Unidentified Velomobile? Electric and moving very fast

knoxie

knoxie

1 MW
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
2,498
Location
UK
Yo Geezers, how you all doin?

I am back after a long break, had a lot of work stuff to do and its been very hectic, should be making more of an appearance now!! got some new Puma motors of different power ratings, 3 in total and a brand new controller designed to run the Puma and specifically the way they are wound, will keep you informed.

Anyway can anyone help me with this???

My mate keeps spotting this cool little electric velomobile electric bike near Witney Oxon UK, it seems to be nipping along at speeds of 50mph or so, anyone know anything about this model? I have looked all over the web and cant find anything quite like it?

Must get the KMX out and go give him a race!

Knoxie

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...40261082029921

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3WgMIVIJlyc
 
Hi Knoxie,

Great to see you again mate!!!!
wow that thing really goes - looks all road legal too?
maybe we could track him down by his plate - or ask your mate to wave him down so we can get some details to mail him and find out what he's running?
very impressive indeed. your mate looks like he is driving a scooby?
do you think the kmx could keep up?

Cheers


D
 
HI D

Ha yes my mate is driving a Scooby! boy that thing is fast you can see the power bulge in the bonnet!! but he says this little bike is amazing and accelerates very quickly as well! and he drives a scooby.

The guy appears to be commuting in it, I have looked and looked online but cant find anything on it, he is like the stig sat in there with his white helmet on! ha ha. It may of course be home made but it looks too good, its got wiper blades on it and stuff, it could of course be the nose of a glider? not sure.

As I have a bot of time now I may go to the road one morning on the KMX at 72V and see If I can keep up, I doubt it though the KMX is good for about 40 with my gearing on it, this thing can do near 50 and he is doing with with prob 75% less power as well!! IF I could stay with him it wouldn't be for very long, I need an egg!

I will strap a camera to the KMX see If I can get in to a dog fight! ha ha.

Have a good day DC

P
 
lmao @ stig!!!

you gotta get down there mate and wait for him in a lay by lol,
it really is impressive, i noticed the wipers too - as i say i think he must be completely road legal.
50mph is mind bending!! although i dont think you would be far away if you had those aerodynamics on the kmx - like you say you need an egg, mork!!
See what time he goes by and lay in wait lol i would love to see that and i think if he see's the kmx he is bound to pull over and want to have a natter about the running gear.
Will look out for the video "dual" knox vs the stig !!! hehe cannot wait.
Working from home these days which isn't good as i keep getting distracted!! ;p

take care mate


D
 
Welcome back knoxie, you had us worried for a bit!
 
knoxie said:
got some new Puma motors of different power ratings, 3 in total and a brand new controller designed to run the Puma and specifically the way they are wound, will keep you informed.
Click to expand...

Wondering if these Puma motors are Y-connected or delta-connected?
 
Glad you're back Knoxie!

That velomobile looks like something that escaped from the X-files.

It didn't seem to slow down much going up the hill either. Nice. 8)

We want to hear more about the new Pumas!
The7, all the BMC motors I've dissected have all been delta connected.
 
Glad you're back and hopefully all dug out of the muck, knoxie. Nice of you to credit your mom at the end. She looks very young. :wink:
 
fechter said:
The7, all the BMC motors I've dissected have all been delta connected.
Click to expand...

To my understanding, delta-connection is not good for ebike motors because
1) most ebikes use simple 6-step controller drive and the drive voltage has high harmonic contents, especially 3rd harmonic;
2) the 3rd harmonic current will flow around delta-connected winding causing higher copper loss and and also the torque created by the 3rd harmonic current is a braking torque;
3) Xlyte controller is designed for Y-connected Xlyte motors and may not be 100% compatible with the PUMA motors unless the Hall sensors in these PUMA are placed with extra 30 deg offset in mind (or they use an diferent controller).

If you re-config the Xlyte motors into delta-connection, there will introduce an offset phase shift of 30 deg and no combination of winding and Hall wires could give the correct phase relationship.
That is why I try to find out.

Perhaps Knoxie could enlighen me in this area.
 
Knoxie, have you actually tried that new controoler yet? Can you give no load amps etc?
 
The Xlyte controller seems to work great with my BMC motor. No load current is significantly less than the previous brushed motor of similar size. It did take a while to find the correct combination of hall and phase wires.
 
What are the colour combinations for the BMC fetcher? Perhaps they are worth a shot on the puma also? I remember when I tried to find them with NickF for his bike, we found a combination that worked, but had a much higher current at no load speed.
BTW the7, no load @33v was 1.5A.
 
