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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: Aikirob on January 24, 2023, 05:45:02 AM

Title: using old zero motorcycles as an electric conversion for a car (link inside)?
Post by: Aikirob on January 24, 2023, 05:45:02 AM
hay all, had the idea of buying myself a new car and doing it up and using my 2016 dsr as the drivetrain like what this guy did in this youtube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8jOo585wls
the major concerns for me would be the difference in weight between the bike and the car, I'm happy as long as the car would be able to still hit 110km/h and be able to make it uphill without slowing down.
I'm not sure on the specification for the motor and whether the additional load would burn it out, it's an interesting idea to use wrecked electric motorcycles as electric conversion kits for cars.
Title: Re: using old zero motorcycles as an electric conversion for a car (link inside)?
Post by: DerKrawallkeks on January 24, 2023, 01:21:21 PM
Hey,
I think a good first step would be to do the driving resistance calculation.
If you are not familiar with that, you'll find it all over google.
It's basically the required power or torque for aerodynamic resistance, rolling resistance, inclination and acceleration added up.

I recommend you do it in excel so you can play around with the values.

Rich rebuild's car seems to perform very well, but it is unusually light, and he has geared it quite low I guess. With a 1000kg car and a top speed of 110km/h, it might be more difficult.
Very cool idea though, keep us updated if you make any interesting findings.
Title: Re: using old zero motorcycles as an electric conversion for a car (link inside)?
Post by: EVFX on January 25, 2023, 08:56:29 AM
From what I found online the 2016 DSR has a 50kw motor. 67 hp and 106 ft-lbs
You can probably drive around in a small car with very little features. Like a mid 90s Corolla.
Maybe finding a trashed zero and finding a way to make dual motors work would be more useful.
Title: Re: using old zero motorcycles as an electric conversion for a car (link inside)?
Post by: Specter on January 26, 2023, 02:24:58 AM
with dual motors.  I know about NOTHING on the drive train topic but would think you'd have to have some sort of communication or feedback between the two, because just putting 'go juice' to both motors and say spin wheels, I can see getting you into trouble the moment one side or the other starts losing traction, or even front to back. It could be good when you ARE spinning one half to have the other doing the work to un jam you but I could see it possibly also pushing you into something bad as well.

I remember years ago playing with one of those manta pancake motors on a go cart with a battery and ugh we about killed ourselves :D

Aaron
Title: Re: using old zero motorcycles as an electric conversion for a car (link inside)?
Post by: DerKrawallkeks on January 26, 2023, 03:14:46 AM
Hey,
there is no special communications needed for a dual motor setup. Just run the same throttle to both controllers.
EVs control for torque, so they'll be putting out the same torque, which is great cause the vehicle will go straight. Also the different speeds of the motors when going around a corner do not matter.
If one were to break traction, that could give a very slight tendency of pulling to one side, but insignificant. There have been many examples of dual motor vehicles like this.

So go ahead and build your dual motor Zero cars;) run the same throttle signal wire to both Sevcons so they read the same voltage.
Title: Re: using old zero motorcycles as an electric conversion for a car (link inside)?
Post by: Specter on January 26, 2023, 05:56:10 AM
Well that's good to know and makes it all the easier to do.
i would recommend tho when calibrating the controls /motors, do both at the same time so you KNOW they are truly set the same.
worse case do a back to back on torque so they are pulling on each other, when there is no movement either way you know both are even :)

Aaron
Title: Re: using old zero motorcycles as an electric conversion for a car (link inside)?
Post by: Aikirob on February 02, 2023, 05:56:59 AM
from what I've gathered, you'd need two motors, so being able to buy a couple of scrapped zero motorcycles motors and batteries would be an extremely cheap electric conversion kit for your car, depending on how much you spent on the bikes.
Title: Re: using old zero motorcycles as an electric conversion for a car (link inside)?
Post by: TheRan on February 02, 2023, 08:33:33 AM
You wouldn't need two motors, there are plenty of cars out there using motors with less power and torque than the R motor that also rev lower. And you can even replicate the performance of a more torque gas engine if you can swap in a gearbox with more speeds (or just sacrifice some top speed).