Here is my first attempt at an electric vehicle.
I used my new HP Velotechnik Speedmachine as the guinea pig.. (didn't want to use the HOG!)
Here is another link with all of the pics and stats so I don't repeat it here, although you may have seen it already..

http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/1262

Brad

Looking good, and 41mph is moving along quite nicely! :)

You gotta lotta eBike for your money! Top drawer components - well done and IMO you'll probably like thumb throttle better than twist. Or, eventually explore dynamic assist controller/sensors - cruise control, etc. Please tell more about the batteries - ranges and how you generally use this rig? Thanks...

I ride mostly to work. This bike replaced my Charger bike.
Yes I do like the thumb throttle better now, but of course its a finger throttle on a bent :)
The batteries so far are fine. I guess the limiting factor will be how many charges I can get out of them.
The specs say more than 300. At that rate, I charge both of them once a month. 300/12 = 25 years!
I don't think I'll be wearing out the bats too soon. Gota peddle less...
I do take the bike on some longer trips. LA marathon, out to Pasadena and back etc.
One pack would have been enough. But of course I always over do everything.
And I did weld a plate just over the chain tensioner for a strain sensor since I have plenty left from the Charger bike project. I may install one... We'll see.

Brad

Nicely done!

I'm planning on electrifying my HPVelo Grasshopper by Spring 08

Can you provide more details about the gearing/jackshaft business ? I have a hub motor which maxes out at 28 at 48V. I would commit murder if I could do 41 on 36V.

A little more info on my jackshaft.
I sorta designed it after the charger bike assembly since I have a bunch of them leftover from the project.
But there was one problem in that we used another reduction on the hub, something I could not do in this design since I was using the existing gearing of the rear sprocket of 15 tooth instead of the 60 tooth on the charger bike.
So I used the Modified Lashout planetary gearbbox which is a 4.8:1 reduction. From there it feeds a 19 tooth sprocket to a 60 tooth sprocket on the jackshaft connected through a #25 chain.
The 60 tooth sprocket has a freewheel attached to it so when I peddle I do not turn the motor, even though the gearbox has a roller clutch built in, I didn't want to turn the 3.1:1 reduction (which in this case would be gearing up since it was feeding in reverse) and spinning the motor side at a high rate! More drag. Did that make sense ?
Anyway the keyed stainless steel jackshaft (5/8" diameter) is connected to 2 sprocket on the business side of the bike (right side). Also keep in mind that this motor spins in reverse compared to most other motors (CCW).
The 2 sprockets on the chain side are connected with another freewheel. This is so I can use the motor but not have the crank turn. There is a gear up on this side. the motor side uses a 24 tooth feeding the 15 tooth on the rear hub. A total of 9.5:1 reduction from the motor to the rear hub.
Then I had to factor in the crank ratio to the rear hub too, trying to keep the same ratio as the original. I also wanted to use a smaller front chainring, so in doing so I ended up with this configuration.
Hope that answers your question.
BTW, I didn't want to use a hub motor. Don't like them and you can't use your gearing with it. With my Rohloff hub its like shifting a motorcycle, a ton of low end torque and lots of top end speed. But a hub motor is easy to install. No chain crap to worry about, but you don't get something for nothing.

Brad

nice price too for a set up that "you can't shift fast enough".

Bike $6500
Motor/controller, 2 battery packs $1500

LOL, since that bike can go 41mph, with its current setup, I can't imagine Brad would want to make it more limited in its range of powered speeds.

An aerodynamic bike like that is really a perfect platform for a multi-speed electric system.

LOL, since that bike can go 41mph, with its current setup, I can't imagine Brad would want to make it more limited in its range of powered speeds.

An aerodynamic bike like that is really a perfect platform for a multi-speed electric system.
I can't imagine a need to shift at all or more than two times if your motor had enough power to begin with on any bicycle with 750 watts or more of motor power.

Remember this bike is a standard recumbent made to peddle which I do 90% of the time.
So I still need the 14 speed hub. When i use the motor I'm usually peddling and shifting so when using the motor I have to up shift several speeds just to keep up and shifting between one speed to the next there is not much time in between.
Also there is so much torque that I have to be careful not to break anything! Even in the high gear it pulls like a *&^%$#@

Nicely done!

I'm planning on electrifying my HPVelo Grasshopper by Spring 08

So that would be a mechanically wound spring, not electric !:roflmao:

Brad, that's a beautiful set-up. Nice work all around.

That looks absolutely killer, all perfectly integrated. I'd love to put a similar setup onto our EZ-tad.