Honda VFR EV conversion (In progress) - Page 3 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

frodus · 06-18-2008, 04:04 PM

So, she's actually running now. Click the pic below for the blog entry and some pictures. I posted a video, but its dark. I'll get more tonight and throw it up on youtube. I'll do a walkaround as well. Looks like frankenbike, but it'l be cleaned up. We just wanted to get it together so we can begin testing.

MetroMPG · 06-18-2008, 09:28 PM

Woohoo! Another EV comes quietly to life! Congrats.

frodus · 06-23-2008, 05:42 AM

Thanks... Its been a fun week!

Posted 6 new videos:
http://www.youtube.com/frodus17

frodus · 06-25-2008, 06:58 PM

So last night, I dropped by Synkromotive to help Ives with some testing. We tried logging with the DataQ again, and it it kept failing, no matter what setting we used. Nothing seemed to help. We unhooked it, and I’m going to contact Customer Service. We need something to compare our measured values to.

We spent the rest of the evening getting the Old Tachometer (originally fed off the engine spark), to display the current on the motor side. Its pretty cool, as you give it gas, it displays current at a 50A per 1000rpm resolution. So 200A is 4krpm. I’ll likely print something to display actual A, but its great for testing. Its just a PWM signal to the original Tach line. I’m totally cool with keeping the stock look, infact, I’m HOPING to keep as much of a stock look as possible. Now I need to order a PB-6 to keep my original throttle, order a EV200 contactor and get the lights working.

David Boyd got the bike up to 60mph… wow! It was fresh off the pack, and pulled 300A or so up to 30mph, and then it started to drop… at 55mph, it was roughly half of that. Better gearing should help this, as less torque is needed. We’ll keep gearing what it is for now because we’re testing something new every day. I thought it felt kind of like a 250cc, but David said it actually feels more like a 500cc. I think the batteries are waking up a little too, so switching to new ones in the future, with higher current draw is definately going to help. This controller rocks!

I got a jacket the other day, and am going to pick up a Helmet this weekend. Insurance won’t be that hard (My agent has been really cool about helping me). Registering it should be ok, but I’ll have to have someone make sure they see it doesn’t have an exhaust/was converted to electric so I can be excluded from DEQ. I’m also going to get a Motorcycle instruction permit… and keep my riding limited to daytime, with a friend. Just need to take the Knowledge test.

frodus · 07-07-2008, 03:30 PM

So, I decided to work my butt off this last weekend, and prepare the electric motorcycle for its first official public apearance. the OEVA was sponsoring an EV Awareness day downtown Portland on Saturday. I put everything together, cleaned it up, and went down there. Had a blast. It was one of the more popular vehicles there, because it was the only motorcycle, and the only electric sportbike that I know of in this area!

Read the blog article for details and some pictures!

Just thought everyone would like to see the finished bike. Still have to get it registered and get the lights working, but thats pretty easy stuff. Thanks everyone for the support, its been a long time coming, but the payoff has been great.

MetroMPG · 07-07-2008, 05:14 PM

Congrats on the showing. (Was that Wayland's blue Datsun EV parked next to you??)

I like your reuse of the tach, too.

frodus · 07-07-2008, 05:17 PM

yeah, that was Blue Meanie! He was there around 12 and left before I did.

It was funny, when I had the bike on the centerstand and gave it some throttle, he about **** himself! We had a good laugh, he loved it.

He did a great job on that car conversion!

MetroMPG · 07-08-2008, 03:49 PM

Travis: nice ABG update!

Honda VFR conversion to electric power now complete - AutoblogGreen

frodus · 07-08-2008, 03:52 PM

yeah, thanks. They talked with me yesterday about the bike.

Great exposure, a few other blogs picked it up.

frodus · 07-19-2008, 04:07 AM

Here's a video that my friend Jim and I shot earlier this week. We have all the fairings on it, and pretty much have the motor mount and battery pack design nailed. We'll be cleaning up the wiring, making some small changes to the mounts, and upgrading the rear sprocket to a 60tooth (ordered 7-18-08).

Right now, I'm working on the custom charging system that will be installed as well as the 12V aux system for lighting.

Real nice shot at the beginning and end of Jim hitting 50mph.

YouTube - eVFR