I found this real-world, low budget electric conversion in my search for ammeter shunt articles. He calls it a ForkenSwift, made from a Suziki Swift and Forklift parts: http://www.forkenswift.com/electric-car-conversion-cost.htm http://www.forkenswift.com/how-fast-far-much.htm It starts here: http://www.forkenswift.com/index.htm Legally licensed and on the road, even!
I love these simple conversions. The 10hp tractor engine in a Metro. The ForkenSwift. The Buick Regal operated by pedal power. I've got a million of 'em in my head. I want to put a 1st-gen Prius drivetrain and two Prius battery packs in series into a Previa, see how that goes down the road!
I just went on our Federal govt assets disposal site yesterday, and found a whole bunch of forklifts and new battery packs up for auction. I'll bet your State or the GSA (Government Services) http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home.do?tabId=0 has something similar...
What, you mean like these things? http://www.govliquidation.com/aucti...=P_Category_Id&Ntt=7330&category1_munged=7330
Yeah, sort of. That one's mostly Military, but all the other departments use sites like the GSA. I didn't check if the GSA site breaks down by State location for their auctions. Ours does it by local office. A little town north of us, the Feds are selling an aluminum boat, motor and trailer, used by the Federal police for rescue (and probably fishing for the boys).