This is essentially a repeat post of one I just placed at the end of ort5's "Help... eZee, EV Tech BMC..." thread, modified and intended to attract more interested readers/posters here.
I recently purchased a BMC hub motor, with a flange drilled with 36 spoke holes, and a sticker with specifications that reads: Planetary geared brushless motor, P/N 13880, rotation CW lead end, output 250 watt Voltage 36VDC, phone 818-576-0505 (Brushless Motor Company)
My application is an electric assist on a Pedicab, initially and specifically for a special event this summer which involves some short hills on dirt. I need high torque but also want some speed. (I have 11 years professional experience as a pedi-cabber and "freight tricyclist" courier in S.F. but now the 3 wheeler is a side interest. Until now I've only idly dreamed of electric assist). I opted not to use the high-torque Heinzmann "Carrier" (see pedicab.com) because of expense , reports of overheating tendencies, and the adventure (and gamble) of trying something new which will also move faster than 10 mph! I held off (for now) on the Crystalite Brute because I'd rather not have a motor which drags when freewheeling. I took a chance on BMC because of the non-drag quality and my interest (naive perhaps) inspired by reading reports of its relative high torque. I realize the best way to make the swift electric vehicle out of my 3 wheeler is to figure out a more powerful rear drive system (I've seen it done) and hope to do that some day but right now don't have the time, facilities and wherewithal to accomplish such a major re-cofiguration before the July event.
Front wheel assist will have to do for now what it can, while the human drives the chain driven, differential geared rear axle and wheels.
I was sold a system, pieced together that day on my pedicab/rickshaw 3 wheeler equipped with my flatbed set up. I was sold the BMC hub/wheel, thumb throttle, a 37V 25 amp controller and was told I may and will probably want to upgrade to a 35 amp controller, which was unavailable to me at the time, (but the vendor has just now agreed to put on together for me...)
While shown an iron phosphate option, I opted for a battery, self described with specification on it reading:
POLYMER LI ION BATTERY
Capcity: 20 Ah
Nominal Voltage: 37V
Max Discharging Current: 40A
S/N M10-02A-A027
POINT 1 TECH SHANGHAI
The chemistry is LiMnCo. I was told the battery was made within the last 6 months or so. I was also told It performs well on electric bikes because of high performance discharge quailties. I may get another to run in parallel with this or a crystalite brute. Thoughts?
I assisted in the hook-up and took a test drive with the salesman sitting on the flat-bed that. Results were mildly inspiring.
After a day later, having to re-splice a connection, and a week later after aquiring 13g at head 14 at nipple spokes, Sun Rhyno-Lite rim and building my own 3X pattern wheel, I have been successfully and at times delightfully bombing around San Rafael, CA on a funny electric powered rickshaw which can accelerate up to noticable speed (20-25 mphish peadling without large loads) which competes with traffic and turns heads. I've scaled some decent grades with spandex clad road bikers. I'm excited and very interested about my newfound hobby and potential business prospects.
The battery has an uprgraded BMS which I was told doesn't shut down so easily. I've seen the voltmeter read as high as 41.7 after charging. I haven't yet drained it lower than a 40V read. It seems to have pretty good range.
BUT I now see that the present configuration will not give me enough power/torque to assist pulling bigger loads (like 2-3 people) up grades (I don't expect any velocity for hills, just being able to have some help is fine). This will depend upon the ability of a strong driver to pedal at a minimum velocity to enable electric assist.
Questions:
Will the 35 amp controller give me noticably more torque? This the next logical step in my experimentation process. will torque still depend upon the same threshold vehicle velocity to kick in?
Can I use this battery in combination with another like it to upgrade the power of my present system, and/or with a Crystalite brute motor? I think I can after talking with my vendor/friend.
Any comments on any aspect of my post and components involved, and insight into my needs and dilemma are appreciated.
Any questions about what I'm going through, now and long-term down the road, that can be of any help or interest to anyone will also be happily shared.
