Spin Cycles

[vfr400]

Some guys have been using washing machine spin motors to power their electric bikes. If you type into Google "washing machine bike", you'll find one. here's a couple of very professional ones for starters. The one at the beginning has a single-sided frame with the gear cable going through the centre of the axle:

 

[WheezyRider]

Was this really a washing machine motor to start with? Looked like a direct drive bike motor was the donor part. Brilliant work though. I like the fact that he used a Halbach array to maximise field strength towards the coils. I've been wondering when someone will do this. It means you don't need a heavy steel back plate to contain the back field from the magnets, so the motor can be a lot lighter.

But even with 1.8kW, he didn't seem to get past 47 kph. Not enough gearing or volts I suppose?

 

[Woosh]

it looks like a Samsung direct drive washing machine motor.
it's pretty quiet though.

 

[WheezyRider]

it looks like a Samsung direct drive washing machine motor.
it's pretty quiet though.

Ah, I see. Watched the video again and read the subtitles more closely!

Those look like nasty ceramic magnets in that motor Woosh, no wonder he changed them all.