Video: Grocery cart morphs into electric go-kart, insanity ensues

We won't bother detailing just how sophisticated the system is that's powering the wild whip you're peering at above. We won't bother mentioning just how many A123Systems batteries are installed, nor how intelligent the creator is. We won't bother wearing our jealously on our sleeves. What we will do, however, is point you after the break in order to have a look at just how exhilarating a ride in the LOLrio Cart (otherwise known as an electric go-kart) is. Harris Teeter, you getting all this?

[Via AutoblogGreen]

[bublik @ Jul 1st 2009 9:35AM]

how cool is that?

[OneLove @ Jul 1st 2009 10:41AM]

Never heard a shopping cart burn rubber til now.

[sam @ Jul 1st 2009 11:46AM]

adds new meaning to the term rice rocket.

i bet he gets allllll the chicks. =p

[GadgetGeek @ Jul 1st 2009 3:44PM]

The disturbing thing is no one even bothers to look at this awesome cart going by them in the video??? Where was this shot? in MIT where everyone's like "yeah.. that was soooo last year".

[LondonConsultant @ Jul 1st 2009 9:37AM]

I like the big red button on the front.

[BSprague @ Jul 1st 2009 9:48AM]

Where is the Ebay link?

[bboyskidz @ Jul 1st 2009 9:52AM]

it's like mario cart, except lol

[tiger578 @ Jul 1st 2009 9:52AM]

It's the Wal-mart Segway!
But seriously, that looks awesome for racing with :o LOLrio Kart racing anyone? :o

[aaronalam @ Jul 1st 2009 9:56AM]

The future is here!

[BobSpaceTech @ Jul 1st 2009 10:00AM]

DOUBLE DIGG

[Agent .25i @ Jul 1st 2009 10:23AM]

"We won't bother detailing just how sophisticated the system is that's powering the wild whip you're peering at above. We won't bother mentioning just how many A123Systems batteries are installed, nor how intelligent the creator is. We won't bother wearing our jealously on our sleeves."
Why? because this is still just a shopping cart. I mean, maybe Bubbles would be impressed. Perhaps just pissed, because you wasted a perfectly good shopping cart.

[kash @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:23PM]

Nice TPB reference. +1

[Sporkinum @ Jul 1st 2009 10:24AM]

Tour off the MIT campus via electric shopping cart. The MIT cops have seen it all I bet.

[pirate03 @ Jul 1st 2009 10:27AM]

No comparison to NC's "Big Cart".... http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/gottobe/images/bigCart_photos/104_0409.jpg

[Crash @ Jul 1st 2009 10:33AM]

We tried starting a "shopping cart racing" club in college. We didn't use any fancy electronics, just a 5hp gas engine. The driver stood on a "trailer" and help the carts handle to steer. We used bicycle brake levers for throttle and brakes.
We were shut down becasue it was "unsafe" ...lame

[Makolyte @ Jul 1st 2009 10:53AM]

My stepdad had a shopping cart in the backyard for some reason. I always wanted to turn that sucker into a kart like this...unfortunately i was too dumb, lazy, and poor to be able to do that as a little kid :)

[Beaker.gj @ Jul 1st 2009 11:21AM]

Man those people at MIT must be really jaded. The pedestrians walking in the videos barely noticed this thing cruising by. I would not be able to take my eyes off it if something like this passed me on the street.

[Michael @ Jul 1st 2009 3:10PM]

That we are sir, that we are.

[Beaker.gj @ Jul 1st 2009 4:28PM]

lol

[xsecantsquaredx @ Jul 1st 2009 11:24AM]

I'm an MIT student, and was actually walking down Vassar St with a few friends when he rode by us. It was quite a sight. I can only imagine what the drivers thought when they saw this kid in a shopping cart driving alongside them.

[Magallanes @ Jul 1st 2009 11:32AM]

Jackass meets Mythbuster.

[locknroll @ Jul 1st 2009 11:35AM]

I love how the emergency stop button is on the front.

[MeowR- @ Jul 1st 2009 11:53AM]

I like how no one is even slightly surprised that someone is driving a shopping cart on the road.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jul 1st 2009 12:08PM]

So it's like a go-kart with a lift kit. Great, now even the karting world has a left-lane-blocking SUV.

[KrazyCalvin @ Jul 1st 2009 12:44PM]

I call this thing the Deth-sled... imagine if he got into an accident with that cage of metal... no good would come from that.

Really though... i want one so bad!

[BSprague @ Jul 1st 2009 2:49PM]

When was the last time something good came from a car accident anyway?

[Tom @ Jul 1st 2009 12:45PM]

Hi I'm Johnny Knoxville and I'll take 4 thnx

[Jorge @ Jul 1st 2009 12:56PM]

test

[va jj @ Jul 1st 2009 1:00PM]

now HOBOS can get their rides tripped out too!

[cjwild @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:07AM]

tricked?

[va jj @ Jul 1st 2009 2:31PM]

now hobos can get their shopping carts tripped out!

[yunkles @ Jul 1st 2009 1:22PM]

Why am I reminded of Trailer Park Boys?

[brokensticks @ Jul 1st 2009 1:27PM]

I wonder if this thing has a suspension, coz that ride looks pretty bumpy...

[tacomanmcjhonny @ Jul 1st 2009 1:38PM]

pure awsome-ness

[Garth Bock @ Jul 1st 2009 1:40PM]

Yawn....back in the 90's if I remember right there was an underground racing society in California that raced electric shopping carts. The rider though stood behind and was not in the cart. They usually sported marshmallow air guns and stuff like that and were decorated and appropriately named. My favorite was "Humping Bunnies". As the driver sped up, some cams connected to the drive train would move 2 stuffed rabbits up and down in the familiar way.

[Waconet @ Jul 1st 2009 2:05PM]

The world needs more of these

[gogarty @ Jul 1st 2009 2:18PM]

A little suspension and bigger wheels would do wonders. Those train tracks looked painful.

[Weet @ Jul 1st 2009 2:22PM]

Ouch. No shocks!

[GadgetGeek @ Jul 1st 2009 3:54PM]

Yo thats one brave man... looks like he is getting some speed here. Just imagine that thing flipping over? break'n some serious bones.....

[anarchydude @ Jul 1st 2009 5:36PM]

That's Charles for ya.. I've been slowly watching the progress of this kart on his website, and it's awesome to see a brushless E-Tek kart flying around! Check out more of his work www.etotheipiplusone.net.

He's a ridiculously smart kid for his age.

[anarchydude @ Jul 1st 2009 5:43PM]

Er, that's a regular Etek :-p

[JohnPombrio @ Jul 1st 2009 6:50PM]

And it has a built in roll cage! If you can duck below the top that is...

[Bradley @ Jul 1st 2009 11:17PM]

that's cool. but where will he put his groceries? lol!!

[absurdio @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:25AM]

Wait. Why the fuck am i studying English Language and Literature?

[Christian @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:26AM]

That thing looks pretty cool, and speedy too! I'll have to check that out, would be cool to make one if I can figure out how... gonna read the READ link...

[Tjason @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:52AM]

So when is the instructables coming out?

[peepeepants @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:34AM]

badass

[Karl @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:20AM]

Way cool. Now take that sucker out on Storrow Drive, I dare and double-dare you!

(Just kidding. Please don't.)