Electric Garden Tractor ?

[Craig Clayton]

I have become interested again in building an electric garden tractor without cutting deck.. I got interested in youtube and I have viewed all the videos of the projects.
Some interesting facts I have discovered.
General Electric built an electric garden tractor 30 years ago, but did no more with it.
Caterpiller tractor has an electric drive train in their new dozer and they claim less parts and less down time on trannys.
I have collected a spare lawn tractor ( no transaxle ) a 24 VDC 1/2 HP permanent magnet motor from a floor sweeper and (2 )12 V truck batteries.
I was thinking of doing it the down and dirty method , use 12 volt starter solenoids to make 12 volt start 24 V run across the line with a F/R switch.
Many years back I built a small electric car from an electric toothbrush motor and its Nicad battery and mecanno wheels.
The electric golf cart industry is so close to the real thing now (real cars.)
Has anyone else been been down this road.

Craig Clayton

 

[Jbrink64]

IMO, 1/2 hp won't move you very well. I'd be looking for a 3hp motor. Using solenoids to turn on and off will make a harsh drive. You can pickup used dc motor controllers on the cheap. Golf cart parts work really well, and there are many suppliers.

Good luck with this project. I have an old Case garden tractor that I will convert.

 

[ericher69]

My father owns a (yet to be restored) GE electric garden tractor with mower deck and snow caster I think

The tractor is whole minus batteries

 

[Army grunt]

Its the cost of batteries that really hurts. Even with gulf carts every 5 years $600 worth of batteries.
The dozer will have a gas or diesel engine running a generator as with trains, nothing new.
Also food for thought e-cars. Its not free someone has to pay for the electric to charge the under powered over priced cars.
Natural gas is the way to go.IMO
Army Grunt