Catavolt: Interview with Jon Eggenhuizen

[teddillard]

Great instructional interview with some very detailed build detail type stuff, also Mark's motor at the end:

[Nuts & Volts]

Cool video. The bike is super simple in a good way. Only complaint is that they definitely have more room for batteries. But then again the headways are not the easiest to fit in the nocks and crannies.

thanks Ted

[markcycle]

Jon sent me some statistic on how the bike performed and basic bike specifications
These are Jon words

we had a top speed of 155kph on a Race track(Eastern creek @40% power).
We have the lap record at wakefield only 5 sec of the two strokes 10 sec of the superbikes @35% current limit.
Catavolt only had 4.3kwh others had 6.5 and 8kwh of battery.
The hub motor didnt hinder cornering at all just needed an adjustable rebound shock.
Catavolt bike weight 190kg voltron 170kg riperton 145kg

And my favorite picture

[evmotorcycle]

Hey guys,

Heat is the enemy of the electric motor! Catavolt, Voltron and Ripperton teams all battled with the same problem. Keeping the motor cool. There were a few issues with controllers etc but the main problem was heat in the motor. If Catavolt had a better mechanism for dissipating the heat then I am betting that it would have smoked the 125 lap times for sure.

So that's where markcycle comes in. You gotta get some liquid in there dude! >

[Nuts & Volts]

Hey guys,

Heat is the enemy of the electric motor! Catavolt, Voltron and Ripperton teams all battled with the same problem. Keeping the motor cool. There were a few issues with controllers etc but the main problem was heat in the motor. If Catavolt had a better mechanism for dissipating the heat then I am betting that it would have smoked the 125 lap times for sure.

So that's where markcycle comes in. You gotta get some liquid in there dude! >

True dat, either cool the **** out of it...or make it more efficient

[markcycle]

No matter how efficient you make the motor these guys will just pump more and more amps into it and we'll wind up having to get rid of the same or more heat. It's an endless circle until the motor is no longer the weak link in the power chain and just improving the efficiency a few percent not going to do it. So I agree liquid cooling for next year, gets the motor out of the thermal loop. After all it's what all the big boys in racing are doing, every high end bike is liquid cooled.

Let me add if all goes as planed a 20 to 30 percent weight reduction is also possible

[Nuts & Volts]

No matter how efficient you make the motor these guys will just pump more and more amps into it...

Totally agree about the increase in amps. So one way or another you'll need some liquid cooling when going racing

Let me add if all goes as planed a 20 to 30 percent weight reduction is also possible

Sweetness!

Totally agree about the increase in amps. So one way or another you'll need some liquid cooling.

[lugnut]

Jon sent me some statistic on how the bike performed and basic bike specifications
These are Jon words...

Catavolt only had 4.3kwh others had 6.5 and 8kwh of battery.
.....
Catavolt bike weight 190kg voltron 170kg riperton 145kg

Curious that the heaviest bike has the least battery (kWh). Any info as to why? Cell energy density? Heavier motor? Heavier donor bike to start with?

[markcycle]

Basicly LIFEPO4 Headway VS foil pouch cells

Round steel cans don't package very well
Look at the naked bike and all those cells and it ads up to 4.3Kwh Kinda answers the question. I think 4.3Kwh is with the cells removed from under the seat.

[teddillard]

I'm pretty sure the Headways are heavier, too, for the energy