A write up in the local Army paper.NiCad TestingAfter new body and wheelsEarly  testingComing to the USABody Fab
OwnerWilliam Brinsmead
Owner's Other EVs1992 GMC G-Van
1994 Chevrolet S-10 (sold)
Trike
1996 APS Bus ( scrapping for parts and batteries
Little Boy
1973 Cadillac Hearse
2011 Nissan Leaf
2015 Tesla P85D
LocationReno, Nevada United States map
Email email image
Vehicle1973 Custom
This was my 1st EV, I built it while in Sattihip Thailand for 4 years, serving with the US Army. In it's last rendition it had a 48 volt 240 cell BB600 Nicad system, contactor controller, forklift motor, 6o amp regen alternator. In addition It had a water cooled Daihatsu 2 cyl engine driving a aircraft 400 cy, alternator as an apu for operation as a serial hybrid
Motor Big forklift Compound Wound DC
Nice used 48 volt motor, even had interpoles, it was bought in the US and shipped over in many pieces.
DrivetrainBig forklift motor, belt coupled to a Jeep differential, along with the regen alternator. Also used Jeep drums and brakes.
Controller Self Built
8 step contactor controller using series parallel battery connections, resistors, and field weakening
Batteries240 Various as I had to scrounge from US air bases, 1.20 Volt, Nickel-Cadmium, Flooded
Misc surplus aircraft starting batteries
System Voltage48 Volts
Charger Bad Boy with Manners and a timer
Custom wound transformer about 3 kw.
HeaterReverse fans on Apu radiator
DC/DC Converter
Separate 24 volt NiCad battery, diode isolated and tapped of of main pack
InstrumentationScrounged surplus US Army and Air Force
Top Speed35 MPH (56 KPH)
Built for urban travel
AccelerationStately
Range20 Miles (32 Kilometers)
Much longer when the APU is used
EV Miles
Current: Miles (0 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity2 adults
Tiresscrounged
Conversion Time3 years as an on going project
Conversion CostA bunch of Army Pay Checks
Additional FeaturesThe APU was a small 350cc two stroke 2cyl water cooled motor governed at a continuous speed of about 6000 rpm it was bolted to a big 60 kw rated 400cy.aircraft alternator. Due to the high Kw rating I could pull quite a bit of amperage at around 50 volts
despite having only about 10kw of actual engine power available, I controlled the rectified 3 phase current by varying the field and watching the battery current
for crusing. Also I was experimenting with fast charging when parked, by running it up to over 200v and pulse charging the NiCads with big high current pulses using some big scrs still with a total power of about10kw.
Possibly the 1st hybrid EV in Thailand, With approximately 20 miles of battery range I had lots of fun running around during the 70s oil "shortage" In Reno our local ev club is at WebPage

code by jerry