Discussion Electric Vehicles - The Way of the Future?

Not a matter of if , but when some European countries have mandated no new gasoline powered cars will be able to sold after 2030.

I am warming to the idea but am
Not rushing out to buy one just yet.

Once engineers they solve the rapid charging issue so people are not hamstrung buy distance challenges , they will become mainstream.

Just don’t buy one in Victoria, they are looking at slugging electric vehicle owners with a tax because they are loosing tax on fuel , sad really

 

My electric motorcycle moved closer to reality this year.
Air Tech fairing has arrived from the US and it is fantastic.
I managed to source NOS headlight, mirrors and various bits and pieces from Thailand.
Now need to give MasterCard a rest.

 

I think there is a real market out there for electric bike conversions in kit form , maybe use the ninja 300 as a donor as they are so plentiful

 

Two wheel drive motorbikes would be interesting - I do recall someone making a two wheel drive dirt bike many many years ago, from memory he used a fluid torque conversion system on the front wheel which is very clever

The downside would be the significant increase of unsprung weight of a front wheel with an electric motor driving it - carbon wheels if they became the mainstream might go some way towards compensating for that

I suppose a chain drive front wheel with the motor located on the sprung weight might also be possible

 

Ilmor rotator comes to mind also, or you have the Detroit Diesel, but you don't need the twin turbos feeding a supercharger for diesel compression ratios...

The Junkers was genius, still is

 

I used to get industry-only magazines on automotive topics, one being engines. I have a particular person for engines and new engine designs, and I saw a number of them in patent searches and in these industry magazines. But the big companies don't like dealing with outsiders (too many potential headaches of disagreements on the licence, unknown origin of it is contested, etc.). One company has done the work of prototyping and testing, etc, but the industry didn't seem interested. There are 3 types of engines used in cars: Otto cycle (standard 4 stroke), Wankel rotary, and Atkinson (used in the Prius Hybrid motors, invented in the 1880s). The Detroit 2stroke diesel is the original 2 stroke design; crankcase compression came later. During the earlier years, up to the 50s or 60s, they were a little more adventurous, trying a number of different engines, including Junkers and turbines. Now, competition is tight, most brands fall under the umbrella of 4-5 bigger companies, they aren't very adventurous, and only want to operate under they own umbrella, or maybe licence with another established company.

 

With the availability of direct injection that works all sorts of options open up - IIRC the 500 GP bikes proposed direct port injection before they were superseded - the governing body said NUH-UH

Just read that the NSR500 had injection in 1993, I don't they're making a comeback though

 

Hmm, just had a ride in a new Tesla

10 min ride in one and I already pricing them up , 600k range , insane power

I didn’t realise how far they had come

@mboddy , can you share some info on your eb build , I think I am interested in at least investigating one

 

@kiffsta , I have spoken to quite a few people who have done electric bike and car conversions.
The most important thing is for the donor vehicle to be worthy of conversion.
Don't convert a shitbox just because you have one. You only end up with an expensive shitbox.
I wouldn't do a dirt bike or a cruiser.
If that is what you want then just buy one when it becomes available for a reasonable price.
The only Electric motorcycle that I like is the VINS but I wouldn't pay $AU100K for a motorcycle.

My approach is to build a decent light weight sports motorcycle.
I want it to be fun to ride and able to embarrass fossil motorcycles.
I design for performance first and worry about range and such later.

Most electric motorcycle builders are focussed on the electrical stuff and ignore the important stuff.
That is how you end up with a $20,000 postie bike.
Heavy, unfaired with twin shock or cantilever suspension is all antiquated.
It should be light and aerodynamic with attention to minimising losses such as rolling resistance.

My donor is the 1991 Gilera CX125. The CX stands for low Coefficient of Drag.
Federico Martini was in charge of it's design after designing the Bimota Tesi as his university thesis.
It handles excellently because it's geometry is copied from a 1980s JJ Cobas GP bike
that was considered the best handling at the time.
Note that the 1986 to 1989 Yamaha TZR250 which was designed by the Yamaha team that did the YZR500 GP bike
also used this same geometry. I have been told that the FZR250 3LN is also similar (but heavier).

The CX125 looked futuristic when new and as an electric would still do today.

Because electric and battery technology is receiving a lot of development at the moment and costs are reducing all the time,
I will leave those parts of the build until last.
I can initially build it with the original CX125 engine, get it regoed and sort out all the details.
Once it is a great handling light weight sports bike I can convert to electric using the latest tech.

The fairing (body kit) is an Air Tech replica of the CX125 with only 3 major pieces.
The Air Tech owner made it and took the world 125cc Production land speed record on the CX125 he imported to the USA.
When the 3 major pieces are joined the whole structure is strong and light and so doesn't require lots of mounting points and added complexity. I have sourced some NOS CX125 small panels, mirrors and headlight to complete it.
Front and rear suspension is single sided but I plan to fit a NSR250 MC28 pro-arm as it allows more room for a better shock like an Ohlins. The Pro-Arm is the same length as original and is only 1mm wider each side at the pivot. Rear brake caliper Brembo.
I may upgrade the single front fork to cartridge with a little more travel. Maybe using parts from GSXR600.
I haven't decided on the frame to use yet.
If I go the really powerful option I would use the stronger FZR250 3LN frame or I could go ultra light using the TZR250 frame.
Ideally I would have the CX125 wheels replicated in carbon fibre but that would be many years off if ever.
Initial instruments will be top of the line Trail Tech with GPS, maps etc. Eventually a customisable screen supporting HUD to helmet.

Hoping to use much lighter, energy-dense batteries than currently available.
The Australian Aluminium Ion battery tech looks good to me.

 

Just don't make it look like a Savic. I am not a fan.

 

No chance of that. It is almost as if electric motorcycle manufacturers have a competition to see who can do the worst one.
As aerodynamic as a brick. Belt drive to increase losses. No idea about suspension and they probably didn't do any research about chassis design. Ugly as sin. What about that stupid lump behind the seat. Only thing I can not say bad about it is that at least it doesn't have a hub motor.

VINs do it right. Either their 2 Stroke 250 twin or their electric. But way outside of my price range.

 

This is what a CX125 looks like.