Electric Bike

A lot of us have wondered the same...unfortunately I don't think there is anything that is suitable 'as is'.
I'm not sure if there are any starter motors which have permanent magnets, or could be fitted with magnets...I don't think so, but I'm a bit out of date on this stuff.
Anything else is a bit gutless..electric fan motor is probably the biggest permanent magnet motor you'll find in a car... Fine for a radio controlled model but NFG for a bike.

There are some good sites on the web...google electric scooter motor and such like.
Good luck

Del

Surprisingly, riding lawn mowers have permanent magnet starter motors in them. They are powerful and for their size and light weight. I believe they use rare earth magnets so they tend to be relatively expensive.

Once upon a time I did see some of the early electric wheel chairs use a Ford starter motor for propulsion. Unfortunately they were heavy, had lousy speed control and were power hogs.

My present mobility scooter has 24V PM motors and a much smaller speed controller and a charged battery last much longer. Companies like Bodine makes a good Electric motor with a reduction gear head built right onto the end. Output shaft is 1/2" so is suitable for mountign a sprocket. Any surplus equipment companies within your area? I used to build speed controllers for bodine motors used for production machinery.

I am CoronaCameraMan -

In the US we have been building the variable speed electric drive for large drill motors for many years, most of these are AC, but there are some DC, it may be simpler to gang or use multiple motors vs a single motor.

Normally electric bikes used a starter motor from a car, starter motors must have a load to limit there speed. I do have a friend who has a variable current source (used in an instrument) that could be stepped up to provide a variable speed motor drive.

Not that I am up to date on this but I doubt it if you would ever make with that.

Just think of the current need for a starter motor whether it is 12V or 24V it is very high and their poor bearing lubrication.

You'd need to sort both out before you could make it useful but, the current control is gonna be your greater problem you've got 100s of Amps to deal with.

Like many posted links here pointed it out already, voltage and current will be a compromise that you have to make a wise choice about along with the battery charger.

I can assure you it is not an easy task!

Bondy,

try these guys -

http://www.mpja.com/

They have lots of surplus and used motors. They rate them by voltage, current and sometimes torque and speed.

LG_DAVE

Hello Bondy111

Here is a couplw of sites. I know ine has cycle motors including hub motor.

http://www.atob.org.uk/questionselectric.htm

Although the name of the site is extremely lissleading, this site has motor supplyers http://www.organicgarden.org.uk/bikes/ebikes.htm

I was going to suggest a fan motor, but, it looks as though Del has already condemned them as not powerful enough.

Not from a car, but, what about a "rim" motor:-

http://www.elebike.com.tw/company.htm

The best you can do is take one out from a look like a moped scooter. There's a type I saw has chain transmission but it woudn't be more than 250W.

The hub driven push bikes have around 180-200W motors in them.

I had to come to a halt after ran out of luck with some of the manufacturers when I was looking for one trying to build a go-cart. They all admitted they have nothing of a kind where speed and power is important. Currently it seems these two factors do not go hand in hand, yet.

No one mentioned wiper motor. I know nothing about how much power they provide or use, but they are a motor.

I am not trying to be rude but, as far as most of their power rating goes, he could only wipe his back-side with them.

Yup...wipe...and...wipe...and...wipe.

A lot of 'em are worm gear swhich are V slow.
I used a big version of that sort of gearbox on my electric golf trolley, but still probably not suitable for a bike.
May be worth a look tho'... here's the link. Ther's a manufacturers link in the blog.

Del

Hi Del,

Even at full speed the wiper blades do not move fast enough to compare with the rotation of the push-bike's wheel. The force at the tip of the wiper blade does not match the average torque on the surface of a push bike wheel.

The worm gear is not even suitable for a push-bike anyway but it is ecxellent for a buggy, it helps to save having a brake.

Dunno why you are telling me...I've agreed with that sentiment already.
I just pointed to a supplier of bigger motors..my wipe...and...wipe...and wipe comment was a comment on the speed...maybe you just read it too quick.

You only have to look at the motor can size of a wiper motor to know it's not powerfull enough.

Del

A local guy has been successfully using wiper motors. he somewhat permanently fits the shaft with a skate board wheel which provide a "friction" transmission directly to the bicycle tire. Don't remember if he was using multiple speed wiper motors :-)

What performance are you looking to achieve? Comparable to most electric cycles and therefore limited to 15mph for uk road use, or trying to compete with motorbikes? You might want to take a look at vectrix motor scooters that can get to 62mph before the lmiter kicks in. But the batteries are very heavy and I think 125v.

