Electric Drift Skatekart

On the 50th video of the ‘make it extreme’ team, the construction that is presented is a vehicle. This vehicle looks like something between a mini go kart and a skateboard. Therefore, the name that we gave to this construction is a ‘skatekart’. Our main aim making the particular creation was to make a special skateboard that would drift. This construction, besides a means of transportation and a vehicle of entertainment, it is also a construction that has multiple aspects of interest.

Firstly, we took some metallic pieces from a treadmill machine and then we altered them making the metallic framework of our construction in order to apply all the other pieces of the vehicle on it.

Afterwards, at the back side of the framework, we placed 2 bearings, in which an axis of 70 cm long and 20 mm thick is passing through it. Also, two wheels and a pulley, which moves according to the motor were placed on this axis. Additionally, the wheels that were placed at the back side of the vehicle, were made out of a black Teflon at the lathe. We chose this Teflon because it is harder than the white one and regarding the aesthetic aspect it is better in this case.

The wheels that we made, were placed on the axis with aluminum components, which were also made at the lathe in order to achieve the simultaneous rotation of both the axis and the wheels. The wheels made of Teflon have 12 cm diameter and 13 cm length while the pulley, which was placed on the axis, has 10 cm diameter.

Regarding the frontal part of our vehicle, we have chosen rubber wheels in order to achieve the required stability while turning the vehicle. These frontal wheels have 10 cm diameter and 10 cm length. The particular wheels are used for other purposes but after our alterations that we have applied on them, they have become the ideal ones to be used as frontal wheels for our vehicle. The turning of the frontal wheels is controlled electrically by using a motor and a mechanism of an automated window from a car as well as some pieces of a car’s wiper that we used to make our system.

Using this motor of 12 volts, a battery and the switch of the particular mechanism, we created this system. Therefore, when we turn the switch on the right, the vehicle turns right as well. While turning it on the left, the vehicle also turns left.

Regarding the motor, we used an electrical one of 1000w, 48v and 3000rpm. It is a very powerful motor for such a vehicle but we faced many problems in order to be able to control it as we didn’t have the controller of the particular motor. The batteries, which were used, weren’t the proper ones but the high cost of the suitable batteries made their use impossible. We were willing to use a lithium battery but instead we used lead acid battery. Thus, we had an excessive weight and less performance as well as tolerance. The motor was being activated using a relay switch, although due to the start and the excessive use, the relay switch was damaged.

Also, the cover of our vehicle was made of a piece of aluminum, sheet metal. The cover was decided to be painted in the competitive colours of the repsol of the moto gp. Moreover, we did a test drive of our vehicle on slippery surfaces, on the streets and on soil surfaces.

Our final conclusion is that is very entertaining to drive such a vehicle on slippery surfaces as you can drift without exceeding the speed limit and being in danger. To be able to drive this vehicle on the soil and on the streets, one of the surfaces should be stuck on the wheels with Teflon tires so that our vehicle won’t be too slippery. During our trials, we used an anti-slip tape and the performance of our vehicle on the soil was changed immediately.

Undoubtedly, this construction will be an unforgettable experience to us as we enjoyed every single second of making this project!!!