This is a custom pedal/electric bike I designed and built for school. This slideshow shows the start to finish build of the project.
I am doing Metal Fabrication Engineering along side a boiler making apprenticeship. I am looking to head into custom electric motorbikes or the automotive fabrication area after my apprenticeship and maybe one day have my own shop.
Location: Melbourne, Australia.
Inspired by the bikes from the 30s and 40s with a touch of WW2 Japanese Zero Fighter.
Bike Specs.
Frame: 4130 Chromoly
Swing arms and Front end: 6061 Aluminium.
Tank and Fenders: Aluminium
Leaf Spring Suspension
181 Hand cut pieces
30 parts
86 Bolts.
600+ hours over 16 weeks
Materials and parts $2500 AUD
Electrics : 500w 36v Front Hub 3 X 12v 12Ah AGM SLA Batteries Control and cycle Analyst from http://www.ebikes.ca
I am doing Metal Fabrication Engineering along side a boiler making apprenticeship. I am looking to head into custom electric motorbikes or the automotive fabrication area after my apprenticeship and maybe one day have my own shop.
Location: Melbourne, Australia.
Inspired by the bikes from the 30s and 40s with a touch of WW2 Japanese Zero Fighter.
Bike Specs.
Frame: 4130 Chromoly
Swing arms and Front end: 6061 Aluminium.
Tank and Fenders: Aluminium
Leaf Spring Suspension
181 Hand cut pieces
30 parts
86 Bolts.
600+ hours over 16 weeks
Materials and parts $2500 AUD
Electrics : 500w 36v Front Hub 3 X 12v 12Ah AGM SLA Batteries Control and cycle Analyst from http://www.ebikes.ca
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I have been up some really steep hills and it goes ok. It does feel a bit weird to pedal but it wasn't a concern. On a fresh charge she is great fun to ride, It quite stable and you can go around corners pretty laid down. It definitely more of a cruiser.
I designed this as an electric motorbike really but school was worried i'd sue them if I hurt myself so I told them I was going to make a "pushbike" instead. My teacher was cool with it but as far as administration knows the big black thing in the front wheel is a "hub brake" ahahah.
Having pedals has the advantage of appearing like a push bike if an officer of the law goes past me too ;) We have a 250w limit on electric bikes in Australia, which I think is f***ing ridiculous
I'd always planned on a bigger motor and better batteries but towards the end it was turning into a money pit. It will happen when time and money permits.
What I'm saying is, making your own electronics would probably be better, economically.
What you describe would be great for a electric push bike but if you want decent automotive type controllers they do cost that much. What you missing is all the other necessary systems that these controllers have for automotive applications.
You'd get a battery managment system to control/monitor/recharge your cells properly, various input output controls to run and monitor water or oil pumps for the motor etc, programmable acceleration curve computer, data logging, output for your digital dash board, usb interface so you can access it and change it all. There is an AC invertor in that price too.
Plus you get the extra efficiency of a controller that has been designed, tested and improved over many years of RnD conducted by professionals.
Not to mention I don't have the technical skills to build any of these extra system you get. Even if I did it would take you ages, cost more than 10k to develop you're own. 10k is on the high end, you can get much cheaper controllers 3-5k.
Good way to put your name out also.
All other parts of the build and design = WIN.
What did you use for your motor controller?
The bike never would have turned out as good without the newkeys!
I used the C3620PF Controller from http://www.ebikes.ca . I got their cycle analyst computer with it too.
A very nice bike! I look forward to the day i get the money to make something similar.
http://www.karl-annelie.se/bilduppladdning/2010-05-02%20Bygghelg/600/DSC_2818.JPG
(dont try this at home, i'am a experienced wood chop teatcher ;)
I completely agree! And when the lathe starts to scare you, you know its time to pack up for the night :0 Ha!
It makes me consider abandonning the electric Hotrod project i started to build on for something like that for my 10 years old son. This can be ridden on the street legally, as long as the pedals are commanding the electrical motor throttle, what a cool bike to ride to school!!
The english wheel is no easy trick, i tried to form a fender the other day and it looked like hell, i work with metal almost everyday and i hated the feeling, i could just not figure how to do.
Awesome built!
With envy from Sweden, happy new year!
Bruno/Stockholm