Motor and tensionerChain driveMotor torque arm
OwnerFrank Lotito
Owner's Other EV2006 Sun AX-1
LocationNoble, Oklahoma US map
Email email image
Vehicle2006 Sun SX-1
Short wheel base recumbent.
MotorUnite Motor P.N. - 106158 (TNC P.N.) Permanent Magnet DC
800W Motor/36 Volts (Style: MY8922) from www.tncscooters.com. This motor has thin (about 1/4" thick) Neodymium Magnets, which give it a high power output for it's small size!
Drivetrain36V, 800W scooter motor, with an 8T drive sprocket driving an 72T sprocket on a single speed freewheel (special hub comes from www.staton-inc.com), using #35 chain.
ControllerCrystalyte
24 to 48V, 30A (C.L.) for a brush type motor. I reduced the C.L. to 28 amps to prevent blowing of the 30A ATC auto fuse in the batt pack.
Batteries4, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, AGM
Ritar 22AH H.R. batts. from www.atbatt.com
System Voltage48 Volts
Charger Yang Ming - 48-9
120 V switch mode 8A regulated charger - charges in about 2.5 hrs.
InstrumentationNONE right now, planning on voltmeter and ampmeter (LED type - can be seen day & night)
Top Speed30 MPH (48 KPH)
This is on flat level ground, no bad head wind or hills!!
AccelerationAcceleration is good (limited by 28A C.L.). It is also a good hill climber.
Range35 Miles (56 Kilometers)
On flat ground with some hills. I have gotten as much as 40 miles on flat ground doing about 20 - 22 MPH with a little pedaling.
Seating Capacity1 adult
Curb Weight110 Pounds (49 Kilograms)
Weight of bike and batt. Batt pack is removable to make it easier to carry the bike up to the second floor.
TiresFRONT - 16 X 1.75' on A 16 x 1.5 rim.
REAR - 20 X 2.1 Maxxis 110# "M" thread mounted on an Alex DX32, 36 hole rim, using 14G spokes.
Conversion TimeOver several weeks, don't know actual hours.
Conversion CostAbout $350.00 (new motor, batts, sprockets and chain).
Additional FeaturesThis is the same recumbent, but was upgraded from 24V to 48V using the same controller. I am using a 36V motor on 48 volts (it runs at 4,000RPM instead of 3,000RPM). I intend to gear it down to top out at about 24-25 MPH, giving me more acceleration and torque.
NOTE- in Oklahoma, an electric bicycle is allowed 1,000W and a top speed of 30MPH!
Very good transportation when it is cold out as I do not like breathing very cold air into my lungs when I am pedaling hard, or if I don't want to work up a sweat, and Don't want to use the car (gets great gas mileage sitting in the parking area! and about 38MPG highway when I do). This bike is mostly electric with pedal assist.

I am glad I updated this bike as it is now a much better performer, with a much increased range. I still have AGM batts (pack is 62#), but if you consider that a comparable Lifepo4 batt will weigh about 28# (34# lighter), this is only 11% of the entire weight (310#) of the bike with me on it (I am 200#), so your range will not be that much less than using lithiums.

code by jerry