E-bike Hub (or otherwise) Motors - Where to buy them

[safe]

This is the first time I noticed this area on the messageboard. This was one of the questions I posted elsewhere:

"What's the cheapest 500W - 1000W Hub Motor around?"

Seems that you will always pay from TWO to about SIX times as much for a hub motor compared to a "cheapo" Unite motor. What you can gain in performance you lose in price.

The best price seems to be the $159 hub motor. (not bad at all) I wonder if it could be purchased for less if you don't buy the rim and spokes? Could I use any controller for this?

[amjones]

Scott at evdeals still sells parts for the USPD, in fact you can put together a complete USPD kit from parts, but it'll cost more than the $450 the kit was going for. (I'm thinking about doing this...)

[amjones]

Scott at evdeals still sells parts for the USPD, in fact you can put together a complete USPD kit from parts, but it'll cost more than the $450 the kit was going for. (I'm thinking about doing this...)

[color=blue] I wonder how long the individual parts will last or maybe those are gone too.

[Mathurin]

Well I gotta add Velectris to this topic, since they now sell internationally.


I've compiled some info from their forums regarding the Phantom hub motor:
http://www.velectris.com/forum_en/viewtopic.php?id=4

And you can buy it from the shop page here:
http://www.velectris.com/catalog/phantom-kit-p-98.html


They've also got the Super Phantom, there's not yet much feedback about it
on the forums though, so FWIW may as well look at the shop's description...

[Mathurin]

Well, it seems Brett White holds the 36v MY1018's! It looks like the ones he sells come with some kinda mounting bracket.
http://www.users.bigpond.com/solarbbq/newproducts.htm



The 24v version can be had for 20usd less at TNC scooters:
http://tncscooters.com/product.php?sku=106105

[lfairban]

I have been collection so much info on e-bike kits that I had to put it in talbes:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~LFAIRBAN/Electric%20Bike%20Kits.html

If you go quick, you can be one of the first ten people to visit the site.

[gogo]

Ran across this place while surfing the web, seems to be out of Three Rivers, MI.
http://www.wattcycle.com

They sell Crystalyte motors and kits. I know nothing about them other than what I saw of their website.

[chizno]

Hey Gogo - thanks for posting a link to our website. We are from a small town here in Southwest Michigan and decided to get into the business because there is really nothing like what we're selling here (some of the bikes out there that come pre-assembled are close to $2,000 and aren't even close to the quality or the SPEED of what you can get when you build your own. We're selling e-bike kits or just plain Crystalyte hub motors at wattcycle.com. We also just added some electric scooters and mopeds to our site as well. I'm the owner and can answer just about any question anyone may have about the kits, batteries, watts, or any random questions you may have.

Also, we're holding a contest to see who can come up with the coolest EWV (Electric Winter Vehicle). You can read more about it on our blog: http://www.wattcycle.com/2008/11/21/the-electric-winter-vehicle-challenge/
The challenge is basically to create your own electric winter vehicle using at least an electric hub motor. The Crystalyte motors are really torque-y and have the potential to produce some screaming snow machines. So far, we've had ZERO entries!! Amazing to me because I know that there are some really insanely smart people out there who are probably doing something like this already. Since we don't have a lot of money and we're doing this just for the fun of it, the first and only prize is an iPod Touch, but props from everyone as well as the satisfaction of making something that lots of people could use is worth a lot more.

Anyway, check it out if you want.

[BungaEBiker]

