PULSE AUTOCYCLE NETWORK

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

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Steve Schmidt · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2003 Posts: 355

Here are a couple of EXAMPLES of electric hub motors and set-up of needed parts for conversion. Not shown are the batteries.

These examples I found on the internet. Not necessarily for the Pulse vehicle.

If the electric motor is on the front wheel, then the batteries could be in the engine compartment in the back.

More info soon.

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

Steve

The battery pack is 72v.

Stevenp74 · Joined: 06 Sep 2003 Posts: 48 Location: Florida Panhandle

Calno,
Do you have any new updates on your hybrid?
I have looked at Kelly controllers and like their packages with the
hub motors. I am thinking about a hybrid, for reverse and for parades.
I would love to go full electric but for me to go to work and back its
a 110 mile trip. I have a kawasaki engine in it now and it runs great.
_________________
Florida Panhandle

parfaitelumiere · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 5 Location: France

Calno,do you think it would be different not to use a hub motor,but a standart motor intead of the fuel engine,and at the place of the gear box?
I wanted to put a hub motor on my project in the first time,but after seeing the intensity,and voltage,it seems it needs more I and less U,so it's not as efficient as a faster turning motor.
It seems that for the same power,a fast speed motor,low torque is more intersting than an low speed high torque motor,using chain or belt form motor to wheel to decrease wheel speed,and increase wheel torque.
One thing sure,You are really lucky to live in USA,where such a vehicle has been produced!
You will really hardly see something similar here in France!

Candidquality · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 6 Location: DFW, Texas, USA

Doubt I'll get an answer from the original poster, but just to throw this out there (and you'll have to excuse my complete ignorance on the topic):

Why not use 2 hubs, the one currently mentioned for the front since it's rated for the side loads, and a higher torque, lower speed version for the rear.
Even I could figure out how to switch from the rear powered start to the front powered highway motor based on speed. Someone that actually knows electronics could probably combine the two with speed matching for mid range torque when needed. There's the obvious cost of the second hub involved, but other than that, I can see no downside. Double the regenerative braking power.

Obviously it would be best to have everything in one lightweight hub, but until that combination appears, why not settle for 2? For that matter why not drop in a properly tuned diesel to re-charge in flight? (Not for direct drive like some of these ridiculous companies try to combine).

Just a thought.

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

Bob Hichborn · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 404 Location: Orlando, Fl

Skip,
Nice.... thanks for sharing the videos!

I'll have to get down there one of these weekends. I'll give you a call to see when you have a "free" Sat or Sun.

- Bob
_________________
"Everyday you wake up with a Pulse,
is a good day!"

Steve Schmidt · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2003 Posts: 355

Hi,

Thanks to calno for the videos and all the hard work to pioneer a good electric power plant for the autocycle.

Here are some of the facts of Calno's conversion:

The batteries are place in the engine compartment.

An electric motor is built into the hub of the front wheel.

Number of hours to convert a Pulse to electric power.........

Front wheel hub conversion was just under 16 man hours, this includes the fabrication shop and brake modification....on the plus side the hub motor and brake rotor and caliper were lighter that the original.

Ballpark figure on cost of parts and a list of parts needed.......

the set originated from Kelly controller,

http://www.kellycontroller.com/regen-p-435.html

The current price is $1,399.00 plus shipping. This is for the a single hub motor and controller, the next test sequence is with hub motor in the front and rear. The kit includes all the parts minus the batteries and cable. not counting any miscellaneous parts.

Cruising speed and total time available on one charge........

the range with the lead acid battery pack is 78 miles at 72 mph, or 118 at 52 mph. I used the heaviest/least expensive battery pack for testing.

Length of time to fully recharge battery......

this question is dependent on battery type and charger, currently I am using a smaller charger that requires 6 to 8 hours recharge time, Kelly has a charger that would do the same thing in 4 hours using the lead acid batteries. Keep in mind I am using the lead acid because they are cheap and heavy, perfect for testing.

Any difference in steering than a standard Pulse......

I have no frame of reference to answer this question, When Bob Hichborn visits down here he will be able to test it and do a comparison. I believe that with the front axle now behind the fork center of rotation, there exist some force relief

Any difference in performance between one or two people in the vehicle..... NO, but still testing

hatfield · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 60 Location: Muscatine, IA

How feasible would it be to have an electric motor hub on the front wheel ONLY for a reverse gear? Could you get by with just the one starting battery? I'm happy with my Gold Wing engine but reverse sucks.
_________________
Pete Hatfield
Muscatine, IA
www.petehatfield.com

Erick · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 45 Location: Flower Mound, TX

That looks amazing. I was going to update my power plant to the Ninja 650 but now I might have to rethink this.

Erick · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 45 Location: Flower Mound, TX

That looks amazing. I was going to update my power plant to the Ninja 650 but now I might have to rethink this.

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

Litestar15-e · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 15

BelaP · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 23 Location: Miami

It was a nice test ride Very Happy

I have an electric car the Zap Xebra Pk with customized body
and runing it with 96 volts and custom modified dc motor.
If I compare the Pulse with my Xebra the first thing I noticed
the Pulse did't have any noise coming from the motor and from the speed controller, it was very quiet and surprising.
The acceleration at low speed wasn't the best but considering it was only a front single hub motor
and the speed controller's torque wasn't set to the highest level yet.
The regenerative braking wasn't set yet either so I couldn't test it,
maybe next time because I really wanted to feel how effectively that kicks in during decelerations vs my Xebra without it.
The mid and higher speed appeared to be fine during that short test around the block.

To sum it up, I think with front and rear hub motor the Pulse will be the star
to eliminate all the associated weaknesses of it's engine design.
If somebody really wants to get a clean reliable car without any headache
than this the way to go.
Congratulation to figure it out and to apply the hub motor idea
and to put the puzzle together for the Pulse and posting the details here.

B.P.