I was really bad about keeping up this blog becasue I just posted things on my facebook account and DIY EV:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1897524482286.110186.1366854673&type=3&l=18bbc2decf

 

http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58378

I converted the trike to electric mearly to learn and act as a stepping stone for a car project. The Leadwing project was based on some very good, but old 24V AGM aircraft batteries that I got a really good deal on. With 196V and 880amps available from the pack and only one small steering wheel the performance of the bike was predictably scary. All the local drag strips prohibited trikes so I was never able to see what I could get on the 1/4 mile. Anyway, this winter the parts from that project were harvested to go into the Miata.

http://electricmiata.blogspot.com/

Battery mounting

I mocked up the pack with some cardboard boxes and it fits really well. 

The mounting is made up of some old diamond plate, and random left over A500 parts. 

I am using foam padding they sell at Lowe's for weight rooms and play rooms as padding for the clamp on the batteries.

Swing arm and motor mount

The original swing arm is being reinforced and motor mount is integrated

The powerhouse

A brand new FB-4001 ADC 9" motor.  I came across it on eBay still in the crate locally.  It is a ADC 9" series wound DC motor. It's normally run in 15,000lb forklifts at 36VDC but can be run upto 192 volts (for a short time) to put out over 120hp.   Most people us much smaller motors for bikes but I got this one locally for half price and figured, why not. :)


I got it for $1075.  The shipping alone would have been $300 and they retail for $1900 so I am a happy camper assuming I can shoe horn it into that plus sized Honda frame.  This motor is of course rediculous in a bike but again the intention is to re-purpose it into a small car later.

The victim

Here it is the victim.  A 1987 goldwing that is half converted to a trike.  I bought it for $750 and have already made most of that back by selling off the parts I don't want.  I do have to say that I am really not a fan of trikes (I greatly prefer reverse trikes or a even number of wheels) but the extra wheel will help cope with the 200V battery pack and a 9" motor.  Also the goldwing frame is almost perfect fit for my batteries and the swing arm may allow for a slick motor mounting.  I am thinking about naming the bike a leadwing which is appropriate for obvious reason but also what i am doing to this bike can be thought of as a form a reverse alchemy. :)

The batteries

I have never found these concord AGM aircraft batteries used in a EV before.  Mostly likely because of the price. They run close to $500 a piece but let's just say I got them for CONSIDERABLY less then that. :)  They are 30 lbs each, 24V 15ah AGMs that are rated to put of 850amps for 10 seconds (that is over 60C!).  Now these batteries have never been used but they are old so I suspect them to sag considerably.  I have extras so I checked them all and and there are enough that have not self drained too low to make a decent pack.  As far as what current I will get well there is only one way to find out. :)

http://www.concordebattery.com/flyer.php?id=41