Team Vectrix??

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Wildfire
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Team Vectrix??

I had heard of a Team Vectrix which recently completed an electric vehicle "tour" in the UK, but when I read this story, I must admit it made my eyes bug at the possibility:
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/80-day-round-the-world-electric-car-zero-race-takes-off-in-gen/

Looks like a German team, according to the Facebook page, but I'm afraid my German isn't terribly good anymore and I have yet to try for the translation.. Wonder if they're getting any kind of factory support??

Dauntless
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Re: Team Vectrix??

A climate conference in Cancun? Well, that's certainly sticking to the theme. Way to commit, UN!

But if you're really looking for a game changer in the perception of electric vehicles, something to make people think they see serious potential, this could be it. Obviously there'll still be some dismissing done by the ain'ts as they point at all the extra work that needed to be done, but the racing world can explain the logistics that would have been required for gas engines, and I think most people will get the point. As long as there aren't too many technical problems. The gas engines did it in 2000, if the electrics can just come close. . . .

Did you know the movie 'The Great Race' was inspired by an actual event? (Although not actually about that race.) 1908 New York to Paris Race

WHo dares, WINS!!!!

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hi, Vectrix-Germany is a sponsor of this team. Vectrix Team - Berlin Germany is their Facebook-site.
It will bee interesting how it will go on!

Greetings Mike

marylandbob
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Re: Team Vectrix??

If I were running my VECTRX in that event, I would install auxillary lighting, and improve the battery! (Possibly install a Lithium-Polymer, 50 to 60 Ampere-Hour pack, using KOKAM cells, as I have had GREAT success with the KOKAM cells operating very high powered radio transmitters.) If they use the stock battery, without adding more cooling, overheating of the battery is very likely, as they would be traveling through some very warm areas, at relatively high sustained speed. The overheating with the KOKAM cells would be much less likely, as the battery internal resistance would be much less, giving less power lost, greater range per ampere-hour, and cooler operation!-Bob

Robert M. Curry

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hi,
as Vectrix-Germany seems to be one sponsor, they might be interested to make
the trip with an original Vectrix to show how reliable the bike is. I´ll try
to contact both, the Vectrix Team and Vectrix Germany.
Greetings Mike.

reikiman
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Re: Team Vectrix??

BTW Google Chrome contains automatic language translation - pretty wild.

I wanted to chime in though about the efforts to blow up stereotypes about EV's by pushing the boundaries of what people think are possible. The thing I've been focusing on is the TTXGP race series where the goal is to build a popular racing series around electric motorcycles. A lot has been posted on this site in the EV Racing forum.

EV's might never take off if the general prevailing consensus opinion is that they can only be slow ugly boring golf carts. To blow up that stereotype means building some vehicles and doing some public events to smash the stereotype.

procrastination inc
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Re: Team Vectrix??
Mik
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hi,
as Vectrix-Germany seems to be one sponsor, they might be interested to make
the trip with an original Vectrix to show how reliable the bike is. I´ll try
to contact both, the Vectrix Team and Vectrix Germany.
Greetings Mike.

I think not....

There are some fancy electrics and a bigger battery inside, but otherwise it's the same' as the production model that can already be bought for about $US11,000, she said.

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

Dauntless
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Re: Team Vectrix??

I don't think shattering any myths is necessary. As soon as people say "You mean they REALLY drove electric cars around the world?" whole groups of people who are on the fence at the moment will take notice.

And they never had to be ugly. People think they're clever giving something an odd look, you can't convince them it's a bad thing when people say "Eeeoowwww." People have come up with high gas mileage vehicles that were deliberately 'Dis STINK tive.'

Automite

While I for one think the Solar Taxi was one kewl lookin' automobeast.

http://www.solartaxi.com/

WHo dares, WINS!!!!

Dauntless
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hey, since it IS his race. . . .

Louis Palmer: The Adventure continues. . . .

And since our moderator asked for POSITIVE documentaries on electric vehicles. . . .Solartaxi: The Movie

The Power of electric We Choose to Drive electric (And check the list of videos on the side) Brookings Google Plug In conference

And a little more about the Solartaxi. Solartaxi visits AeroVironment

We need a thread discussing ". . . .Swiss made 14kwhr Zebra batteries which are a molten-salt type battery that has an operating temperature window of 270-350degC (518-662degF)."

And will I ever finish this post. . . ?

WHo dares, WINS!!!!

