LI-ghtcycle
10 MW
I wanted to share some exciting information that I learn at the Recumbent Retreat, Ecospeed was doing a Q & A session, a very low key and informal demo of their product.
I was amazed at what is being offered with the Velociraptor controller made right here in the USA (Vancouver WA IIRC) and this is a Software driven controller that has the ability to be plugged into various battery chemistry & voltage types from 18V to almost 60V, and sense the voltage, and adjust accordingly (default programmed for 24, 36 & 48V LiFeP04).
This controller also has a built-in thermistor (one is also in the motor) to protect things for over-heating automatically, and they are currently developing a very user friendly replaceable chip set that would allow one to be traveling for example, and to have the ability to carry spares & switch out a damaged chip/circuit just as easily as one replaces a battery in a cordless phone! (I forget the proper name for these plugs) no electronics training/soldering or other specialize training required!
The gentlemen I talked with about more of the nuts and bolts of the electrical side of their system also told me that their motors are running around 3000 RPM at their most efficient, and IIRC the reduction is in the neighbor hood of 16 to 1 from the motor to the crank VIA single stage reduction with #25 chain.
I must admit that I too was initially put-off by the price of their systems, however, now knowing the inherent efficiency gains (around 60% in my testing using a crude single stage reduction 9 x 7 DD hub motor) and realizing for all practical purposes this is pretty much a "one off" custom fit to your specific bike, it's really not terribly expensive considering what all they offer.
They manufacture all the hardware to mount their mid-drive systems in-house, and if they don't have exactly what they need for your specific application, they built it!
http://www.ecospeed.com/index.html
Another interesting addition that I understand is fairly new, is the in-house battery & BMS system they are selling.
In order to get past the road-block of shipping a fully assembled battery (huge $$$ to have the right to do so) Eco Speed has developed a user-assembled battery using Headway cells and copper buss bar style carriers that allow for ease of replacement of a bad cell, and if shipping (like for a trip from the USA to Europe) internationally, just send the components separately to avoid shipping restrictions.
http://www.ecospeed.com/prodbatt.html
Could you build your own system for less? Possibly, but to get the same results I believe we all would have to admit doing our own R & D and growing in our own individual knowledge and expertise through trial and error many times, we would have to admit we have spent a fair amount of cash getting here.
(Especially for people like me who have just enough knowledge to do more of a "monkey see, monkey do" level of understanding of the battery and electronics stuff )
Here is an off the shelf product that does all these things, and I used to think of their product as the Mercedes Benz of E-Bikes, but now I think Rolls Royce is a better analogy given the level of quality and reliability with this product, and sure, you can get similar performance with something lesser, but I'd challenge anyone to beat their product on the level of fit & finish, efficiency and reliability for much less.
Silva Has ridden her "Myrtle the Turtle" trike with her Eco Speed mid-drive all around the USA with 6500+ trouble free miles (her ping battery has needed cells replaced, but nothing at fault with the Eco Speed drive it's self).
In the future, they are going to house the BMS inside the controller as well so one less separate component to deal with.
Looking back at what I am building now, and what I could have done with the same $$$ starting from the beginning and all the different E-Bike builds I have made, I could have easily spent the same cash on one of their mid-drives and simply ridden it instead of having to develop it. :wink:
P.S. I forgot to mention, the weakest link of any drive that runs through the cranks of an E-Bike is the freewheeling crank, Eco Speed has solved this problem by building their own special freewheeling cranks to eliminate this problem.
I was amazed at what is being offered with the Velociraptor controller made right here in the USA (Vancouver WA IIRC) and this is a Software driven controller that has the ability to be plugged into various battery chemistry & voltage types from 18V to almost 60V, and sense the voltage, and adjust accordingly (default programmed for 24, 36 & 48V LiFeP04).
This controller also has a built-in thermistor (one is also in the motor) to protect things for over-heating automatically, and they are currently developing a very user friendly replaceable chip set that would allow one to be traveling for example, and to have the ability to carry spares & switch out a damaged chip/circuit just as easily as one replaces a battery in a cordless phone! (I forget the proper name for these plugs) no electronics training/soldering or other specialize training required!
The gentlemen I talked with about more of the nuts and bolts of the electrical side of their system also told me that their motors are running around 3000 RPM at their most efficient, and IIRC the reduction is in the neighbor hood of 16 to 1 from the motor to the crank VIA single stage reduction with #25 chain.
I must admit that I too was initially put-off by the price of their systems, however, now knowing the inherent efficiency gains (around 60% in my testing using a crude single stage reduction 9 x 7 DD hub motor) and realizing for all practical purposes this is pretty much a "one off" custom fit to your specific bike, it's really not terribly expensive considering what all they offer.
They manufacture all the hardware to mount their mid-drive systems in-house, and if they don't have exactly what they need for your specific application, they built it!
http://www.ecospeed.com/index.html
We design our systems ourselves and make the critical components in the US. Exact Fit Technology™ is our term for electric assist systems that fit your bike exactly, like they were installed at the factory. Advanced US manufacturing lets us do this. We create parts by computer with turnaround times measured in days. If we don't have the proper parts to fit your bike, we can often just make them.
Another interesting addition that I understand is fairly new, is the in-house battery & BMS system they are selling.
In order to get past the road-block of shipping a fully assembled battery (huge $$$ to have the right to do so) Eco Speed has developed a user-assembled battery using Headway cells and copper buss bar style carriers that allow for ease of replacement of a bad cell, and if shipping (like for a trip from the USA to Europe) internationally, just send the components separately to avoid shipping restrictions.
http://www.ecospeed.com/prodbatt.html
Lithium Iron Phosphate, 10Ah, 51V, Replaceable Cell
Uses 38120 ("M") cells rated for 100 Amps continuous current, over 150 Amps peak. We use high quality cells that will typically give you a real world useable capacity of 95% of rated or better. Cycle life depends on use, but should easily top 1000 cycles. Top of case opens to allow access to cells and BMS. Cells bolt into prewired carriers with plus and minus marked for easy installation or replacement. Useable energy is about 500 Wh. Cells are shipped separate from case to meet DOT lithium battery shipping regulations. Weight: about 17.5 lbs (8 kg) including case, Dimensions: 15.5" L x 7.0" W x 4.5" H (395mm x 180mm x 110mm). Includes 4A fast charger, case with carrying handle, built in BMS, power switch and clip on quick release rack mounting system. Other mounting systems available, contact us for details.
Could you build your own system for less? Possibly, but to get the same results I believe we all would have to admit doing our own R & D and growing in our own individual knowledge and expertise through trial and error many times, we would have to admit we have spent a fair amount of cash getting here.
(Especially for people like me who have just enough knowledge to do more of a "monkey see, monkey do" level of understanding of the battery and electronics stuff )
Here is an off the shelf product that does all these things, and I used to think of their product as the Mercedes Benz of E-Bikes, but now I think Rolls Royce is a better analogy given the level of quality and reliability with this product, and sure, you can get similar performance with something lesser, but I'd challenge anyone to beat their product on the level of fit & finish, efficiency and reliability for much less.
Silva Has ridden her "Myrtle the Turtle" trike with her Eco Speed mid-drive all around the USA with 6500+ trouble free miles (her ping battery has needed cells replaced, but nothing at fault with the Eco Speed drive it's self).
In the future, they are going to house the BMS inside the controller as well so one less separate component to deal with.
Looking back at what I am building now, and what I could have done with the same $$$ starting from the beginning and all the different E-Bike builds I have made, I could have easily spent the same cash on one of their mid-drives and simply ridden it instead of having to develop it. :wink:
P.S. I forgot to mention, the weakest link of any drive that runs through the cranks of an E-Bike is the freewheeling crank, Eco Speed has solved this problem by building their own special freewheeling cranks to eliminate this problem.