How to Build a Homemade Electric Go Cart

There are several ways to make an electric go-cart, and it is wise to always keep in mind the size of the person who will be using it. These instructions are for making a simple go cart that can take an adult load.

Things You'll Need

• Metal or wood frame
• Go cart-style bucket seats
• Two 36V 750Watt DC PM motors
• 100+ Amp 36V reversing controller
• Three 12V 40 AmpH batteries
• Drive sprocket
• Brake disc
• Needle roller bearings
• Three plywood plates
• Aluminum hub
• Paint

Instructions

1. You can use either a metal or wooden frame, but ensure that it is wide enough to house the motor, batteries and go-cart style bucket seats. Keep the steering mechanism simple using a simple column and lever arm arrangement to steer the front wheels. Use symmetrical connecting rods to join each front wheel to the lever. Lock the front wheels but allow them to move in a +/- 40-degree range. This should give the go cart a good level of maneuverability. It is recommended you use 10-inch pneumatic wheels with steel rims.

2. The main vehicle chassis can be built with using a glued and screwed timber construction. Fit a go-carting type bucket seat securely onto the main chassis longerons. With the 10-inch tires, ground clearance is approximately 2 inches, making this go cart primarily for good driving surfaces and not off-road tracks.

3. You can place the motor and batteries behind the seat(s). For this go-cart, use a 100+ Amp 36V reversing controller that'll be attached to speeder and break pedals. To go with the controller, select two 36V 750Watt DC PM motors, which will create around 50 Amps with a peak of 100 Amps during hard acceleration. With this type of motor, three 12V 40 AmpH batteries should give approximately 1.5 hours of continuous power. The batteries should be strapped down to the chassis.

4. Mount the rear axle drive sprocket and brake disc on a compression fitting hub comprised of a heavy chain sprocket and taper-lock bushing. The taper-lock bushing has a torque capacity of four to five times the rater drive torque through the axle, enabling it to hold well and easy to fit on keyless shafting. Support the axles using needle roller bearings housed in the timber chassis structure.

5. To make the steering wheel, make an aluminum hub with six M5 threads. Attach three plywood plates cut to size one-by-one onto the hub. Glue all three plates together and varnish when dry. Attach to the steering column.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint the go-cart as you wish.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Adult-sized Go Cart
• Child-sized Go Cart