Hi Guys

Yes good to be back, I will find out from the factory if they are star or delta wired, they also said the Puma and Xltye controllers are not 100% compatible however they didnt explain why, it will be interesting to see how the new controller performs on the BMX, I should test it today some time.

I will get some pictures and data up as soon as I can, the new controller is 72V 30A and the factory have told us its tested and works fine at 72V, we shall see, it looks quite simple, the only way to try is to test it.

Still no idea about the Velomobile, I think I will have to take my motorbike up there and chase him, not sure even the KMX will keep up!! It is road legal as well, I quite fancy one myself! ha ha it certainly has that X files feel about it doesnt it! the only scary thing is its still a bit too slow to be in the middle of the road, I saw an articulated lorry hit the back of a car last night and the damage it did to the car was immense, imagine if it hit the back of that thing!

Still if anyone knows please let me know, I will keep you all updated on the Puma, all my pumas are still running great! the only Currie motor I use is on the KMX and when that goes it will get a Puma.

Cheers

Knoxie
 
Hi Knoxie, I am taking a guess. , that looks to be something that came out of blue sky designs. The full canopy, and the very low front end, the white disc in the wheels looks very similar to what they offer. That company sells kits, that you modify. Or you have stumbled across a prototype being road tested. It kind of looks very go one ish, very nice velomobile in any case.
 
If you ever do catch up with him, ask him how he got it registered!
I'd love to step up to that level of vehicle, but I know how hard it is to get new vehicles legal:(
 
newbie electric rider said:
Hi Knoxie, I am taking a guess. , that looks to be something that came out of blue sky designs. The full canopy, and the very low front end, the white disc in the wheels looks very similar to what they offer. That company sells kits, that you modify. Or you have stumbled across a prototype being road tested. It kind of looks very go one ish, very nice velomobile in any case.
Click to expand...

Thanks Newbie

I will check them out, I have a bit of time on my hands now so I will go chase him with the KMX I am sure he will pull over for a chat! ha ha, I will check it out, it certainly is a nice velomobile, I could see me in one of those! ha ha.

Cheers

Knoxie
 
Jozzer said:
If you ever do catch up with him, ask him how he got it registered!
I'd love to step up to that level of vehicle, but I know how hard it is to get new vehicles legal:(
Click to expand...

Hi Jozzer

Yes I will ask him, It was spotted very near to the Renault F1 factory so it may be one of their tech bods playing around, they know a bit about aerodynamics there, or there is an airfield very close by as well, it may be to do with them?

Cheers

Knoxie
 
Send in the hounds! Stalk him, chase him down, mob him, force him to pull over, and have duct tape on hand to bind him in case he refuses to talk! Sheez, it's just an electric velo...:roll: If he wanted to talk about it, he'd be on one of these forums. Just leave him be and appreciate his velo from afar in the normal course of the day.
 
i reckon it's from the base near Carterton knoxie,
act cool when he shows you the 100v 50ah batts the size of a cigarette packet :wink:
just a velo xy? road legal and the best i've seen?

D
 
I'm considering one of these Paul, they will deliver a kit for a couple of grand to the UK. pretty much an alleweder kit.. cheapest available option for a velo in the UK as far as I can tell. There doesnt seem to be a second hand market for them that I can find.
http://www.dutchbikes.nl/uk.

You could probably catch him with one of these and an X5 :twisted:

I've got an Etec on its way too....hmmmm....


just need to know how the hell he got it registered!
 
deecanio said:
i reckon it's from the base near Carterton knoxie,
act cool when he shows you the 100v 50ah batts the size of a cigarette packet :wink:
just a velo xy? road legal and the best i've seen?

D
Click to expand...

I quit riding my scooter because of all the stares, attention and questions I'd receive. If he wanted to talk about it, he'd be on one of these forums. Some people expect to be left alone when out and about, minding their own business.
 
xyster said:
deecanio said:
i reckon it's from the base near Carterton knoxie,
act cool when he shows you the 100v 50ah batts the size of a cigarette packet :wink:
just a velo xy? road legal and the best i've seen?

D
Click to expand...

I quit riding my scooter because of all the stares, attention and questions I'd receive. If he wanted to talk about it, he'd be on one of these forums. Some people expect to be left alone when out and about, minding their own business.
Click to expand...

Fair enough comment, but if he's driving that around i doubt he is a shrinking violet who shuns public attention and hates engaging in conversation ?
besides if he has the right to be left alone as he's just minding his business surely that courtesy should extend to those posting their enthusiasm and minding theirs?

cheers

D
 
I reckon its Xyster, he's come to the UK to get away from all the prying eyes, and now he's trying to put us off the scent before knoxie catches him :lol:


I know how you feel Xyster, but if I am aproached by someone who actually HAS a cool electric bike i'm much more keen to talk :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top