WEM2009, Mitsuba motors, "IRC" tires...

[Lock]

Looks like Japan has an annual EV competition... Google Engrish translation of report of 2009 results here:
http://translate.googleusercontent....gle.ca&usg=ALkJrhgIji2Au3edacEbw6qz_7MPWD32WQ

The tech is interesting... Mitsuba got a mention here recently for their non-hub motors:
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=13144&start=0

Mitsuba here:
http://www.mitsuba.co.jp/english/products/index.html

Looks like most of this years winners were running Mitsuba DD ("DD"="Direct Drive"=hub?) motors... DD motors not obvious on the Mitsuba site, so perhaps special ordered for the teams...

Not much mention of IRC tires on ES but these super-efficient EVers seem pretty sold on the brand...
http://www.irctire.com/tires/index.html

Tks
Lock

 

[vanilla ice]

Imagine seeing a freeway full of those things on the morning commute in to work...

IRC is fairly well respected name in motorcycle tires.. not sure about them in bicycles but I think its the same story there. Must be one model of 14" tire these guys have tested and found to work well for what they need.