Hyperbike home page / Project History / E-Bike

The E-Bike - the successful predecessor

The E-Bike is a fully electric motorcycle (NOT a scooter, see image!), which hit the road first in 1989 and is used for everyday mobility since. The know-how gained with the design and construction build a base for the current hyperbike project.

• Technical specs of the E-Bike
• Why a motorcycle and not a car?
• Construction
• Tour de Sol (Switzerland) 89
• Everyday use
• Knowledge Base for the Hyperbike

Technical specs of the E-Bike:

Vehicle type:

Motorcycle (CH driving license category A1 required)

Passengers:

2

Weight (empty):

210 kg

Maximum speed:

120 km/h (75mph)

Reach:

60 km / 40 mi (at average 80 km/h / 50 mph)

Motors:

2 Lynch high power DC motors

Power:

25 kW / 34 hp

Batteries:

Saft Ni-Cd (3.6 kWh)

Time for full recharging:

5 h (Outlet 220 V / 6A)

Why a motorcycle and not a car?

The idea to build a electric vehicle (EV) reaches back to 1987. Werner Scheifele, who was already a motorcyclist then, knew that motorcyles always have been THE lightweight vehicles per definition (in contrast to conventional cars). Therefore, the standard motorcycle component market provides lightweight and reliable parts, and the focus could be set to development of electric propulsion for the motorcyle (rather than spending much effort on lightweight chassis/housing, which are the most expensive parts for real lighweight cars)

Construction

In December 1987 Werner got one of the newest 125ccm machines available at that time, but without combustion engine. Then he modified the frame to hold an AC motor and lead acid batteries. But then, he realized that the original frame was much too heavy and of a unsuitable shape. So he designed and built a completely new frame around the EV-specific components.

Tour de Sol (Switzerland) 89

Because delivery of motor and AC controller was massively late, the E-Bike got traffic approval only two days before start of the "Tour de Sol 89". So the team (Werner Scheifele and Martin Schaer) started the race without having had time for real testing. The AC controller had some problems and could not deliver full power. Nevertheless, they made the entire race of 400km and reached the destination in Rheinfelden.

Everyday use

Everyday use request much more from the vehicle than a race. Initial problems with water in the controller and too lightweight parts that wore out too fast could be solved with constant improvements. The relatively weak lead acid batteries were replaced 1990 by powerful (and ever since 100% reliable!) NiCd Cells, which almost tripled the reach distance. In March 1995 a completely new high power DC motor and controller brought the break-trough to a really reliable motorcycle for everyday-use, which didn't fail again a single time since then.

Knowledge Base for the Hyperbike

With the E-Bike, interested persons can today test and experience the unique feeling of driving an electric motorcyle (Those who already did can tell you).

In addition, the hyperbike team could gain a lot of know-how with the E-Bike, which also provides a test platform for new electronics developed already for the coming hyperbike project.

Hyperbike home page / Project History / E-Bike

Last change by LuZ, 23-Mar-12