Electric Vehicle

[Dardedar]

Bunch of books and info on converting your vehicle to electric:

HERE
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[Dardedar]

Here is a nifty one a fellow built for himself:



Details here:

http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/476.html

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Owner: Dietrich Pfeifer
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Base Vehicle: scratch-built, all aluminum frame, mtn bike parts...
Motor: Briggs & Stratton Etek, permanent magnet pancake
Drivetrain: Direct drive, racing go-kart sprockets & chain
Controller: rebuilt Curtis PMC, 275 amp
Batteries: three 12v 33ah AGM Dynasty UPS "High Rate Series"
System Voltage: 36 Volts

Top Speed: 51 MPH
Acceleration: Fast, tire spinning, fish-tailing, hold on fun!
Range: Estimate around 30 miles. Have put well over 15 on a single charge. Have not tested accurately due to above description of acceleration.

Conversion Cost: Have not added up pile of receipts due to fear of divorce.

Added Features: Parts of wiring harness, lights, and controls taken form surplus EV Warrior parts. LED rear tail/brake light. LED rear turn signals built into mirrors just like many SUV's. Hand-blown front fairing. "Artistic" newbie welds. Thermoplastic wheels. 8" dual front and single rear disk brakes. Blue LED's added to antique voltmeter. Recumbent seating position. Completely hand built in my small garage with minimal tools.

This vehicle turned out to be in a strange catagory. Too fast for the bike paths. Too small and not fast enough for the surface streets. Braking, after many upgrades, still insufficient. Met original design goal of 50 MPH top speed. Will cruise at 40 MPH no problem, but 30 seems to be a bit more comfortable and probably better for range. I learned a lot building this and hope to convert a two seater three wheeler Tri-Magnum kit car I purchased for the purpose...

[Dardedar]

DAR
Did I mention my E-max is going to be yellow?



From a review in EV magazine I just discovered:

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"So, what do I think of the eMax?

I like it. I found it easily lived up to my expectations and then some. But since I have so little on which to compare it, I'll defer to Jerome Byrd, who eventually returned mid-afternoon with the yellow model -- we started to wonder if he had decided ride back to Philadelphia on it.

He pulled the machine into the shade of the strip mall portico, his long legs balancing the machine, and pronounced it the best scooter he'd ever tested -- and he's reviewed 40 by his count, though not all in the motor scooter class. He explained how he'd driven it all over the city, up hills, out to the old Austin airport, and found that with the exception of some of the higher speed thoroughfares, he kept pace with traffic. I think he estimated he might have driven 30 miles or more. That secret silicone battery looks like it might just be the dark horse in the race with NiMH, nickel zinc and lithium ion."

LINK
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DAR
Supposedly Arkansas law regarding scooters:

"From state code 27-20, 101 through 107: Required: Automatic transmission, 50 cc or less, headlight, tail light, reflector, brakes, horn,tags, registration, helmet under 21yo. Rider must use goggles or have a transparent windshield in place. Motorcycle licence required."

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

This is the kind of competition (in batteries) that will eventually get a really great EV on the road (after which they will outlaw innovation and whatever society is around will be stuck with it long passed the time they should be doing something else - like our current society and the internal combustion engine).

[Doug]

DAR
Supposedly Arkansas law regarding scooters:

"From state code 27-20, 101 through 107: Required: Automatic transmission, 50 cc or less, headlight, tail light, reflector, brakes, horn,tags, registration, helmet under 21yo. Rider must use goggles or have a transparent windshield in place. Motorcycle licence required."

DOUG
Registration and license. Drat!

Is there a windshield available? I misplaced my goggles...

[Dardedar]

DOUG
Registration and license. Drat!

DAR
Registration is $2. Really, $2. You don't need a licence if your under 16 but after that you need one (the little buggers do have to take a little test which is good). I think that's a good idea. Nothing wrong with people on the road having a little instruction. Insurance is not required at the 49cc level but might be an idea to get it anyway. I don't think it would cost very much.

DOUG
Is there a windshield available? I misplaced my goggles...

DAR
Now there is something that really makes a difference. Might not be such a big deal at about 35 mph but it makes all the difference in the world at 55 and up. I just bought so nice snug fitting sunglasses that should work good on the scooter. No windshield available for these scooters, that I know of. Bigger fancier ones do have them.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

Remember the joke about the happy motorcyclist? He's the one with all the bugs in his teeth.

[Dardedar]

This guy has made a nifty electric street bike:



You can see the pictures of his progress here:

http://www.versatileman.com/id2.html

Nudie shot:
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[Dardedar]

New electric dirt bike from Zap (Zero Air Pollution, these are the guys bringing in the smart car).



Retails for less than $1,000.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

For years Zap's had a nice "attachment" system for regular bikes to assist with hills and give a little better speed for long bike commutes. You can get it through the Real Goods catalog.

[Doug]

For years Zap's had a nice "attachment" system for regular bikes to assist with hills and give a little better speed for long bike commutes. You can get it through the Real Goods catalog.

DOUG
They still had that last time I looked. However, their system is a roller on the tire kind of setup rather than something geared within the tire hub or on the chain. Rollers on the tire can sometimes slip in icy or wet conditions, reducing efficiency. In addition, it of course wears down the tire more quickly than non-roller systems.

[Dardedar]

Not enough cargo space for groceries (or grandkids). Besides, what I like best about cars is door-to-door protection from the elements - scooters don't do that. The energy rating is spectacular, though. Unlikely that cars will ever be that good.

DAR
Just read this from two E-max owners:

"Using combined under seat storage and the detachable trunk, I have carried up to 5 full bags of groceries, plus a growler of beer, in my e-max."

AND:

"The rear-trunk can hold two full sized grocery bags for me, plus another one or two under the seat, plus one hanging from the hook in front of the seat, plus one on the front hook, PLUS I can use a bungee cord to strap a large box from the post office on the passenger seat portion of the e-max, PLUS if I needed to, I could have a bungee cord hanging off the sides of the rear-trunk and hold even more supplies.

I have transported as many as 6 shopping bags AND had a backpack on with all my personal items. The other day, I had a large box strapped to the passenger seat with a bungee. Both my rear-trunk and underseat were also filled with supplies. I can use the e-max realistically for transporting groceries, supplies, bags of cat food, even a six pack of beer for my wife the other day. Yes, the e-max allows for some serious storage when the trunk is installed. -- jason

LINK

D.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

The E-max with trunk would solve most of my transport issues (groceries, cat food & litter, occasionally stuff from Lowes - anything big I borrow my best friend's station wagon anyway). Too bad I can't afford it. Sigh. Besides, it still doesn't keep the rain (or summer sun) out of my face.

[Dardedar]

Too bad I can't afford it. Sigh.

DAR
I know a fellow who is going to become a local dealer. He will be stocking, probably, four models of E-max (two are just becoming available). Two of them start at $1,850. The only difference being a 1,500 watt motor in the standard model versus the 2,000 watt in the sport model.

You can view the four models here:

http://www.e-max-scooter.com/en/produkt.php

Besides, it still doesn't keep the rain (or summer sun) out of my face.

DAR
A full-face helmut will keep this off your face, but scooters are probably not so fun in the rain. I have had motorcycles as my only source of transporation a couple of times in my life and it is certainly an inconvenience to a car. Better than a horse though. I remember driving from Rogers to Springdale to work at Sigler music in 1988 and having to go slow in sections with my feet hanging down as I carefully drove over icy sections.

And no insurance is required for these scooters (although it is cheap if you do get it). Registration is $2. There might even not be sales tax.

Hopefully I'll have one available for test driving, this evening.

D.


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[Doug]

DAR
I know a fellow who is going to become a local dealer. He will be stocking, probably, four models of E-max (two are just becoming available). Two of them start at $1,850. The only difference being a 1,500 watt motor in the standard model versus the 2,000 watt in the sport model.

You can view the four models here:

http://www.e-max-scooter.com/en/produkt.php

DOUG
With four models and a bunch of colors, you could buy, say, 28 scooters without duplication? You could ride one a day in February and never ride the same one twice.

DAR
A full-face helmut will keep this off your face, but scooters are probably not so fun in the rain. I have had motorcycles as my only source of transporation a couple of times in my life and it is certainly an inconvenience to a car. Better than a horse though. I remember driving from Rogers to Springdale to work at Sigler music in 1988 and having to go slow in sections with my feet hanging down as I carefully drove over icy sections.

DOUG
Was this on 71B?

And no insurance is required for these scooters (although it is cheap if you do get it). Registration is $2. There might even not be sales tax.
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DOUG
How could there be no sales tax? Are they drop-shipped?

[Dardedar]

DAR
I remember driving from Rogers to Springdale to work at Sigler music in 1988 and having to go slow in sections with my feet hanging down as I carefully drove over icy sections.

DOUG
Was this on 71B?

DAR
Yep. I remember one icy area on New Hope road in particular. You can drive a motorcycle on ice, it's just tricky.

DOUG
How could there be no sales tax? Are they drop-shipped?

DAR
A fellow who owns a bike shop in Tontitown told me that vehicles sold under $2,500 don't incur sales tax. I thought that only applied to used vehicles. But he said it applied to new as well. I still think he might be wrong but can't find the info handy online.

Many of these scooters will be under that level or close to it. And there might be demos etc....

D.