Open source velomobile in the making, suspension question (Feedback wanted)

polynoth · May 16, 2019

I have been a long time lurker, and almost everything I know about electric bikes, I have learned here.
That being said, I am in the planning stage, nearing the start of sourcing components stage of an open source velomobile that I would like to build, then release the plans for under a general public license.
Because It is going to be open source, I would like to include as many off the shelf components as possible, and have no machined parts be used, if possible. I would also like to use suspension, so the options for a front end, with minimal fabrication are rather limited.
I considered a lot of different options, but I am most strongly considering using a long travel golf cart lift kit as the front end.
I know this might sound ridiculous to some. Basically, I want this to be a human-powered electric hybrid vehicle. I am planning on using a 72V system, a High power hub motor on a moped rim in the rear, with DOT tire, and as narrow as possible golf cartwheels on the front, or a small four bolt car rim and tires If I can find some to fit. The details are well thought out, and I will forgo them for now, but feel free to ask if you are interested. In my mind, these kits are designed to take abuse and designed to hold much more weight than my application, but I still wonder if this will be sturdy enough, or If I should fabricate my own custom suspension, or borrow a design from a dune buggy or go-kart.

markz · May 16, 2019

polynoth said:
include as many off the shelf components as possible, and have no machined parts be used, if possible.
Sounds Interesting

I would also like to use suspension, so the options for a front end, with minimal fabrication are rather limited.
Sounds to me you want off the shelf components, bicycle, motorbikes, golf carts

using a long travel golf cart lift kit as the front end.
Sounds heavy! Is this going to be a bicycle, or a "motorbike/scooter" ?

human-powered electric hybrid vehicle.
Sounds like you answered my previous question, but again how heavy do you want it to be, because you can have a heavy velomobile or light and nimble

72V system
Sounds fast, how fast do you want to go, and with what "assistance" of human power?

High power hub motor on a moped rim in the rear, with DOT tire
Sounds powerful, what are you talking about "high power" because one mans "high power" is another mans wimpy and slow kinda power. Is it 1500W like the Leaf, 3000W like the MXUS/QS, 5kw+

and as narrow as possible golf cartwheels on the front
Sound heavy! Why not motorcycle/scooter rims with a 13/14 double butted Sapim spoke, I wouldnt go much beyond 12G, Holmes sells 12/13 double butted.

or a small four bolt car rim and tires If I can find some to fit.
Sounds heavy, again. "Human powered" "velomobile" you said. Will this be for the roadways or pathways or both?

In my mind, these kits are designed to take abuse and designed to hold much more weight than my application, but I still wonder if this will be sturdy enough, or If I should fabricate my own custom suspension, or borrow a design from a dune buggy or go-kart.
Sounds like you said "Open Source" and you wanted it to be simple and easy, that anyone can do. Custom fabricated sounds like a lot of work. Like I said, look at motorcycle/scooter parts whether it be new or used, lots to choose from. Even the bicycle industry has coils that are 850 lbs, so perhaps two of those, or three, or move up to motorcycle/scooter suspension components.

polynoth · May 16, 2019

yes. heavy, that was another concern. the kits range from 30-60 pounds. I figure the whole build will be 150-200 pounds. I know that is heavy. a company called truck trike makes a 200 pound bicycle that is used by ups. ..
This is meant to be an in-between class of vehicle. it is like a low powered electric vehicle meets a bicycle. very niche market, I get that.
I personally desire a heavy-duty electric vehicle that I can pedal, but mostly throttle/ PAS. I understand that it will be impractical to pedal it without PAS, but not impossible. (I will have enough low gears to make it work) I want it to be capable of being off and on road, but mostly light duty off the road when it's not driven on the street. (Like on grass)
My plan was to get a programmable controller when I build it and find a sweet spot for power, so I am getting a motor that can handle 6,000 watts. I dont plan on pushing it to see how fast it can go, but 30-35 MPH would be nice.
I thought about using moped tires and even considered a cycle cart style set up for the front end, but again, I wanted off the shelf solutions, and a tadpole style set up. I have not checked to see if I could find a rim that I could spindle mount, but I thought that industrial cycles made a rim for antique cyclecar replicas that could fit on Azusa spindles, and I considered that. I would love to find an independent suspension option using rims like that, an off the shelf solution, but I could not think of anything out side of what I just mentioned.
yeah, custom fabricated front ends kind of take away from the whole open source thing, hence my consideration of the golf cart suspension. I still might custom fabricate something, and just give away the plans.
thank you for the feed back.

polynoth · May 16, 2019

I also considered a mid-drive, so I could use gear reduction, as to not overheat the motor, But this was also why I wanted to use such a big motor and high voltage, because of the weight. I have to crunch some numbers, and use the motor simulator yet.

markz · May 16, 2019

Hey, I figured I'd help you out. Here is a list of websites from https://endless-sphere.com/forums/posting.php?mode=reply&f=3&t=100221

https://www.bike-discount.de
https://www.bike-components.de
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com
http://www.bikester.com

Manufacturers & dealers selling spare parts mentioned in the video:
http://en.velomobiel.nl
https://www.intercitybike.nl/en/
https://www.velomobilcenter.dk

Velomobile & Recumbent spare parts webshops:
https://www.velomobielonderdelen.nl
https://www.ginkgo-veloteile.de/ginkg...
https://t-cycle.com
https://shop.icletta.com/en
https://hostelshoppe.com
https://www.dutchbikebits.com
https://www.ligfietsshop.nl
https://shop.flevobike.nl/en/
https://www.utahtrikes.com
http://smalltyreshop.co.uk
http://liegerad-versand.com

Here are some I've found on my own
https://www.drymershop.nl/
http://fvsilverbullet.com/trike_products.htm

markz · May 16, 2019

Ah I see you posted while I was typing my previous post.

CycloneTW has a lot of high powered mid drive motors, anything from sub 1kw to 3kw, 4kw, 5kw, 6kw, 7.5kw to 18kw.
http://www.cyclone-tw.com/motor.html

Plus you'd have the space to put an IGH or two into the mix.

polynoth said:
I also considered a mid-drive, so I could use gear reduction, as to not overheat the motor, But this was also why I wanted to use such a big motor and high voltage, because of the weight. I have to crunch some numbers, and use the motor simulator yet.

polynoth · May 16, 2019

Thanks! yeah, I am familiar with a lot of the sites. I will check the ones I am not. I considered the cyclone motor. I am still considering it , I should say.

Open source velomobile in the making, suspension question (Feedback wanted)

polynoth

10 mW

markz

100 TW

polynoth

10 mW

polynoth

10 mW

markz

100 TW

markz

100 TW

polynoth

10 mW

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