Starting a Commercial Electric Bike

[drabdullahorth]

Huge Business potential.

So, here's my plan.

Buying cheap and used Honda 70's. (18k)

Renewing them for cheap. (5k)

Installing an electric motor to the transmission. Removing the Engine cylinder, head, and piston. 1000 watt to 2000w+ (5k)

Buying Lithium cells, and fabricating a battery, splitting them into parts to be installed into the silencer and tank, and well as the 12v battery bay. 1500w to 2250w. (20k-25k)

Throttle, charging boards, and motor controller. (5k)

Total: 53k-58k.

Sell for 75k. At least at first.

80-90kmph or more, with great pick.
130km+ range on single charge.
Cheap.

So, any advice? Should I make install more batteries? Will people be willing to buy it at a higher rate then?

[nfsmostwanted]

Make one first and take reviews

[mani_aryan]

nobody will buy pure electric bike. make a hybrid.

[drabdullahorth]

Will do that in the near future.

[drabdullahorth]

Too expensive. I can install a longer range battery, and a stronger motor, eliminating the need for a hybrid.

[mani_aryan]

you should do your research first. ask jolta guys to take a tour of their electric bike factory.

[drabdullahorth]

Its a one man startup. Brother, last time I checked, companies aren't kind enough to let a random guy take a tour of their factories.

And yep, doing my research.

[mani_aryan]

care to share your technical background? business plan? investment?

[horticulturalist]

Bro its a great potential, but keep in mind custom and other taxes... I had this in mind since 2016, earlier i was very busy, and now can't do it due to custom taxes

[drabdullahorth]

If I keep it on a small scale, they won't be able to tax me, will they?

I don't wish to make it big, I just am aiming to make a stable and small business out of this.

[horticulturalist]

How will you import quality products from China? The ones available in Pakistan are of pathetic quality... You need to start an enterprise offering quality and after sales services, otherwise it is not a lucrative business i am afraid. However, you can start experimental practise using the parts available in Pakistan.. Keep the risks in mind

[drabdullahorth]

I need batteries, throttles, and dc motor controllers.

Quite a few people are importing 18650 batteries in bulk. DC controllers from China can be found here, and combined with an accelerator wire, I can make reliable throttles with these.

I shall be using universal motors, of vacuum cleaners for my purpose. They are high revving, powerful and cheap. I can cover the problem of their reliability by giving a 5 year free replacement warranty. And yes, I shall offer after-market services such as replacement batteries.

Of course, I shall check for quality, before starting, That will be the test stage. Once I am able to make a working model, I shall send it to some expert in Pakwheels for testing.

[crema]

and combined with an accelerator wire,

Are you sure about the mentioned part, the subject of discussion is an EV

[crema]

Buying Lithium cells, and fabricating a battery, splitting them into parts to be installed into the silencer and tank, and well as the 12v battery bay. 1500w to 2250w. (20k-25k)

Consider battery placement at lower areas and near to center of the vehicle to keep the CG at lowest.

Placing a battery bank at silencer position makes the structure most imbalanced, weight wise and difficult to drive as well.

The best is to make 1 or 2 longitudinal banks, that can be plugged in and locked easily and for charging taken out from frame to house or office. This will be safest way as it will not get stolen when parked outside.

[drabdullahorth]

For the accelerator wire, don't worry, I know how to make it. I didn't make it clear in my wording.

As for the battery banks, you got some good ideas. I will definitely use the tank as a battery reserve, but the idea of longitudinal banks near the gearbox is definitely lucrative. Will be sure to somehow include that.

[crema]

For accelerator we dont need a mechanical linkage wire, just a spring loaded potentiometer device calibrated to the vehicle's control voltages, built into the throttle input will suffice. Can be found on Alibaba lot sellers.

Regenerative braking can be introduced as value added feature (with premium) considering country's market.

[drabdullahorth]

I will using exactly that! Just modding it a bit to work with 220v universal motors.

Regen braking is a bit over my head. But even if I get to understand it, I don't think 100kg bike produces much braking energy to be effective for that. Maybe I am wrong? But I am aiming to make the thing cheap, to be available for the masses.

[horticulturalist]

Ok I got it, all you saying is experimental... My advice for you bro! Do some valuable research first...

BTW the 220v vaccum cleaner motors are not for EVs... How will you convert it to DC, and make it water proof, and yet then how will install such a thing to the wheel? Youre strange!!! Learn about BLDC motors... Regenerative braking feature is common nowadays... Without that, your motor will soon catch fire. Learn from research .. .

FYI, for a commercial E-bike, you need 1) Battery pack, 2) hub-motor, 3) controller, 4) throttle, 5) braking system, 6) display... and all these 6 compatible and synchronized with each other... Without these 6, youre just wasting your time..... Search Alibaba for commercial e-bike kits for example:

https://m.alibaba.com/product/62224930288/110km/h-high-speed-electric-bike-conversion.html?__sceneInfo=%7B%22cacheTime%22%3A%221800000%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22appDetailShare%22%7D&from=Android

[drabdullahorth]

Let's answer your queries brother.

Universal motors are Dc compatible. it's in the name. For waterproofing it, I will seal the openings in the motor, making sure no water can pass inside. I will connect the motor to the crankshaft, removing the connecting rod and installing sprockets on both it and the motor, thus improving its pick and speed, as well as connecting it to the rear drivetrain.

Regen braking is something I need to look into, I guess. Your point may be right. But, the motor would be air cooled.

My plan covers your points 1-6, no worries. Indeed, I shall even install a digital speedometer, to reduce the feel of a 1980's bike.

Regards.

[horticulturalist]

If youre an electronics engineer, best of luck... If youre not, still all the best