3 Wheel Electric Vehicle

This vehicle uses a small electric motor and batteries for power. The chassis shown here is from a used snowmobile but other chassis types will work.

The front end and steering are built from steel tubing and used bicycle parts. Front wheels are wheelchair hubs and bicycle rims.

Rear wheel is a bicycle rear wheel with freewheel gears and disc brake.

A handlebar mounted gear shift is used to gear down for hills and control speed.

A motor on/off switch is coupled to the disc brake and turns the motor off whenever the brake lever is pulled.

An ammeter is used by the driver to determine when the motor is overloaded.

The driver can shift down the gears or turn off the motor to prevent motor failure.

The batteries can be recharged with a standard automobile battery charger or other 12 or 24 volt chargers.

It is mechanically simple and can be maintained by most back yard mechanics.

It is capable of climbing moderate hills.

There are no electronic parts.

Full Permissions granted from Greg
as Greg doesn't do internet I am posting for him

Step 1: Specifications

Weight - 80 lbs. plus battery weight of up to 160 lbs.
Top Speed - 20 mph
Range - 1/4 mile/lb. of battery, 140 lbs of batteries = 35 miles
Projected cost of materials - $ 1200.00 - $ 1500.00
3 Wheel Electric Vehicle Notes

An ammeter is necessary to prevent overheating motor. The motor can operate at 14 amps continuously, 18 amps for 15 minutes, 20 amps for 10 minutes, 22 amps for 3 minutes. Downshift before these limits are exceeded.
Carrying less weight will increase performance. Using smaller or fewer batteries will lower weight but decrease range.

Never leave discharged batteries in below freezing temperatures.
If circuit breaker trips (motor stops) turn off power to motor and breaker will reset. It may be necessary to cure the motor overload first or the breaker will trip again.

Use made in U.S.A. parts whenever possible. Avoid Chinese motors and gearboxes.
Motor brushes will need to be replaced occasionally. the are rated for 300 hrs. of use. They are easy and inexpensive to replace.

Mount the main on-off switch on the right hand side near the front of the vehicle where it is easily reached in case of failure of the brake activated switch. Start moving with switch at 12 volt then switch to 24 volt when vehicle is moving.

A chassis can also be made from a piece of extension ladder.

Step 2: Parts List

3 Wheel Electric Vehicle

Item # Quantity Req'd Bicycle Parts
100 2 front hubs, side mount
102 2 threaded axles for front hubs
103 2 rims 20x (specify width)
104 2 tires 20x (specify width)
105 2 tubes 20x (specify width)
106 2 rim strips
107 72 spokes and nipples
108 or items 100-107 fully assembled
109 1 rear hub, with disc brake mount
110 1 rim 700c x (specify width)
111 36 spokes and nipples
112 1 tire, rear (specify size)
113 1 tube, rear (specify size)
114 1 rim strip
115 or items 109-114 fully assembled
116 1 freewheel 12-34 tooth, 8 speed
117 1 disc brake
118 1 brake lever
119 1 brake cable and housing
120 1 rear dérailleur
121 1 grip shifter, rear, 8 speed
122 1 shift cable and housing
123 2 handlebar grips
124 1 chain with master link
125 2 headset bearings, cups, cones, locknut's
126 1 steel handlebar
127 1 fairing, optional
128 1 spokeguard

Item # Quantity Req'd Stock Parts
129 1 motor, 12-24 volt, 1/6 - 1/3 hp.
130 2 batteries, specify amp hours, deep cycle
131 1 mainswitch, on-off-on, toggle
132 1 brake activated on-off switch (temporary on), push button
133 10' black wire #12
134 16' red wire #12
135 1 charging receptacle
136 4 cable ties
137 1 circuit breaker 40 amp, automatic reset
138 18 wire eyes, for 2 batteries, order 4 more/additional battery
139 1' shrink tubing
140 1 sprocket 10T, # 35, 5/8" bore
141 2 sprockets 35T, # 35, 5/8" bore
142 4 bearings 5/8" bore, pillow block
143 4' chain # 35 and 2 master links
144 12 grommets
145 1 sprocket 10T, # 35 1/2" bore
146 3 1" shaft collar, aluminum, split
147 1 1 1/4" shaft collar, steele split
148 1 bronzebushing, flanged, 1"T.O. x 1 1/4" O.D. x 3/4" long
149 2 tie rod ends R.H., 5/16
150 2 tie rod ends L.H., 5/16
151 2 Keys for sprockets, 3/16
152 1 Ammeter
153 50 #10-32 x 3/8 bolts, grade 8
154 50 #10-32 x 5/8 bolts, grade 8
155 100 #10-32 hex nuts
156 100 #10 flat washers
other fasteners will be required

Item # Quantity Req'd Custom Machined Parts
157 2 axlemounts, specify axle thread size
158 2 stearing tubes
159 2 head tubes
160 2 stearing arms
161 1 central stearing arm assembly
162 2 front end mounting brackets
163 2 front end main tubes
164 1 handlebar mount, 1 1/4" split shaft collar
165 1 motor mount
166 2 bearing risers
167 2 sprocket shafts 5/8" dia. x 3 3/4
168 1 drive sprocket 9 T, # 41 5/8" bore
169 2 rear wheel mounting plates
170 2 tie rods, 5/8 rd., 2024 aluminum

Item # Quantity Req'd Aluminum
171 1 1/8 x 1 1/4 x 6' back rest, optional
172 1 .030 thick x 18" x 18" sheet, backrest, optional
173 1 1/8 x 3/4 x 3/4 x 5' angle optional, rear rack
174 1 .030 thick sheet 12" x 24" optional rear rack
175 1 1/4 x 1/2 x 5' rectangle optional rear rack and fairing mount
176 1 .030 thick sheet 12 x 38, optional, front compartment
177 1 3/16 x 1 x 1 x 6' angle, battery mounts
178 2 1/4 x 3/4 x 4' rectangle, rear wheel bracing

Step 3: Diagram 1

Step 4: Diagram 2

Step 5: Diagram 3 & 4

Heres the Rest of the Diagrams from Greg, I'll see if he can do a real step by step guide
hope some of you can build this and even do a much better guide, like in step by step :)

-RodneyLee