Starting motors are usually not ideal for motor projects because they are designed to give the engine a strong thrust in a few seconds. Driving them continuously usually causes them to overheat and burn out quickly. However, [Austin Blake] proves that by carefully selecting parts, you can really enjoy the ride driven by the starting motor.
[Austin] decided to equip his “drift tricycle” with a 42mt equivalent starting motor, which is usually used for heavy construction machinery. The motor is first stripped of its electromagnetic mechanism for separating the starter from the engine after the engine is started. Then, the shell is processed into a smaller motor, and a bracket is designed to fix the starter on the frame of the drift tricycle.
A 36 volt battery pack is assembled with some Austin batteries and installed with BMS for safe charging. When starting the engine, the 12V starter can consume up to 1650 amps, although the battery pack can only provide 120 amps continuously and safely. A Kelly controller for a brush DC motor is used and a current limit is set to protect the battery from excessive current consumption.
This bulky engine weighs about 50 pounds and is definitely not the lightest or most effective drive solution. However, [Austin] reported that although the overvoltage far exceeded its design specification, it still performed well in nearly 20 minutes of continuous testing. In fact, its working current is one tenth of the rated current, which may also be related to its service life. It is worth noting that many YouTube electric vehicles died soon after their release. Your mileage may vary.
For more modern solutions, you can consider converting an alternator to a brushless motor. Play the video after the break.