Tommy and Jesse Do America (trip thread)

[Dirt-E-Dan]

Hey guys,

I'm starting this thread to allow you guys to contact the riders if you are interested in meeting with them or if they potentially need to find some help and a lucky ES member might be of some great service. They won't be updating this thread much, as they'll be updating their website. However, I've yet to find a blog spot on their website... I'll get to the bottom of that.

I'll make sure that Tommy and Jesse check this thread regularly.

Thanks all,

Daniel

[recumpence]

Cool!

I tried calling Tommy today and got his voicemail. I am excited to hear how things are going.

Matt

[jmygann]

I am watching with much interest ... this needs national coverage

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 2643_n.jpg



http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1& ... 4654064610

[amberwolf]

Wish they were coming thru Phoenix, but they're a bit too far north to meet up with.

[AussieJester]

Goodluck fellas and well done on the custom trike

KiM

[sk8norcal]

this is amazing!! good luck guys!
maybe I will catch them in SF...

http://www.triveloproject.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/TriveloProject

[AussieJester]

Is the speedo in MPH or Kilometers ? I see a fuzzy 'mph' on lower left of the speedo but can't make out if this is for the outer or inner numerals? Either way its a nice pace for two manned trike great stuff!

KiM

[dontsendbubbamail]

Is the speedo in MPH or Kilometers ? I see a fuzzy 'mph' on lower left of the speedo but can't make out if this is for the outer or inner numerals? Either way its a nice pace for two manned trike great stuff!

KiM

Kim,

That would be MPH.

Bubba

[jmygann]

Not to knock this thread but would it be better in a different category ?
not " non hub motor drives" ???

[swbluto]

I'm pretty sure it's around 32 mph as if you pause the video, you'll see the inner circle has a "20" indicator that occurs earlier than in the outer circle. The question I'm wondering, is that they speed they're doing without using any battery power? It'd be pretty impressive if solar and leg power resulted in a 30+ mph speed on flat-land, but it seems somewhat expected if battery is added into the mix. The reason I bring this up is because the battery will discharge eventually, needing recharging, whereas the solar can just keep ticking...

[veloman]

Very cool to see such a project moving a decent speeds. At first I thought they'd be poking around at 10-15mph.

If I didn't get sick with mono, I'd be looking to do such a cross country trip with electrics this summer. Maybe in the fall.

[dontsendbubbamail]

Not to knock this thread but would it be better in a different category ?
not " non hub motor drives" ???

Technically correct, but it is so KOOL that I can make an allowance just as long as we keep getting updates.

Bubba

[recumpence]

Not to knock this thread but would it be better in a different category ?
not " non hub motor drives" ???

Technically correct, but it is so KOOL that I can make an allowance just as long as we keep getting updates.

Bubba

[jmygann]

facebook .....

130 mi first day

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3 ... 610&ref=ts

[veloman]

Picture says they are using custom PV panels from SBM solar, producing 394watts!!!! That is amazing!

That completely makes pure electric power possible for endless runtime during good sunlight. Absolutely amazing.

[jmygann]

I don't think 394 watts of PV panel is enough to move them and machine

[swbluto]

I don't think 394 watts of PV panel is enough to move them and machine

You realize two people casually pedaling is about 200 watts?

[jmygann]

How many amps is the motor drawing to propel the trike when there is no pedaling ?

50 volts @ 8 amps is 400 watts

Its a 48-50 volt system as I recall.

[etard]

There are so many questions for me now, I feel completely out of the loop. I went to the blog site and nothing. Here we don't have any particulars on what's going on, how does it ride, any problems, is there a support vehicle???? Surely one guy can drive while the other texts us a status update. That's legal, right?

[recumpence]

I don't think 394 watts of PV panel is enough to move them and machine

Solar alone would probably push them about 8mph or so in direct sunlight (shooting from the hip).

Matt

[torker]

I don't think 394 watts of PV panel is enough to move them and machine

Solar alone would probably push them about 8mph or so in direct sunlight (shooting from the hip).

Matt

That sounds about right. Then with 2 people contributing another 100 watts or so I can see some good range. Heck they did 130 mi. the first day and sounded ready to do at least 100 mi. the next day. Only real issue I can see will be the wind in the midwest. They are going through Kansas.. I hope it is during the week so I can see them. I would love more info also. The maps they provided don't show the road #

Good luck guys.

[jmygann]

a battery pack is what is used for enough torque ?? not sure just the panel has the torque

Solar-powered vehicles leave BA for Illinois

http://baledger.com/articles/2010/06/22 ... 409630.txt

http://americansolarchallenge.org/events/asc2010/

"At 6pm teams start charging their batteries for 2 hours before impound at 8pm. Teams use stands to tilt their array to maximize the power and keep it secure is the gusty evening breeze."

http://americansolarchallenge.org/event ... s/asc2010/




Official Solar Drag Race Website

http://users.applecapital.net/~jim/solardragrace.htm

[veloman]

My point is that you don't need a 320lb machine to mount 400w of solar panels. You could tow the large solar panel with a road bike, and easily go 20-25mph, in good sunlight, no pedaling. They are getting 7watts per lb of solar panel. Thats the equivalent of a 200lb rider producing 1400watts. No way that panel will 'slow' down a rider unless they are going up a massive hill in the shade. But that's where a batter comes in.

Each rider should be able to push out 100watts average for "all day" (6hr). But obviously they are predominately using the power from the batteries to move.

[jmygann]

So the power is coming from human (2) % ??
Solar PV % ?? direct and stored in batteries
Grid Charging % ??

My guess is 80% human

[jmygann]

"average 50 wh per mile" (with pedaling) .... 100 miles/day ... 5000 wh/day used

SPV = 1,200 WH * 1.86 (eff. factor) / 5.9 hours of sun (full summer day) = 378 watts of solar panels (assuming MPPT type solar controller).