A DIY YouTuber Just Powered an Electric Vehicle Using 500 Disposable Vape Batteries
A YouTuber powered a road-legal electric car with 500 repurposed vape batteries, driving 18 miles at 35 mph to highlight e-waste.Summary
Electronics engineer and YouTuber Chris Doel successfully powered a Reva G-Wiz electric vehicle using 500 batteries salvaged from disposable vapes. The car reached 35 mph and traveled 18 miles before the battery pack was depleted. Doel undertook the project to raise awareness about the significant amount of e-waste generated by disposable vapes, which contain valuable, rechargeable lithium-ion cells often discarded after a single use. He highlighted that over a million vapes are thrown away daily, representing a substantial loss of usable energy. Doel chose the G-Wiz due to its simplicity and low power requirements, as replicating the feat with a Tesla would require approximately 12,000 batteries and a significantly longer build time. He implemented safety measures, including an aluminum enclosure, battery management system, fuses, and temperature probes, to mitigate the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. The project also demonstrated the feasibility of USB-C fast charging for electric vehicles. Doel hopes his work will encourage a reevaluation of what is considered 'waste' and promote more sustainable practices.
(Source：Miami Herald)
