48V Electric Flat Tracker

Step 12 The Maiden Voyage

This was the first chance we really got to ride the bike to its (almost) full potential. The bike is smooth, quiet, well-balanced, all torque and pretty fast. It's a blast to ride! After finishing it, we decided to call it the EV-12 for various reasons.

Comments

[rangerweavere]

With the amount of speed that you claim for the EV-12 to reach you would have to get it registered as a motorcycle or risk the possibility of large fines and possible jail time.

[woodstockbirdy]

God you are stupid. It's a bike, thats electric. No where does anyone say you have to get it registered as a motor bike. They sell commercial ones all over the world, and the don't have to get theirs registered and they go way faster.

[rangerweavere]

No that would be you.
Once you hit 60cc's then its considered a moped.

[woodstockbirdy]

Well, I guess I'm in Canada and they don't have to be registered, but I don't know in the US.

[lloydrmc]

In my state it's 50cc and 30mph, if I recall correctly. I don't recall the regs on electrics. I have read that they go by speed, (either what it will do by itself, or the speed it assists you reaching if you are pedaling), and they are very strict.

[mookiex4]

Well actually in my State at least. If you leave the peddles and crank on it, they consider it still a bicycle and would be legal. Bicycles already have to obey the rules of the road just like cars. That means remaining under the speed limits and obeying all other traffic laws for the state. The only thing you wouldn't have to do is register it as a motor vehicle. If you look at most of the videos on youtube and such the bikes have digital speedometers on them.

[lloydrmc]

Oh, please - "jail time"?

[woodstockbirdy]

I agree.

[Super Cronk]

It depends on the laws of your state. I know in North Carolina you don't have to register a bike that's under 50cc. However I don't know how electric bikes are covered there. You do raise a good point though. You want to make sure you know the laws where you live so you don't get yourself in trouble.

[kbales]

For most US states the limit is 50cc and/or 2 bhp. So electrics would be limited to that 2 horse power range.
Many of those states also require that the top speed be either 30 or 40 mph but it looks like this thing may be doing better than that.

[isaacwilk]

If you're not driving on roads you don't have to register anything.

[woodstockbirdy]

Even if you were on roads you would not have to register it.

[lloydrmc]

There's a specialized registration in my state for motorized bicycles.

[Super Cronk]

What kind of range have you been able to get on this?

[FurtherThanTesla]

I want to make a solar racer with that motor setup, and was wondering- Whats the gear ration on the sproket and motor? and how much was that particular motor?

[LiquidLightning]

13 tooth drive/66 tooth wheel sprocket. 5.08:1 ratio.

[PyroBuilder15]

The new version of it is about $450 USD, i found it here, http://www.robotmarketplace.com/products/ETK-ETEKR.html
You might be able to find it a bit cheaper somewhere else though.

[FurtherThanTesla]

Ive seen similar Perm Mag DC motors on ebay for upper 200's

[A-Nuke1979]

Very cool! I love the 20's/30's retro flat track look. The V-twin arrangement of the batteries worked out perfectly. I'd buy one of these if I found one (or make it if I had the time)!

[jdogtotherescue]

This thing is the coolest. I want to make an electric car but this thing is so cool maybe i want to make one like this. i love the style of it. it reminds me of those old motorcycle races. it has the same look. you just need a leather helmet and some retro goggles.

[fullmetal88]

Why did you call it the EV-12???

[NeeTo0]

Heelo , my name is victor , i'm from brazil , I wonder where you got that engine, I was very interested in your project, I would mount one more for me I do not know which engine to use, help me please !!!!!!!!!!!

[Tinworm]

hi (this is my maiden posting!) according to a site I just saw, in order to be street legal in the UK (without need for insurance, MOT, TAX and helmet), an electric cycle must be capable of being pedalled without the engine, have an output of no more than 250watts and a maximum speed of 15.5mph under power. I love this project. It looks superb, but I presume that in the UK you would need to treat it as a motor vehicle and that it would then be subject to all the usual bureaucracy?

[dasimpson1981]

this bike in the uk from what i know would come under the 125cc category for horsepower it would also need an sva test befor it could be taken on the rode

[taiden]

I love the bike. I love the vtwin look. I'm curious how much you estimate the whole project cost? Not including labor of course.

Also was it MIG or TIG welded?

Best wishes,
Luke

[cody777]

it looks like stainless so you need to tig weld it

[taiden]

You can MIG and even stick weld stainless steel. That is a common misconception about stainless. :)

[coolbhuvanjain]

in the materials it was written that the motor is discontinued so how we will get that motor

[jimmerforpoy]

would this motor work? http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-1000-Watt-36-Volt-Motor-w-t-Braket-MY1020-B_W0QQitemZ330273477976QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4ce5d55558#ht_111

[Radioactive_Legos]

That would probably work alright for a light bike, however it is only around 1/10th the power of the motor we used on the bike so don't expect great acceleration or speed. Electric scooters usually have a motor between 100 and 500 watts as a point of reference...

[Heinestien]

How about this motor?...they say it is the new successor for ur motor
http://www.robotcombat.com/products/ETK-ETEKR.html

[Radioactive_Legos]

Yep, that'll do it :)

[tinyneutrino]

I have a E+Bikes Tidal Force M-750; which gets me a good 20MPH. The acceleration is terrific on the "Turbo" setting and a dog on regular. Of course, turbo setting gets less distance on the battery. But after looking at this build, and having some experience now, I know I want a 1000 watt or more. The EV-12 is the right idea, though I would use NMIH batteries and I've been looking into RC motors too.

[Radioactive_Legos]

Thanks for the comment. We knew going into the build that there were better battery options, but we decided to go with SLA for the price. Even better would be Lithium Polymer, and the prices are coming down on those so maybe next time we will use them. What do you mean by RC motors? As in one from an RC car?

[astra]

I have lots of new 12v Lithium batt sets with BMS on board

[tinyneutrino]

The RC motors from large airplanes and trucks, etc. There's a number of websites that have some plans available (don't have them at this very moment), with hi wattage and torque power, apparently. On my bike I have the original NIMH battery and a 3 month old Lithium Polymer - which cost about a $1000.00 with the rear rack and a charger included. Its an awesome battery though. Holds a charge well and recharges quickly. Has a long life. I'm very much wanting to build one like yours. I have a few beach cruisers lying around, and a good friend who's a car designer and has a full machine shop that likes to mess around too. We've done some Atomic Zombie trikes too.

[Radioactive_Legos]

Hmm, interesting. I am into RC cars/trucks so I know a bit about them. I have a 1/10th scale truck that has a brushless motor (outputting something like 700 watts) and a 2-cell 7.4V Lithium Polymer Battery. Some larger brushless truck motors have power in the 4kW range (about 5hp), so I can imagine that a large scale airplane motor could have more...

[tinyneutrino]

So I've heard. I'm going to try a build with those in the near future. I also understand that the RC motors can be had at a reduced price over similar other makes. I don't know about that, seems RC motors are specialized and would cost more. But they're supposedly very reliable and long lasting. Myself, I truly would like a 1.5 - 2hp with batteries for a good 80 miles - no pedals. I love my my Tidal Wave, but sure would like to go faster.

[jimmerforpoy]

sorry i mean this one... http://cgi.ebay.com/1-2-HP-48V-DC-ELECTRIC-SCOOTER-BATTLE-BOT-TOOL-MOTOR-/230465215912?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35a8cc1da8 what gear ratio would you use? if it does work.

[Radioactive_Legos]

I wouldn't use that motor for an electric bike. It's only about 400 watts, which is just enough to move a scooter past 15mph.