Hello Bondy111,

I have put specific motor kits, and motors, as well as some electric bikes you can Buy, in case you need help in design, and ideas? Have not seen your profile so am not sure where you live, so have included kits and stuff from both sides 'of the pond', OK?

Good luck, and show a pic when you finish, please?

What is design condition of electrical bikes?

pls, ans to me about this topic.

You have some good infos here already from other posters, but do remember that most electric motors are designed for relatively high speed, they become less efficient if running much slower.

Specifically designed motors, albeit more expensive, will use less power and therefore are far more efficient.

You did not specify any design points, will it be used to assist uphill? or will it be used continuously? Will you use it for braking and recharging on downhill sections? etc etc etc....

You need a specification before deciding.......

I wish you luck n your endeavour!!

It will be mainly used for hill assists, because using a motor on a bike constantly, is just too lazy, don't want to get fat!

Hello Bondy111:

It has been a while, well, several 'whiles' since I was on a bike of any kind.

Have you thought about a Washing Machine Motor? They run at all speeds and are pretty tough.

I think I am right in saying you do not need anything like Licence or Tax?

I rather like the little 'Hub Motor' I sent you. But, of course it has to fit your pocket also?

Have you found a motor you like, or are you thinking less of specific bike motors, and more of something from the Scrap merchant? Is is going to be just a two wheeler, or will you pull a trailer?

Take care. I look forward to more info if and when possible.

Thanks for your post.

I have thought about AC motors, but we need DC, so we can run them off a 12v battery. Furthermore, if we were to use an AC motor, we would need an inverter, which wouldn't work as efficiently as we need it to.

No, we don't need a license!

The hub motors, are good, but 1, they're too expensive, and 2, we want to go with our own way of propelling the bike, via a sprocket on the motor, which has a chain running from the motor, to the third sprocket, and then the normal chain running from the pedals to the carousel attached to the back wheel.

As far as motors go, we haven't really found anything that takes our fancy, as long as the body of the motor is no more than 110mm long, it dosen't matter. I was advised by a Systems and Control teacher, that a windscreen wiper would do the job, but I was a bit aprehensive. If we know what to get within 12 days, I should be able to go to a scrap yard to get the motor, but as far as I know, that will be the only time I can get 1, so after that it will have to be from eBay. We have a budget for the motor of about £30, but can stretch up to £40

Thanks

Hello Bondy,

tar for the reply. I know this might sound silly..............But................Can you not remove the wiper motor from your car or truck, just to see if you will get basic power and or speed? Is it that you are some distance from the Town with the scrap place in it? Because, if you know the restrictions on sizes you need, it should be obvious pretty soon after you go to the scrap yard if they have a motor or not? Or can you phone them? I mean if a motor is going to cost £40.00 plus postage and, you can say, get a couple of motor types from the scrap yard for say £20.00, that has to be the way to go? Don't you think. Even if you do not use both motor right now?

The only advice I would give is to make sure if possible, you get the motor from a place you can return it to. Or, that you outline very clearly what you want and ask for a pic with a rule by the side to judge size by.

Motors come in so many different kinds, sizes, power output etc, the motor that was described as perfect may be an inch across?

You do not have a 'dead' truck or car in your area to can take a motor from?

I see what you mean with an inverter, and although you may get it to work fine, it is still extra cash to lay out? And.....It would be nice to fettle something from used parts that are fine to use? We are lucky in that there is about 5 scrap yards within half hours drive. And with the competition you can get everyday stuff like screen motors for a tenner? I assume you went for a screen motor because it is roughly the size you want?

In the short term, you can always use rubber bands!

Take care....................

Hello Jspeop:

A good sugestion with the Motor cycle starter motor,

GA on its way...........

Take care...........................

If you decide to use a "normal" DC motor, do not drive via the chain, use a small drum that rides on the tire, is kept there with springs and that can be moved up when not needed with some simple mechanism.

The resultant "gearing" will allow the motor to be much smaller AND to be able to run in its normal speed......for example a 28" wheel and a 1 inch drum gives you a 28:1 advantage......a simple 555 PWM (a few dollars only!) circuit to control the speed of the motor and you are in business......