Quite a few years ago, I happened across the Nevco Gizmo EV. Constructed from the ground up in the USA using locally sourced parts (mostly), it was certainly a unique vehicle. I felt I had a great deal on the purchase and sunk a few more simoleans into it, replacing 560 pounds of VRSLA with 200 pounds of LiFePO4, increasing the voltage from 48 nominal to 66 nominal, 69 off the charger. With the weight reduction and voltage increase, top speed went from 35 to 52 on level ground and range was boosted from 15/25 at 50% consumption to 75 miles at 80% consumption. The DC/DC converter didn't like the 69 volts, but a day's delay off the charger, or a few minutes with the key on and it was happy again. One aspect of the vehicle was the side stick steering, which people felt would be a skid-steer environment, but the reality was that it was ordinary motorcycle feel. Another trip for the alleged mind was the hinge at the top front access. It's astonishing how many people associated that with the Isetta (side opening, not top!) but that's how the world turns. I believe only 36 were produced and my #32 has quite a few of the "upgrades." This included a belt drive in place of a chain (so much quieter) as well as a set of F-16 grips for throttle, lights, horn, turn signals. My personal upgrades were the batteries, of course, but a CycleAnalyst to allow me to keep track of the pack health and depletion, along with forced air cooling on the motor, and a gear reduction to increase rpm for yet additional cooling. I was able to manage four miles per kilowatt hour, which in retrospect isn't particularly efficient, considering that I can get four and a half miles per kilowatt hour from our 2013 Rav4EV. Except for the go-cart-stiff bone-breaking suspension, it was more fun than the Rav4EV.
Prior to the gear reduction and forced cooling, the too-low rpm took its toll on the brushes and fried them. Pretty inexpensive to replace the motor from NY state, although it weighs 70 pounds. A video can be found on the YouTube showing the vehicle without the side curtains or vinyl windows, which were later installed. | | | | | | | | | | | Gizmo Goes (trip two) | | | It's not a conversion, but it certainly was a project. Unfortunately my health prevents me from working on it for possibly as many as ten years and the pack is kaput, the side curtains and windows are mildewed beyond belief. Before relegated to the back yard, the motor was problematic, with a cogging feel unrelated to "normal" expectations. I have a rebuilt motor in the box ready for impossible-for-me installation, along with the requirement of replacing the pack, of course. It's a sepex motor, purported to be more efficient. The controller also supports regen, which was never implemented while in my hands, nor the previous owner's. Brembo disk brakes for the front and a rather unusual rear brake primarily for parking/locking out movement. In a tadpole/reverse trike, one does not wish to lock the lightly loaded rear wheel, unless swapping ends is on the menu. I never tried to spin out, other than on a sandy patch, as I didn't want to subject myself to replacing a hundred dollar herringbone drive belt (back then. How much now?). If anyone wishes to take on a rebuild project, drop me a line and I'll be happy to send Barn Find grade photos. No offer considered too absurd. Three ramp trailer included, but probably needs a bearing repack after sitting for ten years! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20240428/a656cf46/attachment.htm> _______________________________________________ Address messages to ev@lists.evdl.org No other addresses in TO and CC fields HELP: http://www.evdl.org/help/
