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Topics - protomech

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1
Brammo News And Views / Cummins acquires remaining Brammo assets
« on: October 16, 2017, 11:43:18 AM »
http://www.mailtribune.com/news/20171016/brammo-assets-acquired-by-diesel-and-natural-gas-corporation

$70m for the remaining bits. I hope they can make good use of them - Cummins has been making some interesting plays recently in the electric powertrains space.

2
Brammo Racing / Victory shuttered, fate of TT race bikes?
« on: February 16, 2017, 08:29:32 AM »
I wonder what happened to the race bikes with Victory gone.

One bike was converted to a steel trellis frame and a higher capacity battery for the 2016 IOM TT race.

One bike was left largely as-is and raced in the 2016 Pikes Peak race.

In 2015 [one of]these bikes were stolen from Brammo HQ.

I wonder if they returned to Brammo after the 2016 races? And what their fate is, now that Victory's race program is gone?

It'd be neat for them to some day make it to a museum. Perhaps the Smithsonian, or the Barber Motorsports museum.

Better still if a way is found to continue to race them, of course.

3
Off Topic / Polaris Slingshot goes up in flames
« on: August 30, 2016, 08:46:00 AM »
http://imgur.com/a/WQsuR

Maybe Polaris will start thinking about Brammo drivetrains in a Slingshot :)

4
Brammo Empulse / How do you primarily charge your Empulse?
« on: December 31, 2015, 08:17:10 PM »
Just what the title says. Curious to see how people are charging their Empulses "in the wild".

If your primary means of charging is a 120V socket - would you have rather purchased the bike with a smaller onboard charger? Let's say a 1 kW charger similar to the Zero's OBC would have saved 10 pounds and $500.

Alternatively: would you have been willing to add another 15 pounds and $1000 to double charging power, to 6 kW?

5
Brammo Racing / Mazda Laguna Seca track records
« on: July 26, 2014, 12:06:18 PM »
Mazda Laguna Seca is a popular racetrack sited in Monterey, California. It's a great benchmark to show EV progress over time, since electric bikes have been raced there since 2010.

Here's what I can find, partly including information from last time.


REFUEL SportElectric Time Trial

The REFUEL event is an annual EV-only track event. It's a somewhat less focused event than a traditional race, but it provides an opportunity for racers with a variety of experience to get out on track and do some practice laps. The signature event is the SportElectric TT, which allows each participant a single hot lap in the afternoon. Because of the single shot at a hot lap and the limited track time, REFUEL lap times will often be somewhat slower than a traditional qualifying practice.

Production and production-based bikes:
2'25.198 - 2011 Zero S, Ian Lebov
2'11.364 - 2011 Zero S prototype, Jamie Perugini (probable test for 2012 S AC motor)
2'08.889 - 2012 Zero S, Ian Lebov
2'04.607 - 2013 Brammo Empulse R, Aaron Bland
2'02.826 - 2013 Zero FX, Eland Eggers
2'01.569 - 2014 Brammo Empulse R, Brian Wismann
2'00.389 - 2012 Zero MX prototype, Jamie Perugini (probable test for 2013 100V motors)
1'59.234 - 2013 Brammo Empulse R (modified), Conan Dooley
1'58.351 - 2013 Zero DS, Ian Lebov
1'55.684 - 2013 Zero S prototype, Kenyon Kluge (probable test for 2014 660 amp controller)
1'53.047 - 2014 Zero SR, Brandon Nozaki-Miller
1'52.022 - 2015 Zero DS, Kenyon Kluge (probable test for 660 amp 2016 DS-R)
1'51.381 - 2013 Brammo Empulse TTX, Shelina Moreda
1'50.880 - 2015 Brammo Empulse HVR prototype, Brian Wismann
1'45.629 - 2014 Brammo Empulse TTX, Eric Bostrom

Full race prototypes:
1'43.728 - 2011 Mission R, Steve Rapp (compare to his later TTXGP 1'31 qualifying time)
1'40.269 - 2012 Brammo Empulse RR, Steve Atlas
1'38.502 - 2013 Brammo Empulse RR, Eric Bostrom
1'31.634 - 2014 Brammo Empulse RR, Shane Turpin

Special notes:
* Eric Bostrom on the production-based 2014 Empulse TTX racebike is very close to TTXGP lap times for full prototype race bikes from 2010-2011.
* Shane Turpin on the Empulse RR was only 3 tenths of a second from passing Steve Rapp's outright circuit record, on a 2011 Mission R. Considering the limited nature of the REFUEL event, in a full race Shane would have a very good chance to establish a new circuit record.


