I have a 3.3 mile route that I took my Z-20a on four times in a row. I only stopped to check and write down battery voltage, which took about 3 minutes each time. The scooter’s kick stand switch is bypassed and I am using bank charging. The route has 6 stops which I took 5 lefts and 1 right. The whole route is over soft rolling hills. This means they are not steep hills but none of the route was flat. I was wide open throttle almost all the way (speedometer read between 45 and 50 mph, but not sure actual). I am 5’5’’ and 165 pounds. Here are my results so far.
Z-20a Odometer -- 41.5 -- 47.5 -- 53.8 -- 60.1 -- 66.4
Actual trip miles ---- 0 ---- 3.3 ---- 6.6 ---- 9.9 ---- 12.2
Battery 1 voltage - 13.13 - 12.78 - 12.52 - 12.35 - 12.21
Battery 2 voltage - 13.14 - 12.80 - 12.54 - 12.37 - 12.22
Battery 3 voltage - 13.12 - 12.78 - 12.52 - 12.34 - 12.20
Battery 4 voltage - 13.11 - 12.78 - 12.52 - 12.35 - 12.20
Battery 5 voltage - 13.12 - 12.79 - 12.54 - 12.37 - 12.22
Now that I have tags and insurance, I will be able to test the scooter a lot more if it keeps running.
Z20a Range Test
Sat, 02/16/2008 - 08:24
#1
Z20a Range Test
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Support V is for Voltage
Finished charging my batteries with my 5 Schumacher (6/4/2 amp) Speed Chargers. I took them 8 hours and 1.75 KWH according to my Kill-A-Watt meter.
The test I have been running is to keep full throttle as long as possible. It seems that 16 to 18 miles on a charge riding in that fashion is no problem. I have seen up to 23 but the bike then went into some sort of low voltage mode for the last 1.5 miles.
Don Cristobal
EVTA Z-20b
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Ohm is where the heart is.
Thanks for the info "DonCristobal". When your scooter went into "low voltage mode", what did it do? Slow down? Warning lights flash?
Tested my speed today. Map out a somewhat flat 2-mile stretch of road and rode it at full speed down and back.
------------------------1 mile --- 2-mile
North bound time - 95 sec - 192 sec
South bound time - 97 sec - 192 sec
Avg mile time 96 seconds. So, 3600 sec / 96 sec = 37.5 mph actual
Speedometer was around 47.5 mph
Hello - I have 219.7 miles (per ODO) on my R20, average ride is around 10 mi and then it gets plug back up. I leave the recharger on. I would like to get at least 5000 miles on the battery back. I really don't dog it that much. I like going around 25/30 mph. Once in a while I will take it up to 40/45 mph, but the more speed, the more amps it ears. Hope this will help on the life of the battery back. I might start researching on more advance batteries in the near future. The longest I have taken it on was 27.4 miles (per ODO) and the 6th out of 10 bar gage came on, the yellow one. Usually after my 10-15 miles ride, it will be on the 3/4th green bar gage. Love the bike, it's fantastic.
Phil
That good to hear "peasler". Do you know your actual top speed?
My actual top speed was 37.5 mph (47.5 per ODO). I was going to send an email to EVTA to see if this is normal. I have about 120 miles (per ODO), but I believe more like 65 miles actual.
Shayler - I don't, I need to put my gps unit on the bike and see what's going on with the odometer, but I've been having to much fun. I will try and do it this weekend. You might be right on the ODO. It may be calibrated to KM instead of Miles
Phil
What would be the recommended battery break in plan be for my Z batteries be?
Config:
- Z20a
- Has never been ridden (too cold)
- Bank Charger built/bike wired
- PakTrakr Installed w/ ESR1 Serial Connector (know how to connect PC to download data)
- Do not have PakTrakr Current Sensor or Cycle Analsyst installed (yet)
- Batteries were just topped off (charged first time) using the bank charger (it worked! phew...) It took about 15 minutes for each charger to indicate the batteries were full.
- I have 5 auto break light bulbs (2amp) ready to start slowly discharging the batteries
Since I've been trying to do everything that will give me the best shot at a long battery life, what are the next steps?
Is the break in plan posted for the GreenSaver Silicone Batteries applicable to the Z batteries?
It's still too cold to ride here in MN - so I've got plenty of time to perform the break in process.
From what I understand:
1- The break in of batteries is still in the "too early to say"/"not enough testing done" category for a definitive answer (I believe usatracy would concur with that)
2- The break in on the thread you point to is designed to etch many small lines onto your battery plates by subjecting them to a lot of low loads. Whereas if you put them straight onto high load they will apparently get "deep etching" which is detrimental to longevity.
3- The break in on the thread you point to is at the very cautious end of what is commonly practiced. However, a lot of long time EV'rs do recommend a break in of light vehicle use at first (i.e. ride for short distances under low load conditions)
4- The break in is for any SLA derivative (in other words yes it is applicable to the batteries in the Z as well as the GS's).
If I were you then the next thing I'd do is the break in that usatracy shows on that page. It certainly won't harm anything and it may well be the best break in possible. Come spring (which, doesn't start until May in MN, right ;-)) you'll be ready to ride.
When you do start riding set the Amp limit on the Cycle Analyst as low as you're comfortable with and the low voltage cut off as high as you can while still getting the range you want.
Do all that and you will have done about pretty much everything you can do to make your batteries last.
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John H. Founder of Current Motor Company - opinions on this site belong to me; not to my employer
Remember: " 'lectric for local. diesel for distance" - JTH, Amp Bros || "No Gas.