:Shameless plug: http://www.gwellwood.com/crazy-projects/the-midget-kart/
Awesome site! Sounds like you are shaping young minds well!
very nice.. we need videos of it in action..
on the design though, I am not sure I would want my leg OVER the battery
I used to sell the plans. Send me your email and I'll send you the plans. They are not "plans" per se, but more of a design guide to help kids plan and problem solve a solution. They are fairly thorough.
Boat Trailer Wobble Rollers are actually VERY soft rubber (so they don't damage your boat hull). I've gotten smoke off them doing figure-8's. Lean forward and it'll smoke the tires. Lean back and it will do wheelies.
My first midget kart had the battery right under your nuts. This is the lesser of two evils.
my email
Feel free to attach smutty pics as well 
Hmmm..... DC drive motors, controllers and associated bits..... Try here? www.scooterparts.com
everything you'd ever need.
In reply to Mook:
Please disregard that link.... it should be www.electricscooterparts.com
Sorry for the previous bit of misinformation.
Honda made one that looked just like a regular racing kart, but with an electric motor.
http://austin.craigslist.org/tag/2508457698.html
This is a buddy of mine (and his pics are upside down....) but should give you an idea of what they were like.
-Rob
I have a complete electric kart that I built to test for use in my kart track. It uses a 48 volt motor making 19hp, 4 compact car batteries and a Kelly controller. It uses re-gen under braking and the whole thing can be yours for $1500.00.
loosecannon wrote:I have a complete electric kart that I built to test for use in my kart track. It uses a 48 volt motor making 19hp, 4 compact car batteries and a Kelly controller. It uses re-gen under braking and the whole thing can be yours for $1500.00.
You should strap a cooler to it and bring it to Nats. :)
I would probably got longer and stuff the motor and battery behind the driver.. but that is just me.
I bet the acceleration is insane though.. electric motors make all that torque from 0rpms...
rob_lewis wrote:Honda made one that looked just like a regular racing kart, but with an electric motor.
http://austin.craigslist.org/tag/2508457698.html
This is a buddy of mine (and his pics are upside down....) but should give you an idea of what they were like.
-Rob
Holy E36 M3, I want that. would he ship?
I've thought about putting an electric motor and small battery on my bicycle. Just something to make that one hill easier on my mostly broken bike.
rob_lewis wrote: http://austin.craigslist.org/tag/2508457698.htmlThis is a buddy of mine (and his pics are upside down....) but should give you an idea of what they were like.
Australian Domestic Market. Cool.
DILYSI Dave wrote:loosecannon wrote:I have a complete electric kart that I built to test for use in my kart track. It uses a 48 volt motor making 19hp, 4 compact car batteries and a Kelly controller. It uses re-gen under braking and the whole thing can be yours for $1500.00.
You should strap a cooler to it and bring it to Nats. :)
I would except it doesn't carry a passenger and I changed the gearing on it so I can tow broken karts and sections of barriers with it-it doesn't have the top speed now.
