[bjreadings]

Hello all, I'm a final year product design student studying in London.
For my final project of my degree I am trying to convert a vintage Lambretta to electric.
There are already companies that are converting these scooters, but they simply remove the original engine and replace it with a hub motor.

I want to do something different, I believe that if I can replace the crank of the original engine with a suitable motor I can power the original engine,(a similar concept to what EVwest and Electric Classic Cars are doing) this way the scooter will remain geared and not demoted to an automatic . I have found that the original output of the crank is around 10hp/7.5kw at 6000rpm at its peak power.

I've been trying to find a motor that will match (or improve) these figures. I've been brought up on petrol and pistons and have done a fair amount of research into ev motors but have realised that I really don't know a lot.

The motor that I have found that seems to be what I want is the 5kw offering by goldenmotors(https://www.goldenmotor.com/frame-bldcmotor.htm). I'm not sure if this is a suitable motor, and what variation would be best, 48v,72v or 96v. The site offers a controller and battery pack, but once again, I'm not sure this is actually what I want.

Any help from you wonderful people will be massively appreciated,
Thank you in advance Ben.

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

The best people to talk to about hub motors and what would be suitable are the folks over at Endless-Sphere. It's a huge community and it's more knowledgeable about that kind of power range. You'll find hundreds of examples there, and the people know their hub motors and what the current design meta is for that wattage range.

Very few of the people in this forum handle hub motors so, we can help but you probably won't get the best help.

I kinda send people over there for under 15kw and send people there over here over 15kw.

 

[brian_]

The best people to talk to about hub motors and what would be suitable are the folks over at Endless-Sphere.
...

Very few of the people in this forum handle hub motors so, we can help but you probably won't get the best help.

But Ben specifically does not want a hub motor.

I kinda send people over there for under 15kw and send people there over here over 15kw.

Yes, he is looking for under 15 kW... but I keep seeing discussions here of small motors in bikes and carts.

 

[pickmeup]

i cant help you much with the conversion but as a fellow lambretta and vespa owner Ive been looking at the retrospective scooters ev conversion.
It does seem to have gone up in price by a couple of grand in the last few months!


I think you will struggle with packaging of the motor as there isnt much room from the crank/mag housing out to the flywheel and where the rear legboard is, but if things were easy everyone would do it.


It might be worth speaking to Mark Broadhurst at MB Developments as he makes a lot of cool stuff for lambrettas and is a good engineer, but Im not sure what his thoughts on a conversion would be?


Anyhow good luck with the project,i look forward to see how you get on. I might follow suit.

 

[tylerwatts]

What are your space constraints and how will you mount the motor into the crankcase/swingarm structure of your Lambretta? Got a photo of this?

Bare in mind the engine and swingarm is one unit and pivots for suspension also. In sure you realised this.

I have considered this myself, not moved on the project yet though. I've often thought the RC outrunner motors are a great option, very power dense and cost effective.

Cheers
Tyler