GTE SubframeG.E. Hyster Pump Motor
OwnerJim Cullen
LocationLas Vegas, Nevada United States map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1981 Bradley GT II Electric
This car was owned by character actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr. and then by EAA member Gail Lucas.
MotorGeneral Electric 5BT1346B50 Series Wound DC
96-Volt DC motor with integral bell housing adapter.
DrivetrainThe car was constructed on a 1970 Volkswagen chassis with a standard Volkswagen 4-speed transaxle and independent rear suspension.
ControllerCurtis 1221B
The original General Electric EV-1 controller was replaced before I acquired the car.
Batteries16 US Battery 2200 Series, 6.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded
The U.S. Battery 2200's came with the car. I'll probably replace them with Trojan T-125's or T-145's.
System Voltage96 Volts
ChargerLester
Original on-board charger as supplied by Bradley Automotive. It will be replaced with a Manzanita Micro PFC-20 unit during the restoration.
HeaterThe Bradley GT II series of cars came stock with an electric defroster unit. The previous owner modified the unit to act as a heater as well.
DC/DC ConverterIota DLS-55
The Iota DLS-55 is a 55-amp DC/DC Converter that was originally designed for 120 VAC input. However, the unit works just fine with my 96-volt (nominal) DC input. It does not require the use of an accessory battery but it will work with one.
InstrumentationVDO speedometer; Bradley Motor Volts, Motor Amps, State of Charge, Accessory Battery Voltage; Accessory Battery Current. Will be adding a Pak Traker and traction motor overheat indicator.
Top Speed70 MPH (112 KPH)
Bradley claimed about 70 MPH in their advertising literature but, as I'll be using this car for city driving only, 55 MPH would be fine with me.
AccelerationThe car is reputed to have the ride comfort and handling capabilites of a go-cart.
EV Miles
Current:8,200 Miles (13,193 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity2 adults
Conversion TimeRestoration started March 29, 2008. The entire car has been disassembled. As of 8/1/08, all of the VW donor parts have been restored or replaced and the chassis is about half restored. All of the Bradley parts have been cleaned and restored except for the fiberglass parts. I have a bit more cleaning work to do on them. Repairs to the fiberglass parts will begin shortly.
Additional FeaturesThe original Bradley GT II Electric subchassis exhibited structural failures in three places. The front and rear cantilevered battery racks caused the entire subchassis to bow up in the middle -- under the floor pans. Also, the two rear saddle racks caused the subchassis to bow up between the aft ends of the transaxle mounting forks. Finally, the two diagonal braces that run from the outboard aft ends of the saddle racks to the top of the rear shock towers both snapped off at the shock towers. Obviously, these deficiencies will need to be remedied by designing a new subchassis for the car.
The car accumulated about 8200 miles before I began the restoration. Thereafter, it sat unused for about 12 years before I was able to purchase it. It is currently undergoing a complete body-off restoration. The original GE motor will be reused, as will the Curtis controller. The old Lester charger will be traded for a Manzanita Micro PFC-20 charger, and an Iota DC/DC converter (or similar) will be added. I'd also like to add some circuitry to balance the batteries during charging but haven't been able to find anything yet. Suggestions would be appreciated.

code by jerry