FIM ePower / TTXGP

The FIM and TTXGP race organizations joined forces at Laguna Seca from 2010 to 2013. The electric bikes were given their own category, practice and qualifying times as well as a short 8 or 9 lap race which allowed them to demonstrate their maximum potential.

FIM dropped Laguna Seca from the MotoGP race schedule in 2014, and the eRoadRacing (formerly TTXGP) organization is floundering. The next time electric bikes compete in a traditional race at Laguna Seca, it may be directly against gas bikes.

Best race laps:
2'02.118 - 2012 Zero S production, Kenyon Kluge
1'48.706 - 2013 Zero S prototype, Kenyon Kluge (probable test for 2014 660 amp controller)
1'44.496 - 2010 MotoCzysz E1PC, Michael Czysz
1'40.644 - 2011 Brammo Empulse RR, Steve Atlas
1'38.136 - 2011 MotoCzysz E1PC, Michael Czysz
1'37.417 - 2011 Lightning, Michael Barnes
1'35.625 - 2012 Brammo Empulse RR, Steve Atlas
1'35.319 - 2012 Lightning, Michael Barnes
1'33.194 - 2011 Mission R, Steve Rapp
1'32.581 - 2013 Brammo Empulse RR, Shane Turpin

Qualifying:
2'11.648 - 2010 Zero S prototype, Kenyon Kluge (significant modifications for race, including higher-voltage motor)
2'00.057 - 2012 Zero S, Ted Rich
1'59.778 - 2011 Zero S prototype, Kenyon Kluge (probable test for 2012 S AC motor)
1'51.019 - 2013 Brammo Empulse TTX, Shelina Moreda
1'48.068 - 2013 Zero S prototype, Kenyon Kluge (probable test for 2014 660 amp controller)
1'47.338 - 2010 MotoCzysz E1PC, Michael Czysz
1'45.769 - 2010 Lightning, Michael Barnes
1'42.127 - 2011 Brammo Empulse RR, Steve Atlas
1'39.272 - 2011 MotoCzysz E1PC, Michael Czysz
1'37.505 - 2011 Lightning, Michael Barnes
1'37.171 - 2012 Brammo Empulse RR, Eric Bostrom
1'33.860 - 2012 Lightning, Michael Barnes
1'32.516 - 2013 Brammo Empulse RR, Shane Turpin
1'31.376 - 2011 Mission R, Steve Rapp

Special notes:
* Steve Rapp turned in a dominating race performance in 2011. His fastest race lap was beaten last year by Shane Turpin, but his qualifying time still (barely) holds the outright EV course record.
* Kenyon Kluge on a production-based 2013 Zero S (660 amp controller) is racing at speeds competitive with the full prototype race bikes from 2010.


Other notable lap times

1'48.917 - 2013 Tesla Model S P85, Aaron Bailey (REFUEL SportElectric time trial)
1'33.620 - 2014 Dodge Viper SRT Time Attack, Randy Pobst (production car record on fastestlaps.com, time trial)
1'32.046 - 2012 Kleenspeed EV-X11, Kevin Mitz (REFUEL SportElectric time trial)
1'24.249 - 2013 Graves Yamaha R1, Josh Hayes (AMA Superbike qualifying)
1'21.811 - 2014 Kawasaki ZX-10R racebike, Tom Sykes (WSBK qualifying)
1'20.554 - 2012 Yamaha YZR-M1, Jorge Lorenzo (MotoGP qualifying)
1'05.786 - 2012 Scuderia Ferrari, Ferrari F2003-GA, Marc Gené (F1 qualifying)


References

2010 FIM ePower / TTXGP Laguna Seca (sadly no details, but see QP)
2011 FIM ePower Laguna Seca
2012 FIM ePower Laguna Seca
2013 FIM ePower Laguna Seca
2014 REFUEL SportElectric TT

6
Brammo Empulse / Clipper Creek LCS-20
« on: June 10, 2014, 12:10:55 PM »
240V 15A EVSE, hard-wired to a 20 amp breaker. $395 with a 3 year warranty.

http://www.clippercreek.com/store/product/charging-station-lcs-20-level-2/



Nice to see the equipment dropping in price. This would be perfectly suited to the Empulse or any other EV with a 3 kW charger, provided that it is connected to typical US 240V.

