Electric Drift Trike Build

[Mihai_F]

Hy there,
I will present here my electric drift trike build, with details for mechanical and electrical parts.
It all started after i decided to migrate my projects to STM32, then started to make my FOC code and controller, here is the FOC thread FOC questions So i needed a "vehicle" to test my controller and code.
Here are some mechanical specs: it has 250mm back wheels, 20" front wheel, a 1800W 48V Vevor 1020D inrunner brushless motor 9teeth pinion and 54 teeth sprocket 1 to 6 gear reduction ratio, T8F chain, i'l put PVC pipe over the back tires in order for them to be able to slide and drift, frame is made out of mainly 40x20mm some15x15mm rectangular steel tubing, and some 25x25mm L steel profile, back brake is 160mm disc mechanical brake, front is typical bike "v" brake, the back shaft is 20h9 mm C45 steel calibrated bar, all controls on the handle bar are from e scooter standard parts.
Here are the electrical specks: the battery 60V 16s7p 12Ah will be borrowed from my e scooter, the controller will be a 6 fet (FDBL86062-F085) or 12 fet (FDBL86210-F058) FOC, il present it in mode detail as i go on, so far is a development variant made with 6 IRFP4468 with some gate driver board remained from my 300A ESC old versions. So with that 60v batt i plan to abuse the heck out of that 48V motor, for future i plan to make a custom motor for it, will se.
Here are some photos as the build goes on:

 

[Mihai_F]

here are a few more photos, the development controller, a small high speed test brushless motor , and other stuff.
last pic is keyway broaching on manual lathe about 100 passes (0.040 each) for a 4mm keyway, diy tool also.

 

[Mihai_F]

i'm back with updates, had to change the rear tires , they ware to large and did not fit the 250mm OD plastic pipe, i painted the frame, i put a 20x3.0" front tire , it looks cool. I did mange to ride it a bit with the test controller, it slides nice.
i'l let the photos tell the story.
i'l put up some vids soon.

 

[eMark]

Some Drift Trikes have foot rests like the MotoTech Drifter and this kit ... 26" Drift trike frame kit w/Gymkhana Hand Brake- DIY | eBay ... most Drifter youtubes have some form of foot rests.

However, even the $3000 Fiik Drifter doesn't come with foot rests. Gives one the impression that an experienced cool operator doesn't need foot rests (or can add as an accessory later if needed). Most Drifter Youtubes show some form of foot rest. So what was your reasoning for not having some simple foot rest like a 1in x 1ft rod welded or as an added accessory onto front of frame for foot rest? Do you plan on having an add-on foot rest. If not why?

Congratulations on your custom DIY build ...

 

[Mihai_F]

Some Drift Trikes have foot rests like the MotoTech Drifter and this kit ... 26" Drift trike frame kit w/Gymkhana Hand Brake- DIY | eBay ... most Drifter youtubes have some form of foot rests.

However, even the $3000 Fiik Drifter doesn't come with foot rests. Gives one the impression that an experienced cool operator doesn't need foot rests (or can add as an accessory later if needed). Most Drifter Youtubes show some form of foot rest. So what was your reasoning for not having some simple foot rest like a 1in x 1ft rod welded or as an added accessory onto front of frame for foot rest? Do you plan on having an add-on foot rest. If not why?

Congratulations on your custom DIY build ...

well, the main reason for no foot rests on the frame is that i do not like how it looks, second, it ads weight and size to the frame (although my frame is a bit over built, could have been lighter), so foot pegs on the front fork was the next best thing, plus the first powered drift trikes that i have seen ware like that, foot pegs on fork, because some BMX bikes come with them... one thing that i like is that way i can steer with feet, or help steer with feet.

 

[rafalg]

Not very experienced with anything engineering, but isn't it a bit counter-productive to put the drive on a wheel without traction?

 

[Papa]

A rear brake tied to PVC treads?.... and no front brake. Not to mention the extremely low profile on public streets.

 

[rafalg]

well, i think the pvc tires aren't meant for public streets

 

[Gruesome]

Looks like you consciously went for a super heavy construction. Is the weight needed for traction?

 

[Mihai_F]

it has front brakes, they do work very well
isn't super heavy, it weights about 35kg without battery, it has to be strong i'm quite big and heavy....
this isn't new under the sun, there ware many built and tested before, so its working principle is well proven... as to traction on plastic wheels
as to riding on public roads, well that is a different story, great care must be taken.., i have some "very low" traffic streets in my neiberhood, also have o go kart track not to far away, witch can be an option...

 

[Papa]

it has front brake

My oops...sorry. I was looking for a disc rotor.

...this isn't new under the sun, there ware many built and tested before.....

Yes, they were referred to as "Big Wheel". Late '60s early '70s.

 

[eMark]

Yes, they were referred to as "Big Wheel". Late '60s early '70s.

Does a child's BIG Wheel qualify as a true "Drifter" anymore than this MotoTec with its front wheel hub motor ...

​

Those MotoTec foot rests look to be in the way -- kind of ugly extension ?
Isn't a true "Drifter" rear wheel powered ... for fancy drifting spinout turns ?
Doesn't seem like front wheel drive would be as exciting or as much fun ?
Is there any "Drifting" advantage using a powerful front wheel hub motor ?

 

[Mihai_F]

Does a child's BIG Wheel qualify as a true "Drifter" anymore than this MotoTec with its front wheel hub motor ...

View attachment 355091​

Those MotoTec foot rests look to be in the way -- kind of ugly extension ?
Isn't a true "Drifter" rear wheel powered ... for fancy drifting spinout turns ?
Doesn't seem like front wheel drive would be as exciting or as much fun ?
Is there any "Drifting" advantage using a powerful front wheel hub motor ?

Well a comparison could be in car drifting, FWD car you have to have a good and use the handbrake, a RWD car you need to have some HP in order to spin the rear end, and that is on good traction surface like asphalt, but on sand or snow is a lot easier (less power needed) on both cases. So it is more of a technique difference in achieving, starting and maintaining the slide, in RWD vs FWD vehicles... As for performance most drift cars are RWD...

 

[Elias lector]

I did something like this.....kind of. I used a front hub motor and air filled casters on the back with a lever that would lock the casters so I could drive it like a normal trike. The main reason I did this was because the completely unbearable amount of noise from the pvc tires all the time. Plus I could get mine spinning fast enough to rip you off of it lol it was lots if fun. Might have to put it back together sometime.