A cordless lawn mower

I have been using an electric mower for some time. I would like to convert it to a cordless one. This should be an easy conversion. All I need is a battery, an inverter and a charger. I can get a solar trickle charger for $10 dollars. Not using comercial electricity would reduce my phone bill and the drain on the power grid. You can reclaim the lead and acid from a lead acid battery and this applicaiton should accomodate it.

Spousal approval

I believe in including my wife in all decisions. Sometimes I just need advice. In this case, I knew my wife was dead set against me getting a motorcycle and I could not get one without her approval.

Now on several occasions she has expressed how concerned she is about the environment and how we need to leave a decent planet to our children. So I used how to get what my wife wants to get what I want.

One supper I said that I was concerned with the environment. I said that I had been doing some research and a vehicle for running to work and the store to save gas would help. My wife liked the idea. I told her I have been looking into electric vehicles and they seem pretty good. My wife asked how much. I said between 6 and 8 thousand. She said she could support me and we should think about buying that kind of car. I said the vehicles I was looking at weren't exactly cars.

She asked what I was thinking. I said an electric motorcycle. She said no. I said she had already agreed to an electric vehicle and that I should get to choose. She tried but couldn't argue, so we started talking about when the right time would be financially to buy one.

She later noted my sneakiness.

Next step, a commuter vehicle

I got a job closer to home. A savings of just under 4 gallons of gasoline a day. Since the commute is short, I thought a lighter more efficient mode of transportation could be used.

My first thought was my bicycle. There is a definite safety concern. I would not be able to keep up with the 35-45 mph traffic. So I thought maybe a motorcycle.

I started to look at motorcycles. I like the the BMW F 650 CS.

I then started to looking at 150cc scooters with top speeds at 60mph and mileage of 80-90 mpg.

I am now considering an electric motorcycle. I found one you can purchase new. The electric GPR . With the optional AC system and 300-650 amp controller, it has the power and speed I am looking for. And with a solar charger the only environmental impact I will make is when my body hit the ground the first time I try and drive a two wheeler.

I am also considering building my own electric motorcycle. I can do that for a third the price of buying the GPR. There are some things I need to research, besides the technology. I will need to know how to make it street legal and how to register/license it.

The next few posts will touch upon the technology research and the buying versus building decision.

Beginning

I have started to change my lifestyle to be more eco-friendly. I have switched from shaving cream/gels that come in a metal can, to mug soap. It comes in a biodigradeable cardboard box for 99 cents. I am replacing burned out incadecent bulbs with florecent ones. They us less electricity and last longer. Although, I do not know what the impact of all these tiny balasts are as they are throw away.