i second that, and i have some bad news: my second bike with a projected 50
mile range bike has now become a 33 mile range [26 at 80 % DOD]. i took out
the 8kwhr AGM bike last week, but i was too worried the front suspension would
not be able to handle the load, so i reduced the pack to 5.3 kwhr.
i still think you can hit 50 miles on lead, but i don't see the point, build
a short range lead bike, then build a second bike with lithium. once you know
what your doing, lithium is now cheap enough to be worth it.
damon henry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
.hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage {
FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } Hi Andrew,
Forty four miles on an electric motorcycle is probably over ambitous for your
first project. I am not aware of a single electric motorcycle that can be
ridden this far day in and day out. Electric motorcycles are cool, but it is
very difficult to stuff enough batteries into one to allow it to come up with
that kind of range. You will either need to hang about 500 to 600 lbs of lead
acid batteries to the frame or spring for some flavor of lithium battery pack.
I would suggest starting with something a little more manageable. Build a
phase one motorcycle with the standard 15 to 20 mile range that most have and
enjoy riding it around and showing it off. Then read up on lithium batteries
and decide whether you want to customize your frame enough to stuff it full of
lead, or pay the money for a lithium solution.
I'm sure you can build an EM that makes your commute if you really want to, but
I think you will be dissapointed with the results if you go for it all at once.
Just get something up and running that you can ride around, learn what it
takes, and what real world performance you are happy with, then put it all
together and build your commuting bike.
good luck
damon
---------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 10:31:57 -0400
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] New to the world of EV but not to
motorcycling
Thanks for the info. I knew weight would be the enemy. Since my parts bike
isn't complete. I planned on running only the tail section plastics, creating
a faux tank from fiberglass, and only installing a small windscreen (cruiser
style) on the front. If it's not required for operation. It'll be removed/cut
off/drilled/or replaced to save weight.
I'm thinking the mounting brackets for the motor and batteries will be made
from steel. But any other mounting will be alum. for weight saving. I also
plan on removing any unused mouting, and drilling what I can to reduce the
frames weight.
Another thing I'm thinking to converse power is to change all the lights on the
bike to LED's and a HID headlight.
Another thought I've had due to the range needed is creating a hybrid
motorcycle. Using a small generator.
On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 9:49 AM, Jeffrey Blamey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
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
>
---------------------------------
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harry
Albuquerque, NM
http://geocities.com/hendersonmotorcycles/blog.html
http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/1179
http://geocities.com/solarcookingman
---------------------------------
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