Off Road Hybrid Buggy

[CFECO]

I am in need of an off road vehicle similar to a Yamaha Rhino, but lighter, smaller, and preferably Electric. I've looked at Electric Golf Carts, but they are too big and heavy. I have narrowed it down to taking a couple of small dirt bikes, remove the engines, tank, seat, upper frame, lengthen and attach them together, and put a couple of seats in it and electric power. For the final vehicle, I'm thinking Golf cart motor, and Smart Battery Lithium Ion batteries. The prototype can be done with a couple of Razor MX 650 kids electric Motocross bikes, as they are prevalent and fairly cheap. Using those, the whole thing could be done for around $1,000. If that proves out my idea, I can build the good one with a big motor and Smart Battery Lithium Ion batteries, and add a Yamaha EF2,000iS Generator, for battery charging. Your thoughts please!
Thanks...

[deejaaa]

sounds like a good project.nare you going to lower it or leave it taller.

[CFECO]

Yes I will lower the seat height. Cut the top tubes off that hold the tank and seat, basically make it like the "Project 100" in the Motorcycle and Scooter page. Seat height will be maybe a foot higher than the bottom tube under the original engine, room for the batteries. There will have to be either added bottom rails, or a top tube-tubes (more likely) to add structural stiffness.

[CFECO]

Here is where I am at on my Off road electric buggy so far. It will lean into the turns by way of the chassis hingeing in the middle when the front wheels are turned. I'm hoping for as good as or better handling than the current UTV's, like the Polaris Razor or Yamaha Rhino. The frame will be made from aluminum square tubing. I welcome all thoughts on this. Thanks!

[freebeard]

Sounds like there isn't much of the original motorbikes left. And you have to sort out the steering. Consider this (the pictures date from 2004, in Glenwood Oregon):





Golf-cart rear axle, side-by-side seating and the well-proven street rod style four-bars and solid axles.

[CFECO]

That IS cute! My goal however is; light weight, good ride off road, fit in the back of our truck with the tailgate up, and good off roading capability. Not too much to ask, huh? I know where there are a few machines just sitting around unused, asking to be repurposed, but I have no way to get to the moon and back! The Moon Buggy was an actual inspiration for this.

[CFECO]

OK, I've taken my project back to my page I started a while ago, I had been distracted by Number 21's page where I had been posting, but I'm back here now. The latest is, I have done some adjusting to the drawing based on more accurate measurements of the bike chassis parts, I have purchased a Yamaha generator which will served double duty for our camp trailer and as the "Hybrid" part of my electric buggy, I have measured the electric drive train from the golf cart and added it to the drawing, and am bidding on a battery from a Chevy Volt, which I also drew up and added a pair to the drawing. I have obtained some 6061 aluminum bar stock to make upper fork, steering brackets out of, they will have to go to the machine shop to get the fork tube holes milled out. When it warms up some, I can get to the golf cart for disassembly. To be continued...

[redneck]

.

When it warms up some... I can get to the golf cart for disassembly.

Warmer...???

Lol...





>

[CFECO]

Ha Ha Ha ...Well, the Weather Channel, really does not pay much attention to the Southwest, unless we have a disaster, typical of the Major News Networks based in the East. Today barely got in the 50's, with no sun, wind, and the mountains surrounding town are topped with snow, and more came down this morning. My workspace is a metal storage shed with no electric or heat, it's 43 right now with a breeze, 62% humidity...Brrrr.

[Baltothewolf]

nvm