Hello everybody, I’m new here but I’ve been reading up on the previous discussions and taking in all the GEM knowledge I can.
I’ve acquired a 2007 GEM and I want to use it to do an EV conversion on a 1969 Subaru 360 Van (Not mine, just an example). I think I’ve got most of a plan in place but I’ve just begun tearing the van apart and realized I need to run the GEM transaxle backwards to get the axles to line up.
So my question is can I run the transaxle backwards. I’ve looked at a teardown video and seems like the lubrication should work just fine in either direction.
I assume I can swap leads on the motor and have it go the other direction primarily. I don’t know how the controller will handle that. I know its looking at rotation, how can I make it think reverse is actually forward?
Yes, there should be no issues with running the drive system the other direction by swapping one set of the 4 wires on the motor. Either the A wires or the F wires (Not both).
I question your use of the Gem gearbox on something that looks like it needs something a bit more robust.
Your target vehicle (the subaru van) looks way heavier than our golf cart and I suspect your project is going to need a drive line more suited for its’ needs.
What is your intended goal with this build?
speed?
range?
You might consider using the drive line from a Fiat 500e or a Chevy Volt. This would give you a nice AC motor and gearbox designed for moving all the weight around at higher speeds.
Otherwise you will be stuck with a van that will barely break 20mph and a range of 10miles on flat ground. Mobility scooters will probably out accelerate you. This does not sound like a fun project.
Sure- you can load up a huge 15kw AC motor and install a huge battery pack for better range, but I still think the gearbox is going to be the weak link. Drive this van nice, and it might stay in one piece. You won’t use much from the original 2007 Gem, and you will realize you bought a whole car just to get the gearbox from it.
Thanks for the confirmation on the reverse stuff. Good to know something on this project will be simple.
The van is deceptively small. It actually weighs less than the GEM donor. Shorter length and width too. Goals for this thing is a neighborhood cart. I’m not too worried about speed or distance, we’ll see how it goes. I looked into a bunch of other swaps from full size cars but they’re all so much power compared to what this thing had originally I’m afraid they’d rip it in half.
I did manage to sell the remains of the GEM for what I paid for it so I’m net positive on the motor, controller, etc. I got it cheap because it had a bad throttle pedal. I do need to get one of those throttle pedal potentiometers I’ve seen somebody on here selling. I want to adapt the Subaru pedal to keep originality.
Someone scrapped out a 2007 because the pedal was bad? That’s a shame.
What parts did you actually save from the donor Gem?
Did you save any of the harness?
Gearbox- (check)
Motor? - Which motor is it?
Controller?
Charger?
PSDM?
Contactor (relay)
Display?
Towell
No pedal
No tea
Pocket fluff
What s your skill set?
Are you any good at wiring?
