In a earlier publish about Chris Doel’s e-bike powered by disposable vape batteries, reader JustinQueso commented, “Would not a clapped-out WRX be a extra appropriately powered by vape batteries?” Doel will need to have been studying our feedback, as his newest mission is a automotive powered by nothing however vape batteries initially destined for a landfill.
Relatively than a clapped-out WRX, Doel used a G-Wiz, one of many worst electrical automobiles ever made and one which we’d erase from historical past if we may. However its simplicity in comparison with a Tesla or Porsche made it a lot simpler to adapt to a customized battery pack with out a entire bunch of complicated reprogramming. It additionally helps that the G-Wiz is designed to run on a 48-volt lead acid battery pack, which is shut sufficient to the 50-volt lithium-ion vape powerwall that Doel had already constructed to energy his complete storage that he merely tailored it to energy the automotive as an alternative.
That powerwall was capable of run a welder to construct a brand new enclosure for itself, which was additionally an excellent check of a high-amperage software earlier than putting in it within the automotive. The welder pulled about 60 amps of present, however that is nothing in comparison with the 350 amps the automotive can pull at full acceleration. Even Doel admits is a bit an excessive amount of for his home made pack of vape batteries. Due to the simplicity of the G-Wiz, he is capable of reprogram its “enhance” mode to as an alternative restrict the utmost present. That, plus a number of layers of fuses and circuit breakers assist be certain that Doel’s home made battery would not flip the automotive right into a crispy critter.
One man’s trash is one other man’s battery pack
With a couple of extra bits and items, the automotive is able to tackle the street. The usual G-Wiz is already gradual, and Doel’s current-limited model is even slower, in a position to attract a most of about 5 kilowatts of energy. Examine that to a Tesla Mannequin S, which pulls as much as 252 kilowatts per motor, and it has two of them. Nevertheless it does work, ultimately exceeding 35 mph till Doel has to decelerate for visitors. Regenerative braking even feeds 10 amps of present again into the vape cells to increase the vary slightly bit.
That vary wants all the assistance it might get. The five hundred vape cells can solely retailer about 2.5 kilowatt hours of juice, which leads to an actual world vary of simply 18 miles till the automotive stops. However that is 18 miles on batteries that had been simply going to be thrown away after the Subie bros had been completed polluting their lungs at automotive meets. Whereas it is not an excellent automotive, it is an amazing demonstration of simply how a lot potential we’re actually throwing away in our disposable tradition. It is also price watching precisely how Doel does this, as he hides no secrets and techniques in exhibiting how simple that is — no less than, so long as you realize what you are doing. Free vitality is tempting, however do not do this at dwelling.
