ESET E-Bike Ver 2 gets a bath...

Since the bike we acquired was a right off I gave it a good cleaning to better assess the damage. Thankfully it is mostly cosmetic except for a cast aluminum bracket that holds the gauges as well as lights and fairing. It is totally destroyed so a new one will have to be acquired.
As for the damaged plastic fairing parts, Scott K. (SIAST Kelsey Campus, Autobody Program) is going to repair them in his plastic repairs lab in September. 

ESET E-Bike Version 1 wins an award...

The Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE) has selected my project, the SIAST ESET E-Bike and the Solar Alternative as a winner at their annual event. An important part of my electric vehicle is making it a zero emission vehicle rather then just a low emission vehicle. To accomplish this it needs to be recharged by something other then the power grid which uses fossil fuels.

The solution is a solar based charge system that is being design thanks to a SARP grant. The Seed Applied Research Program (SARP) is a program sponsored by the SIAST Office of Applied Research and Innovation that encourages and supports faculty members interested in applied research such as myself.

I Have a New Sport Bike!

SGI Salvage was contacted to see if they had anything that would work with our latest project. With the assistance of Scott, an Autobody Instructor at SIAST Kelsey Campus SGI supplied us with motorcycle that would work for us.
The Motorcycle is a 2008 Yamaha YZFR6/S and even though it was written off it is in very good shape with only cosmetic damage to the front and right side.
A service manual for the Motorcycle has been ordered from Proline Motorsports and Marine and once it arrives disassembly can commence.

When the motorcycle's has been partially disassembled the amount of room available for the electric motor and batteries can be determined and the design process started.

ESET E-Bike Version 2

Now that our proof of concept motorcycle is nearing completion my thoughts are on version 2. Something based on a newer motorcycle chassis, with increased performance to go along with its looks. The motorcycle would be used to promote the Electronic Systems Engineering Technology Program as well as the other programs that lend their expertise to the project. It would also be a great learning exercise for students and instructors at SIAST Kelsey Campus. As well as a test bed for future controls and automation projects.
But to get started I need to find a motorcycle chassis that fits the design requirements...
So some time was spent searching for a free, late model sport bike with no luck. Which was expected as the free part is a bit of a sticking point. But it is required when you have great ideas but a limited budget.
So I will keep looking...

Road Test with Version 1

Driving around town every day or so for a couple of weeks now to determine maximum range. The original goal was to use the motorcycle as a daily commuter. Our initial calculations estimated a range between 50 and 70km. I have taken the bike on trips from 4km up to 34km and it appears we should be able to travel at least 54km on a charge. We will try a test drive until the motor controller drops out due to insufficient voltage in the next week. Also a maximum speed trial is set for the next couple of weeks. To date the highest speed we have had the motorcycle up to is 75km per hour.

ESET E-Bike Version 1 is on the road

After a couple of years experimenting our proof of concept prototype is on the road...

The project was undertaken by a number of instructors at SIAST Kelsey Campus as well as the students enrolled in the Electronic Systems Engineering Technology program.

A video of our testing on the streets of Saskatoon will be posted soon...