byJohnson
I wonder how many companies in India, which is the world’s biggest bike market are thinking of producing a three wheel bike (trike)? After discussing and analyzing many bike manufacturers I have come to the conclusion that the answer is – None. No company in India is presently in the process of designing a Trike with high ground clearance.
For a normal petrol bike manufacturer the Trike would seem wasteful expenses. The extra wheel changes the way the whole bike balances and they have to redesign the whole bike just for adding an extra wheel. This added wheel will also add to the drag coefficient and reduce the mileage of the bike.
The Back rest was unnessary... elongated seat without the backrest could have seated two!
The perfect chassis for a trike. Bigger wheel size and good ground clearance is of great importance to sell in villages.
But if you have to successfully create an electric bike that can travel double to three times the distance of the existing bikes then they MUST have this 3rd wheel. This 3rd wheel is necessary for the bike to carry the very heavy load of the Lead Acid batteries which is 4 times the weight of the Li-Ion battery.
Good quality windshield with wiper. The top could carry solar panels too.
To keep the expenses of the bike low presently I advice all Indian bike manufacturers to depend upon Lead Acid Battery. That is the only way till the cost of lithium-ion batteries come way down.
This could even have Plastic transparent door! Longer wheelbase could accommodate a pillion rider.
Komodo - the 3 wheel reverse Trike Electric Car!
The Komodo - car like reverse Trike developed by Speedways Electric with Lead Acid Battery. Here is their product portfolio here
Lead Acid Battery has the following advantages:
· Reliable. Over 140 years of development.
· Robust.
· Tolerant to overcharging.
· Low internal impedance.
· Can deliver very high currents.
· Indefinite shelf life if stored without electrolyte.
· Can be left on trickle or float charge for prolonged periods.
· Wide range of sizes and capacities available.
· The world’s most recycled product.
· Low cost
· Flooded lead acid cells are one of the least expensive sources of battery power available.
· Deep cycle cells may cost up to double the price of the equivalent flooded cells.
· Reliable. Over 140 years of development.
· Robust.
· Tolerant to overcharging.
· Low internal impedance.
· Can deliver very high currents.
· Indefinite shelf life if stored without electrolyte.
· Can be left on trickle or float charge for prolonged periods.
· Wide range of sizes and capacities available.
· The world’s most recycled product.
· Low cost
· Flooded lead acid cells are one of the least expensive sources of battery power available.
· Deep cycle cells may cost up to double the price of the equivalent flooded cells.
Small one person trike... with sunshade and luggage space!
The biggest advantage of Lead Acid Battery that it cost 5 times less than Li-Ion (although the weight is 4 times more, contains voltage and takes more time to charge. The worst part is the battery cannot go beyond 2 yrs of operation). That alone will ensure this technology, although the oldest, will still stay in operation for at least another 10 yrs before a battery technology that is better than Li-Ion will decimate it. Li-Ion is no match for Lead-Acid battery (LAB) especially in Trikes, Quads and Car till another 10 yrs unless they can reduce the price drastically to around 1/5 the present price.
Electric Race Xtreme Buggy from the Italian car manufacturer TGS’s kitty is sure to be one of the most coveted possessions this year. The electric buggy that runs at a maximum speed of 75 kmph, although small in dimensions, 260 cm by 166 com by 160 cm, is a power packed car that has the capacity to house two people. The car weighs about 620 kgs inclusive of the 16 kwh battery that takes about 8 hours to charge completely.
Thus vehicles with LAB will sell more than those with Li-Ion. Presently there is no such available option either from any bike manufacturer or from Mahindra to test my prediction, but I am sure that time will prove it.
The same can also be said of the quad
The same can also be said of the quad
Many years ago when you thought of a quad riding through town centre... you thought of them as making a hell of a racket and as a fuel guzzling machine! But if made of electricity these would be more silent and less expensive to drive than your Petrol car, also you would need only half the space of your car to park.
Quads can have 4 seats too... throw in a battery and motor... solar sunshade to charge on the go... Reminds me of the Ford Model T
The QUAD features an 48v electric motor which is juiced by 4 750amp batteries and will let you drive / ride this baby for around 3 hours before another charge, which itself takes approximately 6-8 hours. The looks are clean and contemporary, not quite for a child but with a definite fun factor.
Makes a great family car... now you know why Ford Model T sold so much!
Vehicles like these, electric bikes, Segways at malls and such are the future. And we hope it’s only a matter of time until they are all produced on a mass scale.