Electrified Mercedes SL500 mini go kart build thread

Made an acutal topic for this build, was started with this thread: [WTB-US] 63100/8085 or Bigger Motor ~140kV:

I’ll be updating this soon with more build progress

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You say conversion, does it mean it has a gas engine right now? or is it a pedal car?

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It had a 2.2hp honda engine that was no longer functioning. I’m attaching a motor to the transmission which is 2 speed plus reverse.

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Fuck yes dude. Im so pumped for this.

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Interesting, I want to see more please

could you post pics when you open and take it apart?

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Dude I just got a kid ride on for my niece birthday and wish I had a fast “adult” version for me :joy:

You’re my hero for building one!

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Development started by 3D modeling an adapter plate for the motor to the transmission.

Then I made a coupler from the 10mm motor shaft to the transmissions input. This pic is after the test run.

Also a way to connect the throttle cable to a hall sensor.

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I then simplified the mounting plate design so it was more rectangular.

Then I sent the designs off to @Savage1 who did an awesome job of making them out of aluminum.

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Here is its current state:


Motor mounted

Skid plate under battery made of a old 3D printer Y axis plate

The to do list is still pretty big:

  • Finish printing battery/esc box
  • Wire up the battery indicator
  • Wire up the key
  • Fix clutch cable
  • Loctite stuff
  • Mount throttle sensor
  • Assemble/tweak various other little things
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How does that (comparatively small) motor measure up to the stock gas engine in power output?

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Dude, this is cool! What Are you planning on doing after high school? I see a bright future ahead!

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So the stock motor was 2.2hp (1.6kw) according to its specs, and this motor is is rated for 12S 100A, so ~5.8hp (4.3kw at nominal charge, full charge should be higher).

The thing is, the electric motor has a top speed 60% faster than the gas engine!

I took it out for a half-assembled test ride last week and at 100A it has too much torque :rofl: Only one of the wheels is connected to the transmission so it does a pretty hard one wheel peel. I knocked it down to 60A which still is very strong but isn’t scary acceleration like 100A.

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I’m searching for colleges now, I plan to study electronics engineering. Before I was tied between nuclear and electronics, but this hobby made it clear. :smiley:

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For what it’s worth there are quite a lot of full or almost full college courses for elec available free online, it’s quite easy to either try out the content to make a decision or just do a lot of it yourself. I was intermittently sick for most of the time I was in college so I ended up covering a shit load of the material on my own time and for the right type of person it’s very useful. I prefer being in a group and there’s a real benefit to group work and stuff, but just in case folks aren’t sure about committing the time or money to elec eng

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Wait so you’re telling me this isnt a live axle connected to both wheels? You should fix that. As a former Metroboard owner, I can tell you that one-wheel-drive is not the way to go :sweat_smile:

What’s the top speed?

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Yeah the wheel on the left in that pic has bearings in the hub. Only the right wheel with the brakes is live. Probably cuz no diff.

Not sure yet :rofl:

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5 hours into the battery box print and the part cooling fan stopped working :frowning_face:

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Would it even need a diff on an axle that narrow? That axle is not much wider than Etoxx’s psychoframe axle :joy:

All I’m saying is that if you are putting too much power through that one wheel, two wheels seems like the obvious solution haha.

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+1 for mini SL drifts

This project is awesome man

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This is so bad ass you are very talented my friend can’t wait to see videos with a happy kid behind the wheel
And also a A+ from your professor :call_me_hand:

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