LOLrioKart at MITERS
What originally started as a whimsical attempt to strap a set of large nickel cadmium batteries, discovered in a dusty back room, to something – anything – has turned into a full-fledged ambitious engineering project. LOLrioKart has become, for better or worse, my most well-known work, and something of a campus icon.
It is also a constantly changing experiment and being upgraded and permuted whenever I think of something else to add. It’s the test platform for all of my electric vehicle controller development. The “vehicle” possesses features not found on the average small go-kart, such as dual front disk brakes and a custom-designed and fabricated rear differential. The motor controller is a fully custom work and practically a project in its own right. The latest controller iteration adds regenerative braking and non-contactor reverse ability to the electric drive (i.e. a 4-quadrant drive).
Then, of course, there is the 4-channel surround sound system with subwoofer. That makes it all worthwhile.
LOLrioKart 1.0
Vehicle | What does it look like? |
Drivetrain | Midship-Rear 2WD |
Mechanical | Welded steel tubing stock frame 6061, 2024 aluminum addenda |
Motor | Briggs and Stratton ETEK 8HP continuous, 15HP peak |
Controller | 100V 680 amp custom w/ regenerative braking |
Battery | 54 volt giant nicads |
Top Speed | 35-45MPH, depending on gearing |
Range | Untested |
Curb Weight | 250lb |
LOLrioKart build reports can be found in its category.
LOLrioKart has been featured in the following:
Technology Review Nov/Dec 2009
Popular Science, October 2009 1 2
et al.