DC Motors and Parts for an Electric Suburban Trike

I don't have an answer for you, but I have to cheer you on!

I'll be watching.. I'll add what I can soon. I've looked into some of the same stuff, but not too deeply.

There is tons of stuff on the net... I havn't kept any of the USA based links , but there seemed to be better availability in US that UK.

Lynch motors (UK) are hwever very good...

Great project...let us know how you get on...can I play?
I've been looking at that stuff as an 'armchair project'.

Del

http://www.framebuilding.com/

http://www.ihpva.org/people/tstrike/building/index.htm

good luck

http://www.smhco.com

Try this sight the supply parts for electric motive equipment. They have replacement motors most material handling equipment and personnel carriers.

Try here for controls http://www.fsip.biz

Hi, and congrats on your idea.

I've been in China now for about 8 years, and am still amazed at the number of electric scooters ... and they're very inexpensive ... starting at about US$ 150 to about US$ 500 gets you the best there is.

What I have been curious to do is create a 4-wheel 'car' (of sorts) using quad motors, but, alas, I never seem to have the time.

My suggestion is rather than re-invent the wheel ... just make it better. I have not looked personally, but I am sure there is a huge expertise here in the battery, drive, and charging systems. I am always intrigued at the sophistication of the 'gas gauge' telling you (pretty accurately) how far you have to go before re-charging, and how trouble-free are some of the charging schemes. Most of the better 'bikes' have a battery module that is easily removed (locked with a key to prevent theft), with a carrying handle so you can take it indoors to charge over night.

None of these are particularly fast (maybe 30 mph guessing), but I'm sure one could do better with dual or quad motors (BTW, these are all in-the-rim so no drive train). I don't own one, but I have ridden them often. Their fun and very practical ... AND, NO GAS

http://www.made-in-china.com/Transportation-Catalog/Electric-Bike-Parts.html

Keep us posted, and good luck.

Dear DCaD,

Your answer is/was best of the lot so far. Links to IN Country sites are sadly lacking, so far. I agree with you that upgrading battery/distance is the big problem with Chines made e-bikes, e-trikes, etc. Their consumers all live within walking distance (5-8 miles) to 95% of their daily needs; hence their puny 15 average mile ranges for their batteries. This is significantly less than the average 30 miles round trip in most cities for most of our denizens on a given day. Factor in 25% fudge factor for older less powerful USED battery and hill climbing surges and you come up with designing something that can carry a semi-fat person at least 40 miles when new.

In store Chines made scooters and e-Trikes are just too short-distanced or fragile for American large, long legged frames and weight. That link to the scooter you sent me is a case in point. It's designed for an average Chines 145 lb male of under 5' 6" stature. Its 380 watt motor is about one half of the needed max 750 watt power with the range for getting around in American Suburbs and still qualify as an unlicensed bicycle. http://www.green-metroplex.com/Xtra/Cycles/E-Bike_Law.html ... Whew.

The only workable work around for this class of e-bike is for one to hitch a two wheel trailer to the scooter, complete with jumper cables to a charged matched voltage battery pack under the floorboards of the trailer which would double as a cargo carrier for a suburbanite shopper. Or, one could place two of these in tandem with a cross frame connection and an idler yoke across their handle bars with a cargo hold in between them. In fact I've decided to follow that up and give it a try as a side bar to the theme of this discussion group. A confirmed source for replacement motors for these scooters would then have to be factored in, however.

Now comes the IN Country (U.S.) DC motors and controllers reality. I have yet to find just those parts at stand alone sources. ALL of the D.C. motors and parts are now made in China or Taiwan IN MATCHED SETS and after mfg, shipping, jobbers, shipping, distribution, shipping, wholesale distribution, shipping and retail markup and shipping; NOW they are more expensive than buying a Prius+... http://www.green-metroplex.com/PHEV/Index.html (Forget hand made trikes manufactured in the U.S... priced like compact cars.).

As for Chines made scooters: One has to buy a shipping container full of these babies to get them at wholesale prices; and have the mechanical and welding skills to canibalize a number of scooters for parts for the rest due to the famous unreliability of Chines manufacturers who wait for a full container ship shipment quota before releasing individual orders to stateside buyers. Speced for lead paint free paint? No way, no how, no deal...

Does anyone know of a bone-fide source for D.C. Motors and Controllers? And Chrome Moley Tubing? One can get fairly compact and lighter than normal weight 12v sports oriented batteries and one can get off the shelf chargers on the cheap from Wal-Mart but D.C. Motors and Controllers?

Anyone? Help? Please?

You are right, right, right ... my only thought was, since there is a long history in China of electric transportation, POSSIBLY, there is a resource here also that can facilitate your search for motors, charging systems, etc. ... knowing China, sooner or later someone here is going to consider an upgrade to the current level of need.

