Author Topic: batteries in da trunk!  (Read 1414 times)

badamsfx

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batteries in da trunk!
« on: April 12, 2011, 11:52:47 PM »
This may be a little pie in the sky but for those of us whose main concern is travel distance how about an accessory trunk stuffed full of batteries to extend the Empulse's range even more?! They mention this option at www.electricmotorsport.com and it could be a good plan until the Empulse 15.0 is released. Sure it adds weight and topheaviness but I'm most interested in distance not performance and I can't buy the bike if it won't do the distance.

Brian

Richard230

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Re: batteries in da trunk!
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2011, 10:24:25 AM »
Concerning what you read on the EMS website. Don't believe everything you read on the internet.   ::)
current bikes: 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2007 BMW R1200R, 2005 Triumph T-100 Bonneville, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

protomech

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Re: batteries in da trunk!
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2011, 11:19:42 AM »
Possible as an (expensive) aftermarket modification. There are number of people that modify hybrid vehicles by adding piggyback battery packs that either charge separately or are integrated into the existing charging system - there's no technical reason why you could not do the same to the Empulse.

I suspect Brammo would rather create a well-integrated pack; for example, they elected to make the Empulse 10.0 instead of an Empulse 6.0 with an extra 4.0 kwh hanging off the top/sides. The 10.0 kwh battery likely has tapped out the existing chassis packaging in any case, requiring either denser batteries, a redesign for a larger chassis, or packaging battery packs in locations typically occupied by luggage.

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Here's what a hypothetical 20kwh well-integrated brammo might look like - pardon the hand-waving.

* larger chassis - think a touring bike. Much heavier pack -> increase frame weight, suspension weight, brake weight, weight weight weight.
* heavier / bigger pack - 10.0kwh pack is ~150 lbs, 20.0kwh pack is ~300 lbs. Figure total weight 650-750 lbs.
* suburban range +50%, highway range +75% - say 150 miles suburban, 85-110 miles highway (65-85 mph).
* 80% charge in 3 hours with a 6.6kw 220v/30a charger, 12+ hours with a 110v/15a charger.
* the kicker - $$$. Probably around $26k: $2k for the larger chassis, +$10k for the larger pack.

I don't know how much of a market there is for a $26k electric "touring" motorcycle that has a sub 100 mile freeway range. And if the market's small, prices go up further.
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