The 250 is a good start because weight is the the electric vehicle enemy. Your goal of 44 miles on a charge while trying to keep the bike weight down is going to challenge the storage issue. Some folks here have used older technology nicad single cells as they have some weight savings, and since they are individual can be arranged easily though they are liquid electrolyte and not sealed. To get low weight/high energy density that Lithium Iron or NiMH (which are okay on the environment) would be the only way to get the range. AGMs as I have used (55Ah - 72V) have netted only 21 miles of mixed mileage, 60-40 flat-hills here in Colorado. I am carrying 228lbs of batteries, or roughly just over half the vehicle weight. This is on a 84 VF500.
Lithium Ion and Lithium Poly both have safety issues and bad environmental Karma. There is a Chinese company that occasionally posts on EBAY Lithium Iron battery packs. You may be able to come up with the physical specs of the space you have to store the batteries and they can configure the battery pack for that space. BTW List viewers: I have been asked by Adams State in Alamosa, CO to go to their Earth Day event and talk to the students about electric motorcycles. I hope to have an electric bike with me as well if I can borrow one for the event. I will have to trailer the The Franken'ceptor since it is 4 hours away. The reason I bring up Earth day is there may be an event near you worth tooling over to on your electric motorcycle, maybe gather some potential converts, or give you the opportunity to do a conversion for someone else (make a few $ for the next project?). Or just bask in the revelations "Uh I didn't know Honda made an Electric Motorcycle." Cheers Jeff On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 6:52 AM, Andrew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello, > > I'm gathering information on how I to build an EM. I've got quiet a few > motorcycles. (Actually have 9 running bikes and 2 other parts bikes) And it > struck me that I've got a rolling complete (minus engine) EX250 that would > make a good candidate for a EV conversion. > > My goal is a EM that I can commute on. However, work is 44 miles away. > I'm certain I could charge when I get there and be ready to ride back home. > The route is mixed with some rolling hills, but about 60% flats. > > I've been reading up and I've read about regen. I will have a section > that is stop and go traffic (traffic lights). And a section that is about > 20 miles of the straight shot with one stop. (rolling hills too) So I > think regen is definitely a requirement. > > At this point in time, I need guidance as to what controller, motor, and > batteries to use. And the feasibility of the entire project. I have a > machine shop and since the EX has a steel frame, welding isn't an issue. > I'm looking at the D&D Sepex motor and a Alltrax controller. Also is there > any sources out there for used/rebuilt motors/controllers? What's the > feasibility of a deepcycle battery from a local store (to save shipping > costs of multiple batteries) > > Thanks, > Andrew >