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hi,
the vectrix has a custom battery made by e-poché. Take a look here:

The Facebook site of Team Vectrix

Greetings Mike

Mik
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Re: Team Vectrix??

From their facebook site:

Sven - total gespannt und unendlich aufgeregt, wird nun solange Fahren, bis die Batterien leer sind. Das ist um 3 Uhr Nachts und nach 220 km.

220km range! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=196344&id=139298712776698&ref=fbx_album#!/photo.php?pid=196339&id=139298712776698&ref=fbx_...

But, in good-old Vectrix fashion, he got stranded anyway! HAHA! There is NEVER enough range it seems! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=196344&id=139298712776698&ref=fbx_album#!/photo.php?pid=196343&id=139298712776698&ref=fbx_...

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

220 km range! What the hell...

This battery and BMS should every vectrix have...

custom battery by e-poché

Greetings Mike

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hi,
I´ve got Mail from Vectrix Germany today (Thanks to Sven). The Vectrix is original,
only the charger and the battery have been changed. It´s a lithium-pack, which can
storage about 15 KWh! The Vectrix should be able to reach 250 km, maybe about 400
km after some Modifikations(Sven did not write about why the ranga should increase).
Its a rather expensive prototype - to expensive for mass production.

Greetings Mike

marylandbob
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Re: Team Vectrix??

I am betting that they ARE using lithium-Polymer cells! It seems that Lithium-Polymer is most ideal for 2-wheeled vehicles, due to the higher power density, predictable discharge curve, (Voltage vs charge remaining) and ability to handle high rate discharge amperages. I wish I could afford a 60 AH pack, of KOKAM cells for my Vectrix!--Bob Curry

Robert M. Curry

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hi,
they fitted a second battery-box on the second seat to increase the Range to about 400 Km!

400 km range

It´s Time for a rack and pair of panniers for my vectrix (I need the second seat for my girlfriend) ;-)

Greetings Mike

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Well some Stuff like this:

although very fat shape :-/

or the classic E21 they are not so wide but I found no second photo.

Remarke: don´t beat me if the size is not correct ;-)

Greetings Mike

Wildfire
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Re: Team Vectrix??

The present seat is actually a bit too wide for my girlfriend to ride on (she's just over 5 feet tall), so I wouldn't mind the tail box one bit.. Heck, I'd even be willing to sacrifice my underseat storage if only it would mean a 200km range and a better battery management system!

It was interesting to read on a different blog that the Vectrix (the scoot in general, not just the one used by Team Vectrix apparently) has already proven itself as a capable long-distance tourer, having been ridden in several Iron Butt rallies.. What?!?
http://gas2.org/2010/08/23/around-the-world-in-80-amps-days/

Are there some other heavily-modified, long-range Vectri out there that I've never heard about?

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hi, a Vectrix is mentioned in another post with a custom lithium-pack and a custom-BMS : V lithium custom pack
but I never heard or red something of this special Vectrix again.

Greetings Mike

R
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Re: Team Vectrix??

After looking the pictures , I can see 35 yellow cells with BMS. A 250 km range needs high energy density; it can be achieved with Lithium polymer. However the are no polymer box cells available. In my opinion, each yellow cell contains 6 polymer flat cells in parallel, 20x6Ah 3.7v each, plus 35 yellow box in series totalling 210 cells and 129.5V nominal, 15.54kwh.
Wow!! It IS the battery for the vectrix.
If I were a rich man, dibby .......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc
:-(

antiscab
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Re: Team Vectrix??

with a significant enough order size, thundersky will make you the LCP cells.

conceivably you could fit in 40 x 90Ah LCP cells the same way I fit in 44 x 60Ah LFP cells.

Matt

Daily Ride:
2007 Vectrix, modified with 42 x Thundersky 60Ah in July 2010. Done 194'000km

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Hi there, seems as they have some Problems with their chargers because of the
bad weather situation:
"Heavy rains made it hard for us. Because we have no water protected chargers, we need to cover them with a foil as well as the
battery box to avoid water induced failures. This works during our noon break but not during night. As a result one charger became
overheated. But a solution arrives in Kiev tonight together wi...th Sandra: a smaller extra battery, which will fit in the covered
helmet store and a new storage box"

hard riding

I´m crossing fingers they get better weather.

R
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Really impressive....

815.jpg

Mik
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Really wet! Really really...

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

Dauntless
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Good thing the one bike has a hard top.

WHo dares, WINS!!!!

R
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Re: Team Vectrix??

