Just talking ok, maybe even looking for encouragement [View All]

[madokie]

I wonder if maybe I should convert one of the lighter vehicles as one of our fellow DU'ers and my neighbor has done and put up a wind generator sized primarily to charge the batteries whenever the wind is blowing with the rest of the time using the grid for that. I'm kind of getting old, 60, but feel I have several more good years left in me and it sure would be nice to be able to go visit with family and friends plus go shopping and whatever and not have to buy gasoline at all. I'm a tinkerer from hell and could do most if not all the building part with only having to have what machining done that I would need.

Using something like a ford fiesta or a Geo metro or maybe even an older ford ranger for a vehicle. Would a 15 hp three phase motor be enough to give a top speed of 60 mph? I really don't care much about acceleration so its not real important and we could live with shifting gears.

What size of a wind turbine would I need if I expected to charge the batteries once per say a 24 hour period, providing the wind is blowing that is. We could always use the grid to make up the difference. We have a lot of windy days where the wind speed will be in the 12 to 20 mph range at ground level. Would a 40 or maybe 50 ft tower be tall enough? I mention that height because its something my brothers and I could put up and take down with no problems for maintenance and such. The blades I could make as long as they weren't too long and spruce wood makes good blades in the 12 feet lengths or so I'm told.

Any ideas, I'm all ears.