Getting seasonal obligations out of the way, this video should be near the last we’re doing as the car approaches completion. There’s a brakes and air-con/pwr steering test, Nathan talks about water boilers used to cool engine bays in cold climate countries that could be used for cabin heating in an EV, I talk a bit about IGBTs and Nathan does a tacho send test using an IGBT. Sooner or later there may be motor speed controllers custom designed for EVs that use IGBTs. These things have freewheeling diodes, and from my limited understanding that means they’re there to stop reverse current voltage spikes across the inductive load. When the current flow to an inductor is suddenly interrupted, the inductor attempts to maintain the current by reversing polarity and ramping up the voltage to maintain the flyback. Without the diode the voltage can go high enough to damage the IGBT. The diode allows the reverse current to flow through it and dissipate. IGBTs could be cool things to use for ‘electric boost’ -just like a turbo boost. From the video you can also see the BMS installed – these will be sprayed with conformal coating for protection. Most of the scenes in all the videos have been shot on a Nokia N93 which has been very handy. Thanks to Nathan, Linda and Christina for the filming. And sorry about the seasonal sillyness.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
25 comments
No ping yet
bored1980 says:
April 15, 2012 at 12:02 pm (UTC 0)
More videos!! We need to see your EV Grin!
Xxfadedshadows1xX says:
April 15, 2012 at 12:37 pm (UTC 0)
i end up looking down her shirt alot i mean car is cool but as a guy i cant help it
dxd48c says:
April 15, 2012 at 1:29 pm (UTC 0)
try bribery. cash always works when we need things borrowed.
cityofdomes says:
April 15, 2012 at 2:01 pm (UTC 0)
Sorry about lack of vids – dead camera so waiting waiting waiting for my friend’s HD cam to borrow. Recently installed a Soliton1 1000A IGBT controller and the car is going great, very reliable cheap motoring. I DO plan to do another video -not sure when yet.
dxd48c says:
April 15, 2012 at 2:20 pm (UTC 0)
miss your car vids. what’s up? Hows the car?
denshard says:
April 15, 2012 at 2:30 pm (UTC 0)
im shure if you flash your titties and get on your knees and stroke those poles with your lips youll get all the zillas you want slag
rebelliouseoagj says:
April 15, 2012 at 2:51 pm (UTC 0)
Free Energy is real and its here! The Oil companies are doing everything in their power to stop these
information. If you want a Free energy machine do a search in youtube for the LT MAGNET MOTOR , Join the
revolution!
starionnsw says:
April 15, 2012 at 3:25 pm (UTC 0)
did yous ever consider adding a 50cc 4 stroke in too the equation or diesel i tryed some scotors years ago like 80 ss i have a based understanding which has allways been not to leave a tranporter dead all so whats humaideity level prof is it have you work in dynamic brakeing & dynmo charging smart choice one of the airdynamic car of the 80 ss i had followed staring vid but i just loged and whent strigt too end thou will follow all thou soon dam nices end product ~!@#$
cityofdomes says:
April 15, 2012 at 4:05 pm (UTC 0)
I’ll get another video up when I get a new camera (the old one died). All up about $25k, been very reliable so far, very little maintenance cost. Batteries should last 10 years.
dxd48c says:
April 15, 2012 at 4:53 pm (UTC 0)
great work. please send other videos soon. and, could you tell us how much did everything cost?
cityofdomes says:
April 15, 2012 at 5:07 pm (UTC 0)
Yep the car goes well. Sorry no video updates. My Nokia N93 died and I didn’t want to spend more money on a decent camera yet as I had other commitments. A friend has an HD camera, there will be an update in the next month or so. Batteries? Good so far -nice 80km drive safe, could go further but don’t want to stress pack. Not measured performance yet -have ordered zilla, so will try out then! Road Auth certified engineer cost $1k, all good, now registered. Now a cheap daily commute car. Cheers
unnefer1978 says:
April 15, 2012 at 5:45 pm (UTC 0)
Going to post an update any time soon? How did the car turn out? How many km you get per charge? What did you have to do for rego/insurance? What performance 0-100kmh and 0-400m?
Waiting eagerly for decent feedback on these thunder sky cells before spending 10K on them for my own EV project :)
cityofdomes says:
April 15, 2012 at 6:41 pm (UTC 0)
I got another one intact and original if you want it :-D
cityofdomes says:
April 15, 2012 at 7:29 pm (UTC 0)
Current draw on air con is around 3amps and same for pwr steering, just wanted to see if it could be done; having said that I like no frills EVs too but like show people that EVs can be more than just sardine cans, with options that the Average Joe is used to in his big gas guzzler -changing that attitude and telling them it’s possible to have an EV that’s like any other car but much cleaner and cheaper may open up the market to those sheep used to filling up on gas.
cypher954 says:
April 15, 2012 at 8:21 pm (UTC 0)
I’d keep it simple…battery – controller – motor…not sure what all that other crap is for…you don’t need air conditioning and turbo…you want efficiency not luxury
jayro121 says:
April 15, 2012 at 9:08 pm (UTC 0)
why a STARION? shud of used a differant car and sold it to me =[
frrtop says:
April 15, 2012 at 9:39 pm (UTC 0)
What is this all about?
sabit20 says:
April 15, 2012 at 10:21 pm (UTC 0)
Thank for this great video
cityofdomes says:
April 15, 2012 at 10:54 pm (UTC 0)
Yeah originally it was for local compliance but now I think the laws are more relaxed; I believe the Mitsubishi MiEV coming into this country in a couple of months has a much simpler way to control the motor, with a reverse sw. My car I’ll just drive around in 3rd. Cheers
cityofdomes says:
April 15, 2012 at 11:07 pm (UTC 0)
Yeah, we’re developing a ‘boost’ system using IGBTs for pseudo turbo; btw, just found someone who may have a Zilla for me. Cheers
JimmyJoXS says:
April 15, 2012 at 11:43 pm (UTC 0)
If you are just doing PWM for a DC motor, MOSFETs will be more suitable than IGBTs.
BTW, all AC induction motor controllers uses IGBTs.
cityofdomes says:
April 16, 2012 at 12:17 am (UTC 0)
Yep, that’z why we’re looking at other options. We have the technology, we just don’t have the time or funds at present. evpower are also developing a cool speed controller.
hempev says:
April 16, 2012 at 12:44 am (UTC 0)
Ever heard of the Zilla? Been around more than a decade, most effectively on the dragstrip. Otmar has stopped making them, so I hope he finds someone to take over for him or the EV community will no longer have a race-tested, high-current, high-voltage motor controller.
EngineWhisperer says:
April 16, 2012 at 1:04 am (UTC 0)
All high voltage controllers use IGBTs.
Inverter welders are going to IGBT too these days, so the cost will keep coming down.
karinangelika says:
April 16, 2012 at 1:17 am (UTC 0)
Hey, IGBTs for a motor speed controller? Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that?