Latest news:


The problems last night
- Because of the over voltage strong noise and sparks came out of our main charger (ZIVAN). Later the original VECTRIX-chargers also gave a booom and shortcuts.In that moment 4 of our 5 chargers were out of order - our spirit was down and we have been very tired and depressed at 3 in the morning…

Erich found out, that the varistor burned away. He removed it and the ZIVAN could charge again. Casually the electrician had a varistor so we charge protected. Also the 3phases charges works again in the meanwhile so we need just 2 spares to bring us to Kasachstan.


These guys are struggling hard...
http://www.facebook.com/TeamVectrix
antiscab
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Re: Team Vectrix??

*groans* they use zivans.........

I would have thought they would have access to better chargers than those.

blown varistors aren't really the fault of the charger, that was a surge on the mains.
but they have other faults, like not having active power factor correction.

Matt

Daily Ride:
2007 Vectrix, modified with 42 x Thundersky 60Ah in July 2010. Done 194'000km

Mik
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Re: Team Vectrix??

*groans* they use zivans.........

I would have thought they would have access to better chargers than those.

blown varistors aren't really the fault of the charger, that was a surge on the mains.
but they have other faults, like not having active power factor correction.

Matt

That is one of the questions I have been asking in vain for years now. Seems like here is finally an answer...

YES, the Vectrix charger is at risk of damage due to grid voltage fluctuations.

But my practical questions remain:

What kind of surge protection should be used?

Is using a timer giving protection once the timer has turned off?

What would be the ultimate surge protection - one that even works in Ka-Zapp-istan?

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

marylandbob
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Re: Power Surges/Team Vectrix??

If continued reliable operation after surges is desired, there must be a surge absorbing device that can safely dissapate the surge! With large enough varistors, installed after suitabe resistance/inductance/capacitance filtering and current limiting circuitry, survival would be greatly enhanced, but cost, weight, and efficency would suffer somewhat.-Bob

Robert M. Curry

mikemitbike
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Re: Team Vectrix??

But my practical questions remain:

What kind of surge protection should be used?

Is using a timer giving protection once the timer has turned off?

What would be the ultimate surge protection - one that even works in Ka-Zapp-istan?

Hi, these chargers handle a wide input (altough the wrong Pack-Voltage for the Vectrix):
Delta-Q Chargers

To avoid harming voltage peaks caused by using an extension cord I first plug of the bike
from the cord after that I plug off the cord. In my opinion under bad circumstances the
cord can act as a coil producing a voltagepeak when plulled out of the 220v plug and still
connected to the charger.

Maybe devices like these might help:

Overvoltage protection plug

Überspannungsschutz-Stecker
max. 3600 W / 250 V~, 50 Hz Der VARIO SOLO Überspannungsschutz-Stecker schützt ihre
angeschlossenen Geräte vor kurzzeitigen Netzüberspannungen, die vor allem bei
Schaltvorgängen und entfernten Blitzeinschlägen auftreten. SPD nach EN 61643-11 Typ 3
Nennspannung ac Un: 230V~
Höchste Dauerspannung ac Uc: 255V~
Nennableitstoßstrom (8/20) L+N-PE In: 5000A
Nennableitstoßstrom (8/20) L-N In: 2500A
Uoc: 5000V

Overvoltage protection plug
max. 3600 W / 250 V~, 50 Hz The VARIO SOLO overvoltage protection plug protects your
connected devices from grid overvoltage, which occours mainly in case of switching
actions and remote lightning strikes.Integrated overvoltage protection (EN 61643-11)
SPD Type 3
Nominal power Un: 230V~
Rated voltage Ur: 255V~
Nominal leakage peak current (8/20) In: L+N-PE 5000A
. .L-N 2500A.
Nominal discharge voltage Uoc: 5000V

Greetings Mike

Mik
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Re: Power Surges/Team Vectrix??

If continued reliable operation after surges is desired, there must be a surge absorbing device that can safely dissapate the surge! With large enough varistors, installed after suitabe resistance/inductance/capacitance filtering and current limiting circuitry, survival would be greatly enhanced, but cost, weight, and efficency would suffer somewhat.-Bob

How would you build one that is over-engineered, so you can venture out on an around the world trip and charge in Zapp-anistan free of fear?

A device that plugs between the (110V - 240V) grid and the Vectrix plug. One that will allow you to easily replace the part that sacrifices itself (in the event). So it can be re-activated and used again and again and again. That's what I want to know!

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

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