eVFR Electric Motorcycle

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STATS: Ranking:2 of 63
1821 Points
33 Supporters
Round Ended: January 15th, 2008
TGINTZ

Project Manager: TGINTZ

PROJECT: EVFR ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE

I'm converting my Honda VFR700F motorcycle to Electric Power. I've got 2 chassi to start with. I'm colaborating with small company locally that's just getting started on building an AC controller for EV/EM use. They're running on savings alone, and I don't have all the up front money to get something built by the time they need to have product tested and ready for their company. We're using one chassis for a daily driver, and the other as a drag bike.

They're designing a controller and need some testing done on a real motorcycle. I'd like to see if I can get some people to help get some batteries and a motor so we can test the design soon.

We have a DC controller working right now, and are going to be working on testing the new AC controller this next month. Going to try and order an AC motor soon. We want to build some logging equipment so we can make sure we're not going to destroy the batteries when we charge and discharge (drive).

Hopefully this is the beginning of a small side business for me converting vehicles to electric.
How the prize money will be used: To pay for Sealed Lead Acid batteries and an AC motor. Might also pay for logging equipment, an LCD dashboard and a charger.

Project Images:
eVFR Project Chassis

Users supporting this project:
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TGINTZ
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TREICIA
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appeng
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deanamabry
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MattPatents
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thinkmassive
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readyintherockies
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oioioi
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ezdabrca
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wankeye
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jvthree
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Tami Connall
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jerkyman611
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e36318ism42
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hugin_munin
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kellyfagan
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artsygeek
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Nshapiro
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Mad McCaffrey
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warblenutz
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janishpatel
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drquinley
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mnxtwrs
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drock02
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johnlz1
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acissejeryn

Comments

appeng
appeng
September 19, 2007 - 10:05am

Sugar tastes good....

Jeffrey
Jeffrey
September 20, 2007 - 7:57am

hey man...

your idea sounds really great.
and i would support it if i could support more that one project. at the moment i'm supporting mine, go sleep golf...
but if you are able to put up enough points near the end of the competition where my points would put you over
the top i might consider it... as long as mine isn't going to win. do your best to get a bunch of point so we can
take over that formula one dude. i don't like his project but he has got a ton of support

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
September 20, 2007 - 10:44am

He' doesn't have a ton of support, he's just got a lot of points on his own.... for posting pictures and reviews. i'm trying....

I didn't know that project was yours, because right now, there is no corrolation between profiles and your project... so I can't see your profile and know that you've got a project... sorry :)

We should make another project called the motorcycle golf project.

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
September 21, 2007 - 11:10am

Well, I went to Synkromotive the last 2 nights and finished their battery charger. Its looking good. We built this one for 12 batteries, all monitored and charging independantly with one 15 amp charger. Its designed to switch between batteries and charge them one at a time on a standard 120V 15A plug.

Right now, I'm tasked with writing a manual for the smaller AC controller (150Amp) so they can get those in production. I might try to get one and a small frame for a minibike. It would make for a fun drive, and be fun at the Drag races the next time there's an NEDRA/OEVA meeting at the Track. The manual will be detailed enough that we can scale it up to the 300A AC controller. We're hoping to have this built and tested by the end of october. Then we start work on a battery management system that will balance the charging of the batteries so that each battery is charged independantly and equally. It will also ensure that each battery is discharged equally and monitored while driving. Essential for long pack life. We don't want to buy 6 Sealed Lead acid batteries only to have them fail in a year. The whole idea, is to spend less on running this vehicle while being eco friendly.

Sometimes people argue that we're not burning gas, but we're burning coal, or using nuclear and thus poluting in some other way. While this may be true to some degree, the amounts of NO, SO and MO are still there if the energy comes from coal, the amount of power you get out of burning XXLbs of coal compared to XXlbs (or gallons) of gas is much more. The process is more efficient. Plus more and more energy is being produced by wind, water and solar every day. It might not be too long before I'll be able to charge with a solar panel on my roof.

So thats it for an update for now.

ezdabrca
ezdabrca
September 22, 2007 - 11:40am

Yay for Travis! I support you =)

oioioi
oioioi
September 22, 2007 - 11:42am

Looks like a great idea! I hope it's successful.

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
September 22, 2007 - 11:53am

Thanks a ton.... spread the word, its going to be a great project....

its been a while since i've been this passionate about a project.....

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
September 22, 2007 - 11:53am

Thanks ton.... it should be fun...

thinkmassive
thinkmassive
September 25, 2007 - 9:02pm

It's also worth noting that cleaning pollution is easier at a single point source (power plant) than across a widely distributed source (millions of traveling vehicles). Keep up the great work man!

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
September 26, 2007 - 7:31am

Thanks a ton guys. Keep the support up.

I sold the engine out of v2.0 and am going to order a motor sometime this next week or two. Things are coming along quite nicely.

MattPatents
MattPatents
September 26, 2007 - 1:23pm

Good Luck for a Good cause!

deanamabry
deanamabry
September 26, 2007 - 3:43pm

good job travis.
I hope this works out for you. What about setting up a booth at the EV drag show? Let me know if you need help.
d

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
September 26, 2007 - 5:00pm

We could do that, once I get things started and push forward, I think Synkromotive would love to put up something... but its gotta be an EV meeting or something related.

sooz
sooz
September 26, 2007 - 8:45pm

Good luck. Sounds like a great project.

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
September 28, 2007 - 8:20am

Thanks to all my friends and family for the support. The project is coming along nicely.

I actually sold the engine the other day, as well as some other parts, and should be able to at least get a motor ordered this next few weeks.

Still need batteries, heavy gauge wire, and some power equipment.

thinkmassive
thinkmassive
September 28, 2007 - 5:02pm

hey man, I'm not sure if this will help but I thought of your project when I saw it... check out http://dewdiy.com/

you "share your DIY creation with Mt. Dew" and the best ones get a cash prize

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
September 29, 2007 - 9:16am

Well, if we want to enroll it as your idea, It'd work. I'm not enrolled.

teknicolor
teknicolor
October 1, 2007 - 11:08am

Hello fellow motorcycle enthusiast! Good luck with your project. :)

readyintherockies
readyintherockies
October 1, 2007 - 2:30pm

Good job Trav!! I'm rootin' for ya!

TGINTZ
TGINTZ
November 8, 2007 - 8:41am

I've got the frame all stripped down and apart, the engine is out and she's ready for conversion. I'm working out what motor and controller I will need.

I broke even on buying the motorcycle because of selling off parts. I also picked up 14 Sealed Lead Acid batteries (12V 18Ah) that will be used on this bike, as well as a small motor and another frame... for free from a guy who was going to convert. The motor won't be usable in this bike, but should make a nice project sometime.

So the ball is rolling...and the conversion has begun.