Adding Front Hub Motor to Currie EZIP

n3glv · Dec 8, 2013

LeftieBiker said:
It' hard to get a solid number with all the estimating and substituting, but it appears that there is no way I'd get 20MPH from even a 500 watt 36 volt mac motor with 24 volts. I estimate 18-19MPH, which is little faster than the Currie drive. In fact, I could get *more* speed with the Currie with the 'speed' sprocket, but I want more torque from that, not less... That's why I'm looking for a motor set up to run well on 24 volts, not 36.

FWIW, I have done some searching of the parts used by my two currie ebikes.
(via rapido with 8-fun 250w) and Ezip Trailz '450w'. They both seem to use motors
that are often sold as 36V.
I have also been considering adding a front hub motor, 250-350w to either use as
lower current cruise or as a boost on the really tough hills. Looking at ones with
the controller internal to minimise the wires, and a thumb throttle on the left
grip. My battery is btw a 40ah, 24v LiFeP04 ($479 shipped with charger etc)
I get 45+ real miles range, inc hills of Pittsburgh. And on paper 60+ miles on flat.
Recharge costs @ 10c/Kwh, $0.002266 per mile, zero pedal!

LeftieBiker · Dec 8, 2013

Golden Motors' 902 kit is the one we'd both want, as it is both geared and freewheels. They had a special where you used a code and got $50 off, which is slightly more than shipping. PM me if you'd like it. I don't know if it's expired yet... Oh, and it isn't surprising that the 450 watt motor is often sold as 36 volt. The reason we can't over-volt it is the controller, not the motor.

n3glv · Dec 8, 2013

Seeing posts about 'bigger currie motor'.
Factory the chain drive ezip is quoted @ 450w.
Once I got enough battery to push full amps, I measured 35A @ 24-26v.
Doing the math for say 25v that's 875w! Cruise on flat is 9.5-10A WOT so 240w or so.
Is your motor really that noisy? Mine is not too bad, done a few things though.
A:Split the gear box open and repacked with "super lube" synthetic grease from
Harbor Frieght.
B:Keep a sharp eye on chain tension / grease and watch out for bend/twist of the
torque plate.
Mine makes a nice whirr but a 3/8 cordless drill at 3feet is probably 200-500% louder.

Note, what I'm really wanting to do is mid-motor this thing.
Looking for the front freewheel set for the right price and gear selection to make
4th gear on rear, low sprocket on crank = to factory range. If I run say 48/52 on a
tripple ring for the cranks that would still let me use 48/34 megarange for monster hills and down to the 12t and up to the 52 for haulin ass.
Reading about mid-motor seems to give about 10-15% efficiancy boost and in your
case, reduced rpm of motor for given speed might quiet it down enough?
SWAG top speed even just running motor into 7spd rear, 24-30mph, anywhere around 25 is plenty fast imo.

n3glv · Dec 8, 2013

LeftieBiker said:
Golden Motors' 902 kit is the one we'd both want, as it is both geared and freewheels. They had a special where you used a code and got $50 off, which is slightly more than shipping. PM me if you'd like it. I don't know if it's expired yet... Oh, and it isn't surprising that the 450 watt motor is often sold as 36 volt. The reason we can't over-volt it is the controller, not the motor.

My suspicion has always been that on 24v you are not going over 20mph on this motor / gear combo. IE:keeping it with spec on the 'under 20mph and 750w' thing from consumer product safety.

I saw a post about adding a 12v in series, would this work on a currie PWM?
Sure would be neat to have an extra 9mph in my pocket on the end of a relay
trigger button. (My system is 45ah BMS 40ah 8s12p LiFeP04)

LeftieBiker · Dec 8, 2013

You'd have to either get a new controller or bypass the controller for "turbo mode" and that sounds risky. BTW, the code is ANYKIT .It's good until the 12th at midnight.

LeftieBiker · Mar 19, 2024

I thought I was posting in this topic yesterday, when I posted that I did the upgrade on the EZIP. It now has the OEM drive running 36 volts at 800 watts with a new controller, and a 500 watt DD front motor with cruise control. I'll paste that post here.

amberwolf · Mar 19, 2024

LeftieBiker said:
I thought I was posting in this topic yesterday, when I posted that I did the upgrade on the EZIP

Looks like you posted it over here

Disadvantages of front wheel drive for ebike?

I'm considering making a front wheel drive system by installing a hub motor in the front wheel of a bicycle. I see that most, but not all, hub motors are in the rear wheel. I'm wondering what the pros and cons of putting a hub motor in the front wheel would be?

endless-sphere.com

I can move that here if you want, or just leave this quote of it below:

LeftieBiker said:
Five years later, I implemented what I proposed above: an old EZIP Trailz step-thru,
with a 500 watt front brushless hubmotor that claims 500 watts. Actually, after breaking it in,
I'd say it does manage 500 watts. Not much torque, but plenty of power from the mid-range on.
After having trouble with both parts and installation, the bike is now 2WD, with a
500 watt brushless drive in the front wheel, and the OEM 450 watt
external brushed motor with chain drive in the rear - albeit
over-volted to 36 volts, 800 watts. That little once-450 watt brushed motor really
screams, now. It will hit 24+ MPH indicated, with the stock gearing.
The front drive is almost silent, and has cruise control. I can run both drives
simultaneously, so I can (and do!) use the front drive to set a speed, which it will
hold until squeeze the right brake lever. It will provide a MPH reading and
available propulsion power even after I take over with the rear drive,
and the cruise will remain engaged until that brake lever is squeezed.
That means I can ride effortlessly in FWD mode, adding power from the
rear drive as needed to climb hills, for more speed. Issues with the
new derailleur aside, I'm quite pleased with it. I even managed to get
the front rim brake to provide very adequate stopping force. The bike
actually perfforms better than I had hoped...

I'll post a photo or two later.

;

LeftieBiker · May 21, 2024

Having tried dual 500 watt DD hub motors on the bike, I'm going back to the first 2WD upgrade: over-volted Currie Drive in rear, and one of the DD motors in front. I have a new motor and motor freewheel for the re-conversion. That is a FUN setup.

LeftieBiker · May 31, 2024

The bike is now re-converted, although I'm still working out kinks. It's a blast. I can cruise along silently, with decent power and 20MPH, then just open the rear throttle and the bike leaps ahead, wailing like a banshee. I don't know why anyone bothers with changing the motor drive sprocket. New $40 controller, 36 (or 48) volt battery, and you have a supercharged EZIP. The front DD is only necessary if you want to also ride quietly.

LeftieBiker · Nov 4, 2024

The final configuration of the EZIP is two DD hubmotors, both over-volted to 48 volts. It's a Blast, it's quiet, and it gets good range. The front wheel will spin a bit when traction isn't optimum. It'seven great off-road, if you forgive the huge weight penalty on handling...

Tonight, I located a BRAND NEW EZIP REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY! I had misplaced it years ago. Anyone interested? I also have both a nearly new Curry Drive motor, and a good used one as well. I can thus provide someone with the parts needed to restore or refurbish an EZIP Trailz.

Adding Front Hub Motor to Currie EZIP

n3glv

10 mW

LeftieBiker

100 kW

n3glv

10 mW

n3glv

10 mW

LeftieBiker

100 kW

LeftieBiker

100 kW

amberwolf

Administrator

Disadvantages of front wheel drive for ebike?

LeftieBiker

100 kW

LeftieBiker

100 kW

LeftieBiker

100 kW

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