BMW Electric scoot

[Deleted User 796]

Lithium batteries perform badly in very cold weather don't they? Are the silicon batteries better performers in the cold?

[gn2]

Been having a look at the ZEV website, seems they do bigger capacity faster versions of the one already mentioned.
Also a bike that looks like a Honda Big Ruckus.
And the ZEV10 LRC maxi scooter which they reckon goes further, faster and costs less than the BMW.
With storage for two full face helmets under the seat.

http://zelectricvehicle.com/22.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bluebottle]

That looks more like the one I was thinking of originally
I thought it was a French company but I might be getting mixed up.

Yes RTFM, I never had any trouble in the cold. They are supposed to work down to -35
There is an interesting list of properties here :
http://www.siliconebatteries.ca/siliconebattery.html
The used electrolyte can be used as fertiliser; very different to the traditional idea of a battery

[michaelphillips]

late 2010 this was said: BMW and Mercedes-Benz will use their trendy MINI and Smart brands to push their electrified mobility credentials this month... so what happened to there development
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/50823/ ... s-at-paris" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Normsthename]

Been having a look at the ZEV website, seems they do bigger capacity faster versions of the one already mentioned.

They also do a Utility type vehicle called the T-10

http://www.zelectricvehicle.com/18.html



The top of the range model has some quite impressive specs

80mph Top Speed
80 miles range at 70 mph
140 miles range at 55mph
Torque is 183 lb Foot........ the Triumph 2.3 Rocket 3 only has a measly 147 lb Foot of torque

The rear seat can lift up to double as a Rider Backrest and the rack can carry upto 200 lbs in weight.
They can also supply a shorter range motor with even more power and torque....

It looks like it could be used as a good basis for a Maxi scooter, add some scooter bodywork and screen.
Bobs your uncle!

Update
They actually make the ZEV10 LRC

http://www.zelectricvehicle.com/22.html


Andy

[Bluebottle]

I think it is one of the areas where independents and amateurs are doing much better than the big multinationals.
Perhaps because the smaller concerns want to just bang a motor and batteries in the thing and get it working and out the door. The big companies seem to be hung up on using I-phones as dashboards and trying to be clever.
Admittedly the smaller companies aren't building the same levels of support and infrastructure; retraining techs in electrical engineering etc.

Meanwhile the Chinese are turfing them out like Christmas crackers.

I thin companies like ZEV have the best idea, stick a crap load of batteries in it and beef up the motor and make it go, finesse the styling later on once the thing covers enough ground at a high enough speed.

There are some good amateur builds around. A lot of them are existing bikes converted over but some are done from scratch

[michaelphillips]

its a shame china is so far away
thers a lot of topic info here http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hero seems to be doing a bit since there split from honda http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/750/18017 ... ncept.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Normsthename]

Here's a walk around of the ZEV 10LRC

[BBvideo 560,340][/BBvideo]

The bodywork looks very familiar
It's either a blatant copy or they have used Suzuki Burgman 400 body panels

Andy

[Bluebottle]

Torque is 183 lb Foot........ the Triumph 2.3 Rocket 3 only has a measly 147 lb Foot of torque

That is the ruckus clone we were talking about

Interestingly you can increase the torque using jumpers on the circuit board of many electrics

(Bear with me, I'm going over stuff you already know)
The torque on electrics is massive and it is available at all rpm not just in a narrow band.
That includes zero rpm, that is why electric motors don't have to tick over, they can pull straight from a standstill.

The problem is if you lay down that much torque when you are stood still you can lose grip or flip the bike on its back so they restrict the torque or cut the power(on cheap bikes this can be heard as a buzz as the power cuts in and out)

The interesting thing is that many bikes share the same circuit board and jumpers are used to set the torque parameters, top speed etc. if you know what each jumper does you can de-restrict or remap really easily.
Not always though, sometimes it is in the software

[wozza]

And as usual - the price?