Hi, I'm new to this forum.
My partner had bought an old Piaggio mo-ped a couple of years ago but sitting in our garage had rusted out the engine. I decided to make it an EV conversion.
So far, I've removed the old ICE cleanly. It looks like the ICE was connected to the rear wheel through a belt-driven CVT / clutch.
My replacement motor is a small 24V / 250 watt one taken from a RAZOR electric (toy) motorbike. It's about the only thing I can find that would fit in the small area of the former engine compartment (about 4-5" wide). If the 24V works and doesn't have enough power, I'll have to see if I can find a more powerful pancake unit or mount the motor in a separate place.
I'm driving of to my nearest (? 1 hour+) tractor supply center today to see if I can find a v-belt pulley that will attach to the motor. The old front CVT pulley from the ICE won't fit on the DC motor because the spindle isn't long enough.
IF I can find a new pulley today and find some kind of engine mount, I think I can finish up the conversion this week. But I'm just guessing at the pulley gear ratio and I don't think that the 250 watt motor will be powerful enough.
The controller is rated for 24V / 20A so I could put in a bigger motor if I could find it..... Or I could hop up the voltage to 36V by adding another L-A battery.
Any suggestions from forum members?
250 watts is barely enough power for an ebike. I think a larger motor is a minimum.
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
There are a lot of small 500 watt and larger motors available that would fit in that space.
This one would make it fly
http://powerpackmotors.com/Powerpack-enhanced-shipping_included.html
Tim could probably find you a drive belt sprocket that would work with your set up.
With a hub motor there would be no need for gears , sprockets conversion ratio ,belts, chains etc .Just a good torsion arm bar and/or safety washers.-for proper transfer-
My concern about using a hub motor (aside from the cost) is that I'd lose the brakes.... Right now, the mo-ped has front+rear drum brakes and the hub motors I've seen rely on bicycle-type brakes.
Any suggestions?
Working on a Piaggio Boxer (mo-ped) EV conversion: http://gpsy.com/ev
Replacing my XB-600 bike's (600 watts) hub would be less than 150 bucks -including the 16 inch aluminum rim, free ship. Front wheel would be undisturbed .To avoid friction generated heat to motor , rear breaks are extremely slacked off and seldom used (just on reflex).Anyway they look like standup scoot brakes .The foregoing hub motor would be recommended ,except they don't seem to be selling the 1/2 inch special shaft for the run thru wires .
This may be over your budget I do not know. But E-ride Canada has a motorcycle conversion kit available that may fit your needs.
http://www.e-ride.ca/Electric_Motorcycles/MotConversion.htm
E-Bike Advocate
Bike: 2008 Volt Canada Dream Ryder
Does anyone have experience with this sort of approach?
Sounds interesting.
Mr. Mik
This information may be used entirely at your own risk.
There is always a way if there is no other way!
My Volt Dream Ryder has a 3 speed version of this and it really makes a difference on hill climbing ability. Helps to maintain speed and has a lesser drag on the batteries. As well as makes for better acceleration from a start. The Motorino CCT motor and controler are similar.
E-Bike Advocate
Bike: 2008 Volt Canada Dream Ryder
Mik,
If you read the site closer you will see it says "The CPU estimates the resistance and continuously switches between the four electronic gears". Electronic gears sounds like it is switching between different windings or power levels. I don't think there are any mechanical gears involved. I can see how this could help with range on the bike but true mechanical gears could do much more.
I would also want the ability to override the computers selection when I want. I don't like a computer making all the decisions for me even though I am a computer geek. They can't take every change into consideration and they do not see what is coming so I may need the ability to take it out of automatic mode to control what I see coming up on the road. Basically I would want the option of auto or manual control.
JMO,
Grandpa Chas S.
Chas you are right it is switching windings on the motor. There are no mechanical gears and it does come with a manual selector. Depending on your selection it will gear down but will not go above what you have selected.
E-Bike Advocate
Bike: 2008 Volt Canada Dream Ryder