I have no experience with frames and such EXCEPT in my much younger days (much younger), my 'buddy' was into motorcycles ... choppers, actually ... and he had lots of frames made. If it were me, I would look for a custom 'bike' shop and get their help. They're into one-off's, and custom builds, and you know they are rugged enough for your requirements.

Another thought ... what about the electric golf cart industry? They are, as you say, IN country, and they may have the best level of expertise on motors, charging systems, controls, etc.

Keep us up to date on your progress ... maybe I will be your first customer

Take care.

Great project. I'm contemplating a similar one. If you google "electric bicycle" you will find all kinds of relevent information. The bottom line for me, is that there are any number of solutions to this problem if you don't mind traveling at low speed. As your speed requirement increases, your power requirement increases rapidly and your battery, or energy source becomes more critical.This is the area when you begin to learn how much can be gained by areodynamics and streamlining. Good luck with your project.

Well, what I DID Google was:

Adult Trike 36 VDC motors controllers…

And variations on the above. Below are some of the results. I also found one Adult Trike with a 6 speed shifter on eBay that fit the engineering specs for my modifications which will be to mount a front wheel drive brusless 1000 watt 48 vdc motor and then upgrade their 36 vdc battery pack (which they recommend to derate the motor below the U.S. mandated 750 watts. This setup makes the motor last for generations, if one changes the bearings regularly, apparently.) I'll be parelleling an additional matched voltage but larger <40 ah> capacity battery set which will be added by clamping a couple allegator clips to their battery output terminals. All strictly low tech as my interest in this has expanded to making it cheap and simple for those who want a suburban neighborhood low speed, local neighborhood, gas free, errands trike for they own selves. My target finished price for this doodad is not more than $999.00 for a 30 + miles bicycle legal, Adult eTrike. I'll keep you posted if you are interested. The finished project may vary somewhat from present planning ... if you know whut uh mean, vernon.

If I get away with it If I beat this target, I'll do what I always do with my "Go Green" projects, I'll publish a How to Article. Meanwhile: High Hoe, High Hoe. Its off to the bean fields I go!

Front wheel DC Motor kits: http://www.electricvehiclesusa.com/product_p/ki-bd36-24.htm $350 - $400

http://www.electricvehiclesusa.com/product_p/ki-sd-1000w.htm

http://www.cloudelectric.com/inc/sdetail/217 $389.95

Pedal-Electric Cycle Car: The e-two is a two seat pedal-electric vehicle

http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w2p-e2.htm?icall=24153

http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w2pcp-d.htm

Amazon electric bike conversion kits:

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=electric+bike+kit&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=1098275261&ref=pd_sl_1sij4c3tqt_b

www.electricrider.com/

GEM's by Daimler/Chrisler: http://www.gemcar.com/models/details.asp?MID=6&ID=310

http://www.beepscom.com/category_s/195.htm

Electric Riders' "eonyx" extended range LiFe EV Electric Rider battery systems:

http://www.electricrider.com/crystalyte/index.htm

http://www.electricrider.com/batteries/eonyx.htm

http://www.electricrider.com/crystalyte/roadrunner.htm

http://www.electricrider.com/crystalyte/hubfaq.htm

Bike Mania Electric Conversions:

http://www.bikemania.biz/Electric_Bicycles_s/228.htm

Trailer for bicycles:

http://www.amazon.com/InStep-Quick-Bike-Trailer-Black/dp/B000IORQ14/ref=pd_sim_dbs_sg_title_1

512-444-8687, Electric Bike Tours of Austin, 1122 S Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78704-2300

972-851-9990, EV TECH, 4310 Wiley Post Rd #217 , Addison, TX 75001, info@evtech.us, http://www.evtech.us/

http://www.tririder.com/

http://belizebike.com/english/comfort_trike.html (Best price/value)

Two seat e-trike: http://belizebike.com/english/etrikered.html

E-Z e-trikes: http://nycewheels.com/ezee-carro-electric-trike.html

Thanks for sharing your research ... I almost forgot about this topic

Take care, and keep us informed of the progress.

Hello DCAD and other e-Trike fans!

Well I decided to jump in after a couple days more of "research and due diligence." As promised, I publish my environmentally friendly projects. Here are the opening paragraph of an illustrated How-to article I've started on my website:

"The goal, after due diligent research into this subject is to buy an off the shelf, step-through, multi-speed adult tricycle and to add a front wheel drive 36 volt direct current (36 VDC) motor to the front wheel and sufficient battery power to travel 30 miles without pedaling should the need arise. With a fudge factor of 25% for loss of storage capacity over the life of the batteries the brand new range should be 40 miles. In addition the carry basket should have sufficient Storage Volume to hold six recycle shopping bags of goods and products. All this with a cost target of less than $1,000.00 USD."

Here is the link to the full illustrated article as it stands:
http://www.green-metroplex.com/Xtra/Mile/Trike_Project.html

I hope it is of some service. Tinker65