diy electric motorcycle with golf cart motors

[Kwazai]

I've been researching this lately (.01$ per mile fuel cost, 2500$ diy cost).
The off the shelf kits are around $2500 plus batteries. They typically are 10 to 15 hp 48v electric motors. Golf cart motors are typically 3 hp 36v to 48v.
I've been wondering if it'd be possible to speed control about 4 or 5 golf cart motors in a serpentine belt configuration as a drive.?? (possibly adding a 3 spd transmission also?)

(vw beetle takes 15hp to maintain 55mph, but 40 hp to get there...)

anyhelp appreciated.
Mike

Murphys law 28th corollary- If there are five ways for something to go wrong, and you circumvent all five, a sixth will promptly develop.
Kwazai's addition- if you circumvent the sixth a seventh will develop, etc. etc.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Build it with one motor first.

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[MiketheEngineer]

10-15 hp motors are off the shelf available - not sure costs. But as MH noted - try it with one motor first - you will have enough problems getting everything lined up and working correctly. Multiple motors will just exponentially exaggerated your problems!!

 

[GregLocock]

The quick answer is yes, you could use more than one motor to drive it.

However you may find all sorts of electrical nasties when you do so, to the extent of needing separate motorr controllers for each one.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[patprimmer]

If your a real masochist put one on each wheel and use individual speed controls to steer it.

Old Beetles don't really have 40hp. More like 25 actually.

Regards
Pat
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[Kwazai]

I had just wondered if four 36v motors could be run in series with a single controller (dc motor controller and 500k ohm pot).
I had envisioned attaching a small trailer with a dozen car batteries and a charger in it.

Electric forklifts are more expensive than the golf carts are.


Murphys law 28th corollary- If there are five ways for something to go wrong, and you circumvent all five, a sixth will promptly develop.
Kwazai's addition- if you circumvent the sixth a seventh will develop, etc. etc.

 

[GregLocock]

As I said you may run into electrical nasties. Chances are you won't, in my opinion, but it isn't my money that will be turning into smoke.

I'm guessing you are using brush type DC motors? Best bet would be to ask the vendor of your motor controller.

Simplistically you won't save much money as the big bucks is the output stage transistors.



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

KISS - keep it simple stupid or if talking to your wife - Keep it simple sweetheart..

 

[ornerynorsk]

A motorcycle, with how much battery weight???

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[Kwazai]

http://www.instructables.com/id/How...otorcycle/step4/Where-to-put-those-batteries/

looks like eight -12volt for 96volt.
instructable shows 15-20miles, top speed around 70mph.
some of the others use off the shelf motors, some recycle electric forklifts.

more batteries-more miles. maybe a motorcycle camper trailer or three wheeler
For longer distances hook up a trailer- I'd seen the idea with an DIY-EV (aussie pinto I think -on Feildlines (otherpower.com))

what I know of auto design is that the bulk of the power usage would be in accelerating. most of what I read said heat from the current is the killer on the EVs. (higher voltages and or less motor(s)).

I wasn't sure if I could just use a transistor/diode between each smaller motor (arranged in series, serpentine belt) with a single controller. EFI injector power transistors maybe. not really my area.

Murphys law 28th corollary- If there are five ways for something to go wrong, and you circumvent all five, a sixth will promptly develop.
Kwazai's addition- if you circumvent the sixth a seventh will develop, etc. etc.