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[deckofficer]

Hi all, this is my 1st post here, and coming to this forum has been a "long, strange trip". It started about 15 years ago when through work I was operating my first electric vessel. 32,000 ton diesel-electric offshore oil exploration rig, powered by (6) 5000 hp electric thrusters and those in turn were powered by (7) 4.6 mw diesel gen sets.

After seeing firsthand the culture of the oil industry, It was mutually decided I wasn't a good fit and I left with the attitude that I would do everything in my power to promote EVs.

Here is my first EV project, a scooter with a mean streak. I cannibalized a Rad 2 Go, in steps. When the stock controller gave out, I replaced it with a 400 amp Curtis. This led to the battery terminals melting off the cheap, stock battery so I stepped up to (4) Odyssey PC 680 in series for 48 volts. It wasn't long before the stock 1500 watt motor died and went with the Etek.



I enjoyed racing against the gas mini scooters and it wasn't long before they changed the format. Instead of a moto X style course, they decided I needed to be handicapped so the venue was changed to a 50 mile road race on Route 66 in Arizona. I still wanted to compete, and since the Etek had plenty of grunt, I put together a battery trailer with (6) 8 volt flooded lead acid batteries for a total weight of 490 lbs trailer, 110 lbs scooter and my 250 lbs, 850 lbs all up.



I've had a few more projects, one I enjoy is my motorized kayak that I put together 64 lbs of LiFePO4 cells that at 4.5 mph cruise speed has a range of 80 miles.

My next project is to convert a MotorCat 30 from gasoline outboards to electric propulsion.

I also like to fly, and that is how I found this forum. Mark Berille (sp) has been trying a lot of different motor and battery combinations in his e-gull airplane recently used the motor, controller, and battery from Zero motorcycle and take off and climb performance is quite impressive.


After researching Zero, a google search brought me to this forum and I discovered a group that seems to understand that electric is the way to go.

Well, that is my intro, my name is Bob and I live in Northern California.

 

[firepower]

really enjoy your video. 

[Richard230]

Welcome Deckofficer.  Thanks for posting the video.  That is a really neat application for the Zero motor.  I hope Zero continues to make their power systems available for other applications besides their motorcycles.

[BSDThw]

Nice - a most convincing setup.

I would exchange my 75-5 (FX) motor for your 75-7 Motor 

[deckofficer]

Welcome Deckofficer.  Thanks for posting the video.  That is a really neat application for the Zero motor.  I hope Zero continues to make their power systems available for other applications besides their motorcycles.

That makes two of us. When you consider the current most economical planes are the new FAA Sport Class (<1320 lbs) powered by Rotax 912 and 914, burning just 5 gph at cruise will cost with overhaul TBO figured in, about $40 per hour. 1 hour of cruising on 9 kwhr even at a high rate of $0.15 per kwhr works out to $4.35 per hour after calculating battery cycle life.

If your a air junkie that wants to rack up 300 hours per year on your retirement income, big difference between $12,000 and $1,305 per year.