Electric Bikes - suggestions for my electric recumbent project

so for my next project i want to put together a rebike with an electric drive. im new to electric bikes and wondering what my options were as far as drive. i am looking for something that is reasonably priced. currently i am working with a bionx on a different build for a customer, and frankly i was apauled at the price of the system. great little motor but just way too much money for right now. what would you suggest for this framehttp://www.intrepidequipment.com/recumbent

thanks guys
steve
http://www.intrepidequipment.com intrepid handcycle specialist

I've got a great electric Rebike with a 16" front hub motor (Crystalyte 404). It is a very sweet and quiet ride, around 27mph on the flat. Unfortunately, Crystalyte 404s are not available any more in North America - that was the best motor because it was wound so fast. Currently I'm looking to find another one used, or an equivalent fast motor that would be run at 48volts. You could run a Crystalyte 405 on it, with a wheel rebuild, and that would still be pretty fast, maybe 22mph on 48 volts, guessing. Or you could up the voltage, but going to 72 usually involves considerably more expense as many controllers have 63V rating on the capacitors and will fry. It's definitely worth it to electrify. I love mine. So it comes down to rpm per volt on the motor you choose, to get the right speed for you. I think you will be at 48V. I buy cheap controllers from www.bmsbattery.com (http://www.bmsbattery.com), and run them sensorless (Hallwise) for max reliability. They are around 35 dollars each. I've got the batteries off the back rack. I tried a 20" fork on my rebike as well, and it had a lot of wheel flop.

I've got a Crystalyte 406 in a 16" wheel on a36V 10ah Lit-IonBatt, 25Acontroller, it's never heard in traffic.
I installed the system on my BOB trailer, excellent results. Use it mostly for touring so far this year, last year was the learning what the system could do for my uses. It's all about distance for me and still be able to " use my hub " so I use the throttle sparingly, last tour I got 100K 1st day on the same charge. We averaged 100K for the rest of the trip each nite being able to re-charge fully. I've lucked out with the help I've had with JVBike....48V 20ah nxt time! Pic's E-BOB...and a dog

I imagine you can sustain 20 mph with the 406 fairly easily. It's no load speed is around 25mph at 48volts (Ping) according to the simulator at ebikes.ca. It's a bit of a challenge finding a nice fast motor now for 16 inch wheels. I do like the extreme quiet of the small Crystalytes.