How to Build a Cheap Electric Motorcycle

With transportation and energy costs increasing at alarming rates, many Americans have begun to explore alternative methods to commute to work and back. To this end, a few savvy do-it-yourself types have taken a new avenue to lower both fuel and vehicles cost by converting standard motorcycles into an electrically-powered vehicle. If you are interested in going green on two wheels, be sure to plan ahead and do your research. Be warned, this is not an undertaking for the mechanically-challenged.

Things You'll Need

• Donor motorcycle
• Electric motor
• Electronic controller
• Batteries

Instructions

1. Set realistic goals for your project. Carefully consider your daily commute and the route you take to work and back. Home-grown electric motorcycles, on average, only have a realistic range of ten to 30 miles and can attain speeds of up to 40 to 50 mph. Does your daily commute fit within this range and can you safely ride at these speeds along your chosen path? If not, this may not be a viable option for your.

2. Select a donor motorcycle to convert. Although there are an endless amount of varieties to choose from, it is best to select an older, used motorcycle as they are cheaper and easier to find. Before purchasing, inspect the motorcycle and look for signs of damage on the three most important components: the frame, suspension, and wheels.

3. Disassemble the motorcycle and remove the motor and exhaust to free up space for the electrical conversion. This is also the best time address any other issues that the bike may have, such as tire replacements.

4. Determine the voltage and the amount of amp hours, or the maximum amperage drawn in an hour, that are required for your concept. This will allow you to chose the proper battery type and capacity to pair with an electric motor.

5. Select an electric motor and an electronic controller. These controllers are necessary to transmit throttle inputs to the motor and are available in different amperage scales that can provide higher speeds. The drawback to higher amperage controllers is a higher power draw that limits the total range of your bike.

6. Fabricate brackets and mounts for the motor, controller, and batteries. For the best weight distribution possible, try to mount the heaviest components closer to the bottom of the frame.

7. Connect the components together and charge the batteries.

References

• Electric Motion: DIY Electric Motorcycle Project
• Eva Hakansson: Sweden's First all Electric Motorcycle
• Proof that DIY Electric Motorcycles Can Be Built for Under 3K