3wheeler
1 µW
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 6:59 am
I recently purchased a BMC hub motor, with a flange drilled with 36 spoke holes, and a sticker with specifications that reads: Planetary geared brushless motor, P/N 13880, rotation CW lead end, output 250 watt Voltage 36VDC, phone 818-576-0505 (Brushless Motor Company)
My application is an electric assist on a Pedicab, initially and specifically for a special event this summer which involves some short hills on dirt. I need high torque but also want some speed. (I have 11 years professional experience as a pedi-cabber and "freight tricyclist" courier in S.F. but now the 3 wheeler is a side interest. Until now I've only idly dreamed of electric assist). I opted not to use the high-torque Heinzmann "Carrier" (see pedicab.com) because of expense , reports of overheating tendencies, and the adventure (and gamble) of trying something new which will also move faster than 10 mph! I held off (for now) on the Crystalite Brute because I'd rather not have a motor which drags when freewheeling. I took a chance on BMC because of the non-drag quality and my interest (naive perhaps) inspired by reading reports of its relative high torque. I realize the best way to make the swift electric vehicle out of my 3 wheeler is to figure out a more powerful rear drive system (I've seen it done) and hope to do that some day but right now don't have the time, facilities and wherewithal to accomplish such a major re-cofiguration before the July event.
Front wheel assist will have to do for now what it can, while the human drives the chain driven, differential geared rear axle and wheels.
I was sold a system, pieced together that day on my pedicab/rickshaw 3 wheeler equipped with my flatbed set up. I was sold the BMC hub/wheel, thumb throttle, a 37V 25 amp controller and was told I may and will probably want to upgrade to a 35 amp controller, which was unavailable to me at the time, (but the vendor has just now agreed to put on together for me...)
While shown an iron phosphate option, I opted for a battery, self described with specification on it reading:
POLYMER LI ION BATTERY
Capcity: 20 Ah
Nominal Voltage: 37V
Max Discharging Current: 40A
S/N M10-02A-A027
POINT 1 TECH SHANGHAI
The chemistry is LiMnCo. I was told the battery was made within the last 6 months or so. I was also told It performs well on electric bikes because of high performance discharge quailties. I may get another to run in parallel with this or a crystalite brute. Thoughts?
I assisted in the hook-up and took a test drive with the salesman sitting on the flat-bed that. Results were mildly inspiring.
After a day later, having to re-splice a connection, and a week later after aquiring 13g at head 14 at nipple spokes, Sun Rhyno-Lite rim and building my own 3X pattern wheel, I have been successfully and at times delightfully bombing around San Rafael, CA on a funny electric powered rickshaw which can accelerate up to noticable speed (20-25 mphish peadling without large loads) which competes with traffic and turns heads. I've scaled some decent grades with spandex clad road bikers. I'm excited and very interested about my newfound hobby and potential business prospects.
The battery has an uprgraded BMS which I was told doesn't shut down so easily. I've seen the voltmeter read as high as 41.7 after charging. I haven't yet drained it lower than a 40V read. It seems to have pretty good range.
BUT I now see that the present configuration will not give me enough power/torque to assist pulling bigger loads (like 2-3 people) up grades (I don't expect any velocity for hills, just being able to have some help is fine). This will depend upon the ability of a strong driver to pedal at a minimum velocity to enable electric assist.
Questions:
Will the 35 amp controller give me noticably more torque? This the next logical step in my experimentation process. will torque still depend upon the same threshold vehicle velocity to kick in?
Can I use this battery in combination with another like it to upgrade the power of my present system, and/or with a Crystalite brute motor? I think I can after talking with my vendor/friend.
Any comments on any aspect of my post and components involved, and insight into my needs and dilemma are appreciated.
Any questions about what I'm going through, now and long-term down the road, that can be of any help or interest to anyone will also be happily shared.
3wheeler
1 µW
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 6:59 am
