Help me build hybrid trike.

[Christ]

Depending on how light you plan to make it, and how fast you plan on going with it, the rear swingarm/solid axle assembly from some 4 wheelers might suit you. (chain driven ones)

My friend's Yamaha Warrior YFZ600 will go about 67 MPH tops, with a solid axle and the stock swingarm, and about 300lbs of dude on it. And we've been known to put street tires on it and drive it to work during the summer (keeps miles off the cars and the huge truck he has.)

[Christ]

Oh - you'll want to use Lexan... plexi doesn't like to be bent and then subjected to odd forces like wind.

[Snorg]

Originally Posted by Christ

Oh - you'll want to use Lexan...

Ok good.

[Bicycle Bob]

Bent plexglas is what you usually see on race cars, etc. Lexan is very prone to scratching, and hard to polish, because it won't shatter.

This sounds like a very educational project, but I don't want to feel responsible for any delta in passenger use on public roads. In an emergency, you can't use both brakes and steering safely, unless the proportions are outlandish.

[order99]

While you're on that subject Bicycle Bob, my own future EV is shaping up on paper as a Delta at Highway(not Freeway though) speeds. I was hoping that two powerful Rear brakes, one weak Front brake and a total weight of under 600 lbs might take care of instability issues-I figure if the Trimuter(Delta config) can do 70+MPH with no serious issues my homebrew might have a chance.

I'm no expert on the subject though, so please enlighten me if i'm wrong-I was hoping that Delta would be easier to service and align, but i'm not absolutely married to the concept...

[Bicycle Bob]

In a steady cruise down the highway, stability is pretty easy. The first tricky condition is the crosswind, often a gusty one around big trucks. A light, streamlined vehicle will generate a lot more side force relative to the traction available, and, unfortunately, that is always concentrated near the front. So, it is better to have more weight and traction at that end. Ideally, you would have positive stability with no traction at all, like an aircraft.
The other tricky condition is the emergency maneuver. Just weakening the front brake will add some directional stability, but it looses stopping power. That reduction only helps in proportion to reduce the danger of tipping if you steer while braking. Some days, it might be better to lock up the front, so you can't steer, instead of getting skid-induced oversteer.
There are delta trikes on the roads, but their insurance rates reflect the amount of extra room they need for safety.

[Christ]

If you live in Pennsylvania, or several other states, put a orange reflective triangle on it, permanently mounted (bolted, not with magnets) and don't go over 45MPH on any public road. That way, you're legal, and it doesn't need insurance. You can't enter a "locked" freeway though, since they have a minimum speed of 45MPH and you have a legal max of 45MPH. You'd be breaking the law either way.

[bennelson]

Hey Snorg,

A friend of mine built an electric trike this past summer, which he is planning on adding a bio-diesel generator to for extending range.

You can see the thread about it here

Basically, it's the back end of a motorcycle, and the front end of an ATV. It uses a Curtis PWM (pulse-width modulation) solid-state controller for the speed control and runs at 48 volts (4 x 12V batteries)

[wikityler]

Can-ev is located in Errington, on the island. They are one possible supplier for parts. Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd.

[Snorg]

I finally got some prices and its going to cost more than $4000, so Im just gonna forget about it.