Hub motor powered go-kart.

[duncanjerry]

i've been toying with the idea of powering a go-kart with a bicycle hub motor. I was going to use a goped goquad frame. Its small light and allready set up for a sprocket. Could I use the freewheel on the hub motor to drive the other sprocket? I figure the hub motor can have the free wheel for the chains power and mount a disc brake on the other side of the hub? Is this making since? It sounds too easy.

 

[Drunkskunk]

It could be done. but a couple of obvious problems. 1 the freewheel freewheels, so that the motor won't power the chain in normal direction. It will in reverse but that may cause some mounting issues.

Hub motors are also low RPM motors, so you would have to gear up hugely to make it spin the go-ped's wheels fast enough.

They're also heavy for the power they produce. They're meant to be low RPM motors. Ideally you need a high RPM motor You'll get better torque, better efficiency, and fewer gearing headaches with a high RPM motor.

 

[Gordo]

i've been toying with the idea of powering a go-kart with a bicycle hub motor. I was going to use a goped goquad frame. Its small light and allready set up for a sprocket. Could I use the freewheel on the hub motor to drive the other sprocket? I figure the hub motor can have the free wheel for the chains power and mount a disc brake on the other side of the hub? Is this making since? It sounds too easy.

Do a search on some of the kart builds here.
Another option not currently available is the Stoke Monkey;

 

[duncanjerry]

That last picture is pretty much what I was going for. Except a much larger gear on the hub motor, Probably almost the same size of the hub.

 

[Gordo]

That last picture is pretty much what I was going for. Except a much larger gear on the hub motor, Probably almost the same size of the hub.

Do the math on your tire size, speed and then decide on chain or belt drive. Then select your sprocket sizes and power. You can make an S-monkey out of any hub. :wink: