Welcome to the GRUMMAN OLSON KUBVANS Forum

by **luckham** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 7:08 pm

Mixed bag today, pulled the good tires off the Cabriolet and put them on the red van as I was having a wobble issue with the present rims.
Installed half shafts on the Cabriolet to do the electric motor test which if successful will be transplanted into the RED Van.
It's a long story but picked up a 1/2 converted cabriolet EV project that I plan to migrate to the Kubvan when its proves to be functioning.

: motor installed.jpg (71.19 KiB) Viewed 15282 times

This is where we are at with the Cabriolet.
Controller tested and working with 8, 12volt batteries for 96volts.
Vacuum pump needs to be installed next, for brakes.
Will mount controller in engine bay.
Finally load batteries into back seat.
Hook it all up and go !....................
Then pull engine from Red Van and install electric motor etc. from Cabriolet

Easy when you say it like that.

keep an eye on this thread.

by **HD54KH** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 1:14 pm

I'll be watching this one. I run mine on waste veggie oil 2 tank system and currently working on a hydrogen cell. I am also thinking of propane to add as a 4 fuel choice system.

Electric would have been my first choice but the distance on charge was my issue, is there anyway to develop onboard charging set up? Like a small generator, a belt driven generator driven off a wheel/axel or wind powered set up? I had a welder nearby me fab up an electric all aluminum car for a customer and used a roof mounted vortex system to turn a small wind turbine for recharging on the fly. The welder moved years ago and a couple of years ago I saw the car at a metal recycler. Never did find out if it ever worked but the concept of partial recharging as you drive to extend the distance sounded possible.

I worked on a electric powered golf cart/city run a bout type car this summer and was amazed the power and speed it is capable of, I ran it mostly on Turf Mode due to the power it can apply quickly. Made by a company called GEM it is 72 volts and can run at 35 mph. I was thinking at the time how to adapt it to the rear wheels thru gearing and use it in the 30 mph areas of our local village.

But the pure simplicity of the electric motor coupled directly to the stock tranny has it's merit.

Good luck and looking forward to the follow up.

Terry

by **luckham** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:35 pm

I am hoping for a 60Km range to start, I plan on putting Solar Panels on the roof, I have thought about using a little 5hp diesel motor with a generator rectified to DC, you would not want to use it all the time but it could get you out of a pinch.
Picture from today's mounting of the vacuum pump and reservoir, motor controller, throttle control, power contractor and 2 of the nine batteries.
Just a note for those concerned about about safety, this installation is only a test bed to prove the operation before moving it to the Kubvan.

: Electrics in Cabriolet.jpg (77.12 KiB) Viewed 12744 times

by **CRSMP5** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 4:16 pm

If you had a lowfloor... Id change it to a nice narrowed pumpkin, mount electric motor to it directly... Use to charge batts when not in use as a generator, and when given power used as motor...

The kurbwatt in san fran gets 4 days till recharge required work to home.... And will not lie... Hard as hell to drive w clutch... You CANNOT use the electric motor as a static brake on it.... So forces you to use clutch.... It will smoke the clutch so easy cause no rpm noise like your used too

by **CRSMP5** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 4:20 pm

Hate phone.... Lol...

by **CRSMP5** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 4:24 pm

Also....

Be careful... 96v is alot and easy to burn.... And why pumpkin idea works... Electric motor rpm 1000s more then car... So does not need gears per say

Flip,turn the pumpkin so mootor points to rear to miss fuel tank.... Makeshift 2nd floor make it into high floor... With lion type packs... Bet 220v and still haveroom high floor does

by **luckham** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 12:22 am

A lot has changed since this posting started.

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Different motor (adc 6.7), different controller (curtis 1232c), used batteries (interstate deep cycle 18 X 6 volt), newer ? generation 5 speed tranny.
And today finally installed a new drive flange oil seal and half shaft (driver side).
Flange Oil seal exposed

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Drive flange removed showing spring and cup

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Drive flange re installed, this is difficult to do insitu.

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You have to pull the drive shaft out with a nut threaded into the center and a bar across the flange.
I used bar clamps to hold it in place while I put the retaining washer and spring back on.
Sorry should have kept taking photos.
Nice and quiet now and no oil leak, but the shift linkages need adjusting.

by **luckham** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 11:28 pm

So the EV conversion is now in the Kubvan and I have put 72km on so far.
Man we thought people payed attention when we drove by before, now it's electric people just plane stop in there tracks and stare.
Lots of details to post but will have to wait till the fall. Here is a few pictures to tease ya all.