Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

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Tue, 04/24/2012 - 08:48
phase_boy
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Good morning.

I am leaning towards buying a used EVT 4000e, 2010 model. I have no idea if the asking price is reasonable ($1000) for a lithium-powered 2010 model with ~8100 KMs on the odometer. The overall condition is said to be very good. I don't know the condition of the brake pads or tires.

I am hoping someone here will be able to clear up a few things about this scooter.

1. Were there multiple motor options on the 2010 models? The owner "thinks" that the motor is brushless, but isn't certain. In all of my research online, I see references to both brushed and brushless motors on the 2010 models.

1a. Any idea on the nominal output of this motor? Is it the classic 1500 Watt, or one of the slightly more powerful, newer ones?

2. Can the 2010 EVT 4000e carry two people (together we weigh less than 300 lbs) with any sort of composure? I am 6'1", so I know it'll be a bit cramped, but I'm more concerned with pick-up, medium inclines, and cornering.

3. What are the wheel and tire sizes for the 2010 model year?

.

I've no idea if anyone even reads this corner of the forum.

.

Thanks so much,

Sylvan

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Tue, 04/24/2012 - 12:40
#1
MEroller
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

No need to worry about no-one reading this corner of the forum. I would guess it's not just me who as a standard clicks on the Recent Posts button up at the top. This way we get to poke our noses into all that goes on here, even in the more obscure corners :-)

However, sorry, no EVT expertise here...

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My ride: E-Sprit Fury (basis is the ZAP/Erider Thunder 5000) since May 03, 2011. Mods: Battery temp. gauge and battery heating (off the grid and off the battery), Kelly KEB72801X, reverse activated, luggage rack with topcase, HC Cycle Analyst, Emsiso BMS2405, 35mm³ battery cables

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Tue, 04/24/2012 - 13:56
#2
Johnny J
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

Well, I am an expert on EVTs, unfortunately not on the newer models but as far as I know they started with brushless motors in -09. They should also be 12 inch instead of 10, so it should be easy to check, not shure about the effect though.

It´s possible to ride 2 people (in Europe it´s approved for this) but the scooter is quite small so it´s not very comfortable for western people of average height.

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Fri, 04/27/2012 - 09:40
#3
phase_boy
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

Johnny J, thanks so much for your reply.

The 2010 EVT 4000e I went to see does, in fact, have a brushless motor, but I forgot to check the wheel sizes. I did notice that the rear wheel had a lower profile tire because of the bigger brushless hub motor (bigger than the brushed hub motors, as I understand).

After about three hours of calls to insurance companies, I finally found one that took the time to listen to my description of an electric scooter in the 50cc class of scooters. Most insurance company agents are so uninterested in doing anything outside what they normally do, it's astounding. I, for one, enjoy a change from the everyday!

Well, I may have this scooter by day's end.

Thanks again,

Sylvan

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Fri, 04/27/2012 - 22:54
#4
phase_boy
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

Quick specs: 2010 EVT 4000e, 40Ah lithium batteries, brushless motor, 130 amp controller, 8135 KMs on the odometer.

So, I went ahead and bought the thing. Rode it 25 KMs home in 2º C weather without incident (although I was freezing by the end of it).
After charging it up partially for a couple of hours, I couldn't wait to take my girlfriend for a ride. However, within two minutes, disaster struck:

I decided to test the scooter's hill-climbing ability with a quick jaunt up a short, steep hill. Ten meters up the hill, all of the lights went out and the scooter stopped accelerating. I was in Power mode with the throttle at almost full, going about 25 KM/h. I'd estimate the batteries were around 75% charged. Two of us riding with a combined weight of about 130 kg.

I pulled over and braked to stop us from rolling backwards down the hill. I waited a few seconds with the key in the Off position. Then I turned it to On. Nothing. Tried again a minute later, still nothing. Walked the scooter home (~10 minutes), then tried the key again. Still nothing.

Plugged in the charger (the charger has two lights, a yellow/green light and a red light). The red light comes on right away, then goes off a few seconds later. Then the yellow light for one second, before changing to green. The batteries definitely need a charge, but the charger doesn't seem to be providing power.

I am completely new to this scooter, so I don't know where to check for fuses. After about 45 minutes of checking it outside in the dark, I managed to locate two fuses. First, a blue 15 amp fuse behind the front access panel--fine. Then a yellow 7.5 amp fuse under the right-hand side panel, near the controller--also fine.

*** Does anyone know what is going on? Did I destroy something with that little hill-climbing test? I find it hard to believe that I did. Is there a heavier duty fuse somewhere that might have blown? A thermal breaker of some sort? The O.H. (overheat) light never came on.

Anyone here with experience or knowledge of the wiring? A wiring diagram, perhaps?

Thanks very much,

Sylvan

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Sat, 04/28/2012 - 06:27
#5
Johnny J
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

I only have wiring diagram for the older models, but since you have no power at all it seems like either there is a fuse that´s broken or a battery cell that´s given up.
I don´t know if there is a BMS connected to the batteries and if the power is controlled by this, in that case that could be broken.

As you say, you really need more info on how things are connected.

Regards

Johnny

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Sat, 04/28/2012 - 08:48
#6
phase_boy
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

An update:

I pulled the two battery boxes from the scooter. One box is slightly taller than the other.

The taller of the two boxes has the following information affixed to the side:
AM048040-B
Capacity: 40 Ah
Nominal Voltage: 49.4 V
Working Voltage: 54.6 V ~ 39.0 V
Weight: 11.25 kg
Amita Technologies Inc.
High Power Li-Polymer Battery

I checked its voltage via the Anderson plug: 28.5 V. Does this suggest that the battery has a good charge in it, and that it is connected in series with the other box to produce ~ 57V?

******

The shorter of the two boxes has this written on the side:
AM048040-A
Capacity: 40 Ah
Nominal Voltage: 49.4 V
Working Voltage: 54.6 V ~ 39.0 V
Weight: 9.75 kg
Amita Technologies Inc.
High Power Li-Polymer Battery

I checked the voltage via the Anderson plug: 0.00 V. Nothing. Does this suggest instead that this battery is dead? And that the above battery is at a dangerously low state of charge?

There are about 12 or 14 small screws holding each box together. Do I dare open them up for further analysis?

Thanks again!

Sylvan

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Sat, 04/28/2012 - 10:20
#7
phase_boy
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

Alright, I went ahead and opened up the battery box that was giving a reading of 0.00 V.

Inside there are 12 units, presumably 3.7 V each (?). They are wired in a mixed parallel and series system, so that each battery box produces one half of the nominal 49.4 V system. That is, there are six cell pairs making a nominal 24.7 V.

At the end positive terminal is a fuse of some sort. It is bolted on either side and wrapped in heat shrink tubing. Voltmeter readings from after the fuse show 0.00 V, and 24.4 V from the actual battery terminal.

So, I believe I have found my problem. Now my new problem is finding one of these special fuses for sale somewhere.

Sylvan

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Sat, 04/28/2012 - 15:55
#8
Johnny J
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

Good that you found the problem, nice work!

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Sat, 05/26/2012 - 02:30
#9
NoGas4Me
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Re: Anyone still riding the older EVT models?

phase-boy - yes, still riding my 2008 EVT that I purchased on Ebay for $900 as a "new" closeout in 2009. Is an SLA brushed model and the original batteries are still going strong! Check out my eval from a couple of years ago at: http://www.wikipik.org/evt-4000e-electric-scooter-reviews/v2c16p8. Can't help you with Lithium questions as I am STILL waiting for them to wear out. So keeping SLA's charged and charging them immediately after riding has worked for me. The EVT quality of construction was excellent. I now use it to silently terrorize campgrounds and run errands. Here is a pic of it almost ready to travel on back of my antique RV. Take care of it and it will be your Energizer Bunny!...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dcyitoqwstqsytu/ScooterOnRack.jpg

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