Designing for efficiency

[akumabito]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Do you want a reverse gear? or is there a way to work around that with a small motorcycle engine.

there are some motorcycle-powered cars that use an electric motor for reverse. Others just get out and push.. ;D

As a car this light is classified and tested as a motorcycle in most areas, a reverse gear is not compulsory.

[NeilBlanchard]

Direct drive with driveshafts to the front wheels, would allow for regenerative braking, as well as high efficiency.

[akumabito]

FWD is out, as I want to keep the vehicle as narrow as possible, also, as far as I know there are no single or twin-cylinder engine/transmission combos available for a FWD application - I might be mistaken in that regard though.

Taking the entire driveline from a light motorcycle seems the easiest way to go forward. it has pretty much everything I would need, minus perhaps a reverse gear.

[Christ]

You can make a fwd setup that satisfies your needs fairly easily.

Run chain from the output of the bike trans to a cog with a bearing on each side of the cog, and a flange outside of each bearing, such that the cog drives each flange, and the bearings support the shaft.

Build some cv axles that bolt to the flanges, and drive the wheel hubs.

Done.

The advantage is that the front track width needn't include room for the engine, allowing it to be more narrow than traditional fwd. layouts.

[akumabito]

And skip the differential altogether? That doesn't seem like a good idea at all..

[Christ]

An extremely thin track width means that the actual turns difference in normal operation wil be limited any way, so a diff probably isn't totally necessary.

If you really wanted one, get a rear fixed gear or multi speed trans axle from a riding mower. I've got about 15 multi speed ones... Want one?

[pete c]

A fwd 3 wheeler with a track narrow enough to not need a diff, would be a rolling coffin. Just sayin'.

I think you should look at an enclosed two wheeler along the lines of the monotracer. Much simpler, safer and fun.

[CFECO]

You could use the engine out of a quad, that gets you reverse. Polaris made a diesel, it has a CVT, but the range was impressive compared to gas. For a simple differential just put a overrunning clutch at each wheel.

[Quasimoto]

This has been around for years now. Anyone ever here of the Tri-Magnum; they suggest using a Honda Gold Wing motor, but you can use whatever you like. I think this is the basis for the HyperRocket . I've been thinking of building one of these myself using a 400cc bike; if I ever get caught up with my other projects.

Tri-Magnum: Excitement on Three Wheels

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by CFECO

For a simple differential just put a overrunning clutch at each wheel.

There goes your reverse.

Where can I buy one of these simple overrunning clutches?