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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: benswing on May 12, 2014, 11:52:11 PM

Title: Vectrix Auction
Post by: benswing on May 12, 2014, 11:52:11 PM
Here is a link to the official site of the Vectrix auction that takes place on Wed, Jun 18, 2014 10:00 AM in Bedford, MA.

http://www.pesco.com/servlet/SelectAuction.do?auctionId=9256 (http://www.pesco.com/servlet/SelectAuction.do?auctionId=9256)

They are selling some complete Vectrix VX1's and some lithium ion batteries.  Not sure what voltage the batteries have, but they may be interesting.
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: Burton on May 13, 2014, 01:28:01 AM
(80) Complete Vectrix All Electric VX1, VX2 & VX3 Motorcycles & Scooters
Approx. 100 New Lithium Ion Bike Batteries

Wow

This company go under? or just this plant
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: rollandelliott on May 13, 2014, 01:47:46 AM
i looked through the pdf of photos and did not see a single three wheeled v3 nor did I see any motor cycles, just scooters.  :-\
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: Brammofan on May 13, 2014, 02:14:20 AM
There's some photos on page 2 that look like 3 wheelers to me.
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: kingcharles on May 13, 2014, 02:35:46 AM
Nominal voltage of the VX1 is 125 Volts. The charger and motor controller can go up to 156 Volts and some VX1 owners are now converting their bikes with Nissan Leaf modules to Lithium. 18 or 19 Leaf modules are the configurations to choose from and it is almost like the battery box of the VX1 was designed to hold them!

By the way, the Vectrix provided Lithium option is rubbish so don't get too exited about that...
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: protomech on May 13, 2014, 03:50:03 AM
Probably the Vectrix VX-3, Brammofan.
http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/vectrix/2013-vectrix-vx-3-li-ar161767.html (http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/vectrix/2013-vectrix-vx-3-li-ar161767.html)
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: rollandelliott on May 13, 2014, 06:05:08 AM
There's some photos on page 2 that look like 3 wheelers to me.

yes but those are not the very cool vx3, they are some lame segway type machine, probably has a top speed of 5mph
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: rollandelliott on May 13, 2014, 05:30:51 PM
"the Vectrix provided Lithium option is rubbish so don't get too exited about that..."

WHY ARE their lithium ion batteries rubbish?
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: Burton on May 13, 2014, 05:40:53 PM
They are NiMH and not lithium for starters.
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: rollandelliott on May 13, 2014, 08:37:00 PM
so the auction company is doing false advertising and is really selling 100 Nihm battery packs?   :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: Burton on May 13, 2014, 09:21:00 PM
maybe they are test packs? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectrix (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectrix) Taking my info from here which states NiMH and that they were going to "test" Li packs before they went under.
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: benswing on May 13, 2014, 10:01:14 PM
The bikes are probably NiMH, but the batteries are likely Li-ion.
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: rollandelliott on May 13, 2014, 11:15:47 PM
wow that wikipedia article doesn't inspire much confidence. bidding sight unseen on these bikes that might have battery issues is a big gamble. especially considering that parts will be impossible to get and the battery is 1/3 the cost of a bike.
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: kingcharles on May 14, 2014, 12:16:52 AM
Vectrix after the takeover by GP has retrofitted all NiMH bikes with 30 and 45ah GP lithium cells which were incapable of providing enough power (C-rate is too low) for the 22kw Vectrix motor (especially the 30ah cells). So these are all Lithium bikes on auction.
But if you do full throttle you kill the cells. Also their BMS was not used properly in the original software versions which made things worse...
The VX3 was never sold so it may be impossible to get one registered.
The VX2 is a moped scooter with lead battery cells.
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: frodus on May 14, 2014, 12:27:20 AM
Sounds like there's a reason they're bankrupt....

I'll still be watching some of the equipment and controllers/motors/etc.
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: kingcharles on May 15, 2014, 01:20:03 AM
The true reason I think that they are bankrupt is that they lacked focus.
The spent a lot of money on the VX3, a superbike (that never came), silly battery retrofit for the VX1, the VX2, that horrible 3 wheel segway thing and the US market.

What they should have done is have FOCUS on the VX1 and Europe.
They should have spent their money on perfecting the VX1 software such that it uses the NiMH optimally. And from there on gradually improve the VX1 (and only do Lithium when it would actually be better than NiMH). If they would have done that than they would have had a better scooter than the C Evolution from BMW is today.

Another issue was that their dealer management was very poor and parts supply was just terrible.

Still it is a sad thing that Vectrix has gone under because I still ride my VX1 daily and the ride, practicality and design are great. And it has never let me down in 4,5 years commuting (50.000 km).
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: rollandelliott on May 23, 2014, 06:20:29 AM
i looked at the auction details today
http://www.pesco.com/servlet/SelectAuction.do?auctionId=9256&path=/servlet/List.do (http://www.pesco.com/servlet/SelectAuction.do?auctionId=9256&path=/servlet/List.do)
scooters start at item #1000
lots of vx2 and vx1's
the vx2 is lead acid so I guess that is a slow limited range scooter, can that vx2 be upgraded with lithium ion battery easily?
Title: Re: Vectrix Auction
Post by: kingcharles on May 23, 2014, 03:39:47 PM
I noticed a few Lithium VX2's in the list also.