Ok, here goes. I looked through the threads and this appears to be the closeist to the topic of my questions. I am a larger fellah and am wondering what kind of motor I should get. I have seen several different style's and all have merits and some do not. With your own experiences what kind of motor would a large(ish) guy in the rage of 350lbs need to get around in an area that is much like San Francisco? Not as much to look at but hills that would make your neck sore. The hills I usually see are in the 15 to 20 degree range and there is one (I call the gear box killer) that is about a 30 degree. I don't go up that one much. About 95% of my travel will be up 15 to 25 degree hills so I need something pretty hefty and not afraid of a workout. I can honestly say that almost all of the motors I have seen are good for distance and some are good for speed, My goal is to get to and from work every day using this motor. Its a 30 minute bus ride now and about one and a quarter hours, or there abouts, walking. Currently I am torn between a trike or a recumbent. when all my finances are in place is when i will make that decision. the trike would either be a Schwinn Meridian or an action bent tango recumbent. i have looked at both and like them both. all depends on my mood when the cash is in the pocket. that also lead to some other questions about voltage and such but that will be dependent on the motor. I am thinking of either a 36v or 48v system, I already have my eye on a regen controller that comes in both ranges. I have also decided on a battery, Nickle Metal Hydride. Its cheaper and Lithium and better then SLA. Any hints, advice or suggestions are encouraged.

[chizno]

I'd go with a motor that has more torque than high-end speed like the Crystalyte Brute. The Brute has lots of torque and will help you get started and definitely get you up hills.
http://www.wattcycle.com/shop/home.php?cat=260

I'd say that building a 3-wheeler would be great because of the ability to hold more batteries and whatever else you may need to carry (definitely go with the 48 V system in whatever battery you decide). Go with the front hub motor and you'll be on your way with an easy installation too.

Good luck!

[chizno]

Ah sorry - complete kits are here too with SLA batteries, cables, controller, throttle, etc... http://www.wattcycle.com/shop/home.php?cat=258

[BungaEBiker]

I should also point out I live in Canada and in a remote part of Canada at that.

[spike]

This site keeps a list of kits fairly up to date http://www.bicycle-power.com/diykits.html

[Kingfish]

Ah sorry - complete kits are here too with SLA batteries, cables, controller, throttle, etc... http://www.wattcycle.com/shop/home.php?cat=258

Wattcycle redirects to a generic Apache page. No longer valid.

~KF

[lfairban]

I am proud to announce that my list of ebike kits has been moved to:

http://eebikes.net/kits.html

under the general title of Electrically Enhanced Bikes, thus the URL eebikes.net. I like the term "Enhanced" in this context rather than "Assist".

I updated the information just before my hard drive went belly up but I still need to do a more comprehensive search for some of the less renowned companies. I may also add a battery page.

[Nehmo]

I am proud to announce that my list of ebike kits has been moved to:
http://eebikes.net/kits.html
under the general title of Electrically Enhanced Bikes, thus the URL eebikes.net. I like the term "Enhanced" in this context rather than "Assist".

I know. "Assist" makes it sound like you're crippled. "Enhanced" has come connotation problems too. When I hear it, I think of "beautified", like they enhanced the appearance of something that's rough to begin with.
Nowadays, it's also used regarding breast augmentation or with clothing that shows off the curves. She has an enhanced bust line. Her curves were enhanced by the outfit.

[Nehmo]

I'm trying to put together a list ... links to buy hub motors.

Just because someone has a URL doesn't mean they're worth buying form. The list really needs some sort or rating system. The only method of doing that now is to search and hope the aggrieved griped.

You neglected to mention two solid-reputation ones.

Methods (Patrick) at MethTek

Cell-Man (Paul) at Emissions-Free

[turbo1889]

Although I have not dealt with them personally they weren't mentioned so far that I could see in this thread some people have had good experience with these China based world wide shipping outfits for kits and components:

Papa Motor - http://www.electric-bikekit.com - and here is a link to a forum thread with several peoples experience with them: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/803098-Anyone-heard-of-or-purchased-Papamotor-electric-conversion-kits

GNG - http://www.gngebike.com - Just check the non-hub drive e-bike section of this forum for all kinds of threads about them.

I have personally done business with Cyclone Taiwan (already mentioned and linked to in this thread) with good results although I did pay attention to the caution to not use one of the their small motors with the internal motor controller that was more then 360watts since they tend to overheat at the higher wattage levels and fry the built in controller so if you want high power with one of their units the word on the street is to use one of their larger motors without an internal controller and use an external controller and only use the smaller internal controller motors at 360watts or less.

[Avitarmove]

Oh, then I recommend goldenmotor www.goldenmotor.com