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How to build a 96-Volt Electric Motorcycle

Step 4Where to put those batteries!

Where to put those batteries!
4 of the 8 batteries went on the sides (replaced the mufflers). I hung them with Uni-Strut channels from where the old side-handles used to be). I'm starting off with the cheapest sealed AGMA lead-acid batteries I could buy. If I like the results I will upgrade them to some high-end lead-acid batteries. When the price is right I'll go NiMh or Li-Io.
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12 comments
Sep 21, 2008. 1:48 PMcalibran says:
I was wondering on the battery issue. Would it be possible to addapt the Makita 18v Lithium-Ion batteries linked in succession to create a better power source at a fraction of the weight and price?
Sep 7, 2009. 2:53 AMThe Lightning Stalker says:
Watt hours give you range.
Jul 21, 2010. 3:07 PMphephq says:
watt hours give you power amp hours give you range volts give you speed
May 18, 2009. 5:10 PMtimstandley says:
if ahrs is what gives a electric motor its range then on a motor cycle why not pull a battery pack on a small trailer or a side car.
Sep 7, 2009. 2:57 AMThe Lightning Stalker says:
Coming from someone who has so much experience with motorcycles, I find that comment surprising. Not considering the size of the engine, motorcycles have only 2 wheels instead of 4. Moreover, they are much thinner than a car tire. Less rubber on the road means less rolling resistance. Need I go on?
Mar 15, 2010. 6:30 AMProfessorJWN says:
The largest factor affecting Cd is the rider.  IF you want a motorcycle to go REALLY fast, build a low Cg shell for the bike to slipstream the air around you.

The contact point of the tires on the road is only (max) of 1inch long by (2/3) the width of the wheel approximately.  You can double that or triple for some cars (with radial tires).

On the same token, the turbulence of the spokes are also a drag factor on bikes.  If possible to place disks inside the rims, that would reduce the rotational turbulence, but you then become a  "sail" in side winds.

Bottom line, wheel drag is negligible compared to the rider.  Fairings can only do so much.  To reduce drag to appreciable amounts requires an envelope around the entire bike (look at HPVs and how those are made) this is one of the ways they can reach higher speeds.  Again on a bicycle, the rider is one of the highest drag inducers.

Trouble is that you COULD create an air foil on the front of the bike to create a shockwave and "build a bubble" around the vehicle, but the bubble would only form at reasonably high speeds which would be unattainable with the induced drag of the rider.

When you are "raciong" with buddies, have you ever "leaned down" to get speed?  Well that illustrates it better than perhaps I have here.

When it comes to bikes and CG we are our own worst enemy!
Jan 23, 2009. 8:09 PMmiron721 says:
I saw these batteries on Sparkfun, and I figured they might be good. Since I have very little knowledge of batteries, I'm just going by amps, but they seem to be better space-wise than car type batteries. I want to try building one of these, but I need more information on like circuit breakers used, if any. Also, the circuit for charging the batteries. Also, how are the batteries wired? Series, parallel, some combination? I need more info, I don't know this stuff on my own, heh.
Jan 23, 2009. 8:09 PMmiron721 says:
Wow. It would really help if I gave a link.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8484
Heh, this is what happens when I don't sleep.
Sep 25, 2008. 4:42 PMdrummer4848 says:
I have a BMW which is shaft drive. Where did you get your jack shaft, drive belt set-up? I like you need a way to seal between the jack shaft and drive shaft since BMW's run a wet drive shaft.

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Author:Kentucky-bum(EV World)
A jack of all trades and a master of many; I was the Sr R&D Engineer and Manager of R&D for a very large company, but now I am consutling on my own. I can truly say 'been there, done that', but I can...
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