1y ago

Ziga's van runs on solar panels, three lawn mower motors and 8,000 laptop and power tool batteries

www.abc.net.au Ziga's van runs on solar panels, three lawn mower motors and 8,000 laptop and power tool batteries

He hasn't paid for fuel in 10 years, has never run out of charge, and was inspired by a famous race across the outback. Retired industrial engineer Ziga Dorkic wants to show you how it's done — for the Earth.

Thought of you fine folks when I came across this article on aussie.zone

Australia @aussie.zone

Ziga's van runs on solar panels, three lawn mower motors and 8,000 laptop and power tool batteries

www.abc.net.au /news/2024-02-17/ziga-dorkic-solar-powered-van/103472376

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lawnmower engines??
- It seems like he used the engines of electric "raiders" (ride-on lawnmowers, that is - small tractors). I cannot fathom why and how he used 3, but the tools in his shed suggest he can build anything. That's one impressive shed.
  
  It sounds to me like he swapped out the original engine for those three lawnmower engines on a lark, perhaps to charge batteries that run an electric motor (kind of like diesel-electric locomotives do, although I don't believe those have batteries). Then the solar panels were added, negating the need for the lawnmower engines, which haven't been removed from the system.
  
  What I see on his photos are at least 2 (third one likely in reverse, where his finger is pointing) reasonably powerful electric motors on a ~~single toothed belt~~ pair of toothed belts.
  image
  I think there's no combustion engine left in that car. I suspect he combined them because the van wouldn't ride well with only 10 KW.

29 comments