7
Off Topic / Oregon gets a Chief Electric Vehicle Officer
« on: May 30, 2014, 04:30:29 PM »
http://www.govtech.com/transportation/Meet-the-First-Public-Sector-Chief-Electric-Vehicle-Officer-in-the-Nation.html

I assume she's working with Brammo. Are there other EV manufacturers or suppliers in Oregon?

8
Off Topic / Seen on reddit - check the helmet
« on: May 05, 2014, 08:14:08 AM »
"I think my girlfriend deserves some kind of award for badassery after riding her new bike 300km in a blizzard to get it home today."


9
Brammo Empulse / Aerovironment Turbocord - portable 120/240V EVSE
« on: March 12, 2014, 10:33:26 AM »
http://evsolutions.avinc.com/turbocord

Looks quite a bit smaller than the Clipper Creek EVSE that comes stock with the Empulse. It'll pull up to 16A on 240V, meaning you can tap a dryer outlet and charge as fast as any fixed J1772 EVSE.

$600 for the 240V version, $650 for the dual-voltage version. You want the dual-voltage version.

vs

10
Off Topic / mfi wifi power strip
« on: November 21, 2013, 10:22:12 AM »
For those of you interested in monitoring power draw of your bikes, here's a wifi-enabled power strip (monitor + control). Looks pretty solid.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7530/ubiquiti-networks-mfi-mpower-wifi-power-strip-review

11
Off Topic / Decentralized Battery Grid Storage and the $13k EV
« on: July 31, 2013, 10:27:13 AM »
Note that I talk specifically about the Nissan LEAF, but it could apply just as easily to our bikes with CHAdeMO or similar offboard direct-DC charging/discharging units. Think CHAdeMO on the 2013 Zeros, or (presumably) SAE J1772 Combo charging on a future Empulse.

http://protomech.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/decentralized-battery-grid-storage-and-the-13k-ev/

The charger would be somewhat less effective for our bikes, as it maxes at 30A. That would provide for 3 kW charging/discharging for the 2013 Zero/Empulse bikes @ 100V.

Still.. suppose the subsidy was halved for bikes. What would a $4k subsidy (bike) / $8k (car) and 3 kW (bike) / 6 kW (car) charging installed at home and work do to encourage adoption of electric vehicles?

12
Off Topic / Viglink "monetization" of your forum clicks UPDATE: now disabled
« on: July 24, 2013, 11:17:31 AM »
What is viglink?

Viglink is a URL "click-tracking" scheme operating on this forum. Essentially, the way it works is it silently replaces off-forum URLs in posts on the forum with a URL that records the click and then directs you to your intended destination.

For example, if I paste a link in a post like so:
http://www.google.com/

When you mouseover the link, it displays the intended URL in the status bar:
"www.google.com"

Here's the actual link that your browser follows when you click. You can see this if you right click the link and select "Copy URL".
Code: [Select]
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=06125cd02109d41ad405d9e3d16a724a&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fbrammoforum.com%2Findex.php%3Faction%3Dpost%3Bboard%3D8.0&v=1&libId=209de87d-8d59-4f8a-ba49-79cf68051063&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fbrammoforum.com%2Findex.php%3Fboard%3D8.0&title=Start%20new%20topic&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13746797748997
The link can be unescaped to see the parameters being passed to viglink:
Code: [Select]
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go
key=06125cd02109d41ad405d9e3d16a724a
loc=http://brammoforum.com/index.php?action=post;board=8.0
v=1
libId=209de87d-8d59-4f8a-ba49-79cf68051063
out=http://www.google.com/
ref=http://brammoforum.com/index.php?board=8.0
title=Start new topic
txt=http://www.google.com/
jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13746797748997
Basically, viglink tracks the link you click, what page you were on when you clicked, the previous referring page you were on, and then some parameters about the page and the viglink library version.

Here's the description for the viglink SMF mod:
Quote
VigLink is a Google backed company.

VigLink enables you to get paid for doing what you normally do on forum. Whenever you link to a product, website, or promotion, VigLink automatically turns that link into an affiliate link so that you receive a commission for any purchases made. It does this silently and perfectly. Your users will probably not even notice that you are monetising via VigLink... unless you want to tell them.

You can even override affiliate links that your sneaky users have placed in your forum!

Note that if you click the link to the SMF forum then your click is being silently logged by viglink.


Why worry about a third party tracking your clicks on links?

1. Any link click now involves an extra hop. On a mobile device in particular this means clicking any link is slower and uses more battery, as your device has to make an extra connection.

2. The links you click on this board, including links going off-site, are all being sent to a third party. I don't know whether this information is anonymously collected or if it is tied to your username. I've never been presented with their privacy policy information.

A hypothetical (and perhaps paranoid) example of how this could be used would be a member on this forum clicking a number of links about Zero motorcycles, or links from the forum going out to Zero Motorcycles' website. Brammo might be interested in correlating this with their preorder customer list and targeting that member for additional advertising or sales outreach, etc.

You can flip Brammo and Zero in the example above if you like.

3. Nowhere in the forum's Terms of Service indicates that your browsing activity going offsite is being tracked.

There's this snippet from the registration agreement (note that you will have to be logged out to view this agreement, you can open an incognito window in your browser to easily do this):
Quote
Also note that the software places a cookie, a text file containing bits of information (such as your username and password), in your browser's cache. This is ONLY used to keep you logged in/out. The software does not collect or send any other form of information to your computer.

Emphasis added.

4. It makes using the forum more difficult. Want to copy a URL from a post here? Tough, you're getting the ugly viglink version. Your link is buried somewhere within, if you want to http-unescape it!


Why are brammoforum and electricmotorcycleforum doing this?

The simple answer is that the forums cost money to host - which you and I do not pay. Viglink cuts the site operator a small check. The forums don't get enough traffic that it's likely to be a big check; I would be surprised if it even covers the forum hosting costs.

You may have noticed the other advertisements going by the wayside recently. Presumably viglink replaced these as a form of revenue for the site. You may or may not find this to be an improvement.

Also, these forums are hardly the only parties tracking your browsing activity. Frequently your browser will report clicked links (under the guise of protecting the user from unsafe links), your ISP likely records your web activity, and it seems the NSA also has wide-spread interests in tracking internet/voice activity of as many people around the world as they can.


Posted FYI, since the site operators won't.

UPDATE 04-26-2014: It appears the Viglink tracking software has been disabled. Hurrah!

13
Brammo Racing / August 18. Indianapolis eRoadRacing + MotoGP!
« on: July 05, 2013, 02:43:44 PM »
Turns out this is the MotoGP weekend at Indy too.
http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/redbullindianapolisgp/

Friday August 16  5:05 pm - 5:25 pm - FIM eRoadRacing Series Practice - Track
Saturday August 17 5 pm - 5:20 pm - FIM eRoadRacing Series Qualifying - Track
Sunday August 18 4:30 pm - FIM eRoadRacing Series Race (8 Laps) - Track

That'll be a short drive away for me. Gotta get some tickets..

14
Brammo Racing / July 21. Laguna Seca eRoadRacing + MotoGP!
« on: July 05, 2013, 02:42:29 PM »
Okay. It's not TTXGP any more. I'm sure I'll get used to the new name .. eventually.

Probably the premiere electric race event of the year .. who's going?!

I'll try and keep tabs on the race from afar, though I will be moving that weekend. We haven't had much interest with the Google Hangout in the past; are the races at bad times for people to duck in and out, is Google Hangout a poor venue for organizing group remote viewing / discussion, or is there little interest in following the races in real time?

Race Schedule is up. Events get started thursday evening.
Friday July 19, Practice
1:25pm 1:55pm Free Practice e-Roadracing World Cup

Saturday July 20, Qualifying
5:00pm 5:30pm Qualifying Practice e-Roadracing World Cup

Sunday July 21, RACE!
9:40am 10:10am RACE e-Roadracing World Cup

15
Brammo Empulse / Poll: range vs charge speed
« on: June 21, 2013, 06:43:06 AM »
Dropping a link here to make sure people see it.

I've opened a poll on range vs charge speed to see what people prefer. Please go to the poll if interested, vote and comment in that thread.

http://brammoforum.com/index.php?topic=2120.0

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