Greetings all!
I am building an electric cyclekart imitation of a 1935 Morgan F2 three wheeler. Basically an historically themed, small scale, big wheeled go kart. Here's my build thread if you're interested in more details: https://www.cyclekartclub.com/forum/custom-karts-forum.6/morgan-f2-threewheeler-electric-cyclecar.37863/
I've been reading and lurking on DIY EV sites while building, but I'm very near the point where I need to pull the trigger and order motor, controller, and battery and would appreciate advice.
To get solid advice on parts to buy, you must provide the following info.
Desired max speed on level ground:
35mph
Desired max range at what cruising speed.
15 miles at 25mph (with hills involved)
Preferred bike wheel size, or wheel size of bike you want to convert. Most common kits are for 26" wheels.
Rear drive wheel is 12" pitbike rim (overall diameter with street tire probably 8" greater)
Brake type of motor wheel. Disc or not.
Disk
Rider weight.
220 lbs rider + 30 lbs dog + ~250 lb chassis (guessing on chassis, trying to keep it light)
Terrain. Exp: mostly flat, some short hills under 20% grade, I want to climb mountains, etc., etc.
Hilly (hill country outside Austin TX)
Budget.
~$2000 for drivetrain: motor + controller + batteries + wires + throttle/switches
As you can see above, I don't have any great need for speed and likely it would scare the poop out of me to go over 30mph in my deathtrap. But I'll need enough power to go uphill, and want to be able to go faster than most golf carts. NEV, not highway.
I'm started by looking at the 3 and 5 kw kits from Goldenmotor. The 3kw model is certainly easy on the budget, however I have concerns that it would not provide satisfactory power. The 5kw kit would seem to give enough power, but at that price range... it's not a lot more to instead get a ME0909 based kit from thunderstruck-ev or evdrives, either with an Alltrax SR 48300 or Sevcon Millipak 4Q (regen & reverse), especially since these non-GM kits typically include a PB-8 throttle and wiring harness etc. The GM pieces dont even seem to have a separate contactor? And I'm worried by the general quality, keep finding quotes like "with GM something will go wrong eventually"
But I'm saying a lot of names that I don't really know -- I don't really know the pros/cons of Alltrax controllers vs Sevcon controllers etc, or whether the fact that the GM controllers don't need (?) contactors is a problem, so I would appreciate advice.
Finally for the battery, hopefully the above would help inform those more experienced than I determine sizing. I think I need a 48v 20 aH pack, and am strongly considering the Goldenmotor LFP-4820M, but I don't know if its max continuous discharge rate of 40A would be overly limiting. In general I'd prefer to have a motor/controller capable of more and be able to add battery in the future if I need more range/power than to have to start replacing components completely.
I haven't been able to find many obvious pre-built alternatives to the goldenmotor batteries in the 20ah range though. Luna seemed to have one, but it's no longer available. Anywhere else I should be looking? I don't think i'm up to building my own first time.
Thanks for reading (assuming you got here, sorry I'm long winded)!
Paul
I am building an electric cyclekart imitation of a 1935 Morgan F2 three wheeler. Basically an historically themed, small scale, big wheeled go kart. Here's my build thread if you're interested in more details: https://www.cyclekartclub.com/forum/custom-karts-forum.6/morgan-f2-threewheeler-electric-cyclecar.37863/
I've been reading and lurking on DIY EV sites while building, but I'm very near the point where I need to pull the trigger and order motor, controller, and battery and would appreciate advice.
To get solid advice on parts to buy, you must provide the following info.
Desired max speed on level ground:
35mph
Desired max range at what cruising speed.
15 miles at 25mph (with hills involved)
Preferred bike wheel size, or wheel size of bike you want to convert. Most common kits are for 26" wheels.
Rear drive wheel is 12" pitbike rim (overall diameter with street tire probably 8" greater)
Brake type of motor wheel. Disc or not.
Disk
Rider weight.
220 lbs rider + 30 lbs dog + ~250 lb chassis (guessing on chassis, trying to keep it light)
Terrain. Exp: mostly flat, some short hills under 20% grade, I want to climb mountains, etc., etc.
Hilly (hill country outside Austin TX)
Budget.
~$2000 for drivetrain: motor + controller + batteries + wires + throttle/switches
As you can see above, I don't have any great need for speed and likely it would scare the poop out of me to go over 30mph in my deathtrap. But I'll need enough power to go uphill, and want to be able to go faster than most golf carts. NEV, not highway.
I'm started by looking at the 3 and 5 kw kits from Goldenmotor. The 3kw model is certainly easy on the budget, however I have concerns that it would not provide satisfactory power. The 5kw kit would seem to give enough power, but at that price range... it's not a lot more to instead get a ME0909 based kit from thunderstruck-ev or evdrives, either with an Alltrax SR 48300 or Sevcon Millipak 4Q (regen & reverse), especially since these non-GM kits typically include a PB-8 throttle and wiring harness etc. The GM pieces dont even seem to have a separate contactor? And I'm worried by the general quality, keep finding quotes like "with GM something will go wrong eventually"
But I'm saying a lot of names that I don't really know -- I don't really know the pros/cons of Alltrax controllers vs Sevcon controllers etc, or whether the fact that the GM controllers don't need (?) contactors is a problem, so I would appreciate advice.
Finally for the battery, hopefully the above would help inform those more experienced than I determine sizing. I think I need a 48v 20 aH pack, and am strongly considering the Goldenmotor LFP-4820M, but I don't know if its max continuous discharge rate of 40A would be overly limiting. In general I'd prefer to have a motor/controller capable of more and be able to add battery in the future if I need more range/power than to have to start replacing components completely.
I haven't been able to find many obvious pre-built alternatives to the goldenmotor batteries in the 20ah range though. Luna seemed to have one, but it's no longer available. Anywhere else I should be looking? I don't think i'm up to building my own first time.
Thanks for reading (assuming you got here, sorry I'm long winded)!
Paul