How to increase speed simply? (Pics) chinese scooter

[graves]

Hello peeps, new here but yall seem very knowledgable.

I recently got this chinese motor scooter for my father as it was cheap compared to a petrol moped. I believe it is limited to 25kph as the speedo never goes above that (even on a hill which it surely is going quicker?)

Needless to say on some hills here where I live it slows to a walking pace so I am interested in finding a way to improve that under high load.

It is a bike i find nowhere on the internet or anything about it. So very chinese indeed but they are popular here.

I took some pictures of the controller to show you guys so maybe that can help.

I am aware that simply changing the controller may not do anything, not sure what motor it is (guessing its in the rear wheel)

I am not sure what the batteries are as they have no writing i can see but there is 4 (four) of them.

Thanks for reading if you can explain to me not with too much scientifics as electrics are not my strong suit (im a piston head!)

 

[neptronix]

How much faster are you looking to go? if significantly faster, you'll very likely end up replacing all the electric components ( motor, battery, controller, probably all wiring ).

If you're looking for another 5kph, that might be possible with the stock motor.

Any idea of the battery capacity? that looks like lead acid batteries.. those tend to be really weak and designed for the bare minimum power output.

Too bad the bike seems undocumented, which means you probably have no support on the stock components. Is the chassis at least good?

 

[E-HP]

Any idea of the battery capacity? that looks like lead acid batteries.. those tend to be really weak and designed for the bare minimum power output.

I'd make sure there are 4 batteries and not 5 first. 4 SLA batteries would be 48V nominal, 5 would be 60V nominal. The controller appears to be rated for 60V nominal, which means that it will probably run on 5 SLA batteries, which would provide 25% more speed (unloaded) than 4 SLAs.
Given your skillset, and possibly lack of tools and meters to do a full component swap, increasing the battery voltage would fit your abilities. If you are willing to get a digital multimeter and soldering iron, etc., then you could get a component upgrade done with a fair amount of effort, but a lot of knowledge gained. The hands on work is the tuition for obtaining ebike knowledge.

 

[eMark]

What your dad really needs is a 60V power plant ... like the Tisto Berlin3.0 E-Scooter 45km/h version, 3KW

https://www.sw-tuning.de/en/SW-Tisto-Berlin3-0-E-scooter-45km-h-version-3KW::47455.html

https://www.sw-tuning.de/images/product_images/popup_images/47455_0.jpg

Hopefully, 45m/h (29mph) is fast enuf ... If not then upgrade to a Tisto Berlin 6.0 ... https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...be22e0&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Trying to upgrade your present $600 - $700 under-powered scooter will require at least a 60V power plant, more powerful battery and controller conversion ... probably not worth the cost and labor intensive effort (IMO) to attempt such an upgrade unless you have the know how, will and money.

 

[graves]

How much faster are you looking to go? if significantly faster, you'll very likely end up replacing all the electric components ( motor, battery, controller, probably all wiring ).

If you're looking for another 5kph, that might be possible with the stock motor.

Any idea of the battery capacity? that looks like lead acid batteries.. those tend to be really weak and designed for the bare minimum power output.

Too bad the bike seems undocumented, which means you probably have no support on the stock components. Is the chassis at least good?

Well its not too slow for dad (he is 74 lol) but its just the steep hills in this mountain terrain that does slow it down. On the straights its ok for him but any increase would be better than nothing!

For sure they are lead acid the guy in the store told me that and i will have to take them out to see if it says on them anywhere the capacity. I imagine lithium is better?

Yeah i cant find anything on it, apparently "jiangsu zhongxing motorcycle company" is the make but its laughable italian "strada" model name doesnt come up either. Maybe they make them under another name too?

The chassis, wheels, suspension and stuff is pretty good though yeah.

 

[graves]

I'd make sure there are 4 batteries and not 5 first. 4 SLA batteries would be 48V nominal, 5 would be 60V nominal. The controller appears to be rated for 60V nominal, which means that it will probably run on 5 SLA batteries, which would provide 25% more speed (unloaded) than 4 SLAs.
Given your skillset, and possibly lack of tools and meters to do a full component swap, increasing the battery voltage would fit your abilities. If you are willing to get a digital multimeter and soldering iron, etc., then you could get a component upgrade done with a fair amount of effort, but a lot of knowledge gained. The hands on work is the tuition for obtaining ebike knowledge.

Hmm maybe one was tucked away i shall take another look, you make sense there with the voltage.

So i have tools as i do car mechanics and 4 stroke stuff and i used to solder motherboards and things so i have multimeter and soldering iron no problem. I like learning and teaching myself these things so i would have the appetite to try at least. But you think changing to some beefier lithium batts from these lead acid would be good idea?

 

[graves]

What your dad really needs is a 60V power plant ... like the Tisto Berlin3.0 E-Scooter 45km/h version, 3KW

https://www.sw-tuning.de/en/SW-Tisto-Berlin3-0-E-scooter-45km-h-version-3KW::47455.html

https://www.sw-tuning.de/images/product_images/popup_images/47455_0.jpg

Hopefully, 45m/h (29mph) is fast enuf ... If not then upgrade to a Tisto Berlin 6.0 ... https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...be22e0&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Trying to upgrade your present $600 - $700 under-powered scooter will require at least a 60V power plant, more powerful battery and controller conversion ... probably not worth the cost and labor intensive effort (IMO) to attempt such an upgrade unless you have the know how, will and money.

It wasnt 6-700 it was €1450! Still my dad wanted it so i conceeded to that but yeah the beefier one in the third link wasnt much more money. I should have asked you guys first lol. So you think beefing it up isnt worth it? What estimate you think it would cost just metaphorically then?

 

[E-HP]

Hmm maybe one was tucked away i shall take another look, you make sense there with the voltage.

So i have tools as i do car mechanics and 4 stroke stuff and i used to solder motherboards and things so i have multimeter and soldering iron no problem. I like learning and teaching myself these things so i would have the appetite to try at least. But you think changing to some beefier lithium batts from these lead acid would be good idea?

Good, then you could go either way, or do the battery first and see if you want to upgrade further. Yes, if it turns out that you only have 4 SLA batteries, then going straight to a decent 60V lithium ion pack would be the best upgrade, and will be necessary anyway if you decide to upgrade components, since the battery is the most important component. You'll also be losing weight instead of gaining it.
Since you have a meter, I'd just measure the battery voltage at the connector leading to the controller and see what voltage you get as an easy test.

 

[eMark]

It wasnt 6-700 it was €1450! Still my dad wanted it so i conceeded to that but yeah the beefier one in the third link wasnt much more money. I should have asked you guys first lol. So you think beefing it up isnt worth it? What estimate you think it would cost just metaphorically then?

Correction: The Tisto Berlin 3.0 spec says it has a 72V power plant which IMO is the way to go (power for hill climbing at 25km/h). Just the cost of converting to a 72V quality battery, motor and controller, etc, etc is expensive, besides being labor intensive with some conversion frustration even for someone with some hands-on experience, determination (plus patience), tools, materials, etc.

Your present scooter is fine for level urban use, but not for climbing hills. If it were me i'd try to sell it and buy the Tisto Berlin 6 (or 72V Berlin 3 scooter). In the long run that would still might be less expensive than upgrading your present scooter to a 72V power plant, battery, charger, controller, rewiring, etc, etc.

Assume you already have to get a license for your current e-scooter. Assume the 45km/h Tisto Berlin 3 still has to be licensed even if top speed is only 45km/h/

 

[neptronix]

So i have tools as i do car mechanics and 4 stroke stuff and i used to solder motherboards and things so i have multimeter and soldering iron no problem. I like learning and teaching myself these things so i would have the appetite to try at least. But you think changing to some beefier lithium batts from these lead acid would be good idea?

Sounds like you have the basic prerequisite skills and also the right mindset.
I'll let the others field this Q, good luck, and welcome to the forum!

 

[e-beach]

........ But you think changing to some beefier lithium batts from these lead acid would be good idea?

Lithium batteries will give you more range and could last longer then lead-acid batteries. The last SLA's I had lasted for about 18 months of daily use until they got noticeably weaker. Depending on where you charge your batteries LiFePO is a fairly safe type of lithium battery. Other types of chemistry's are more volatile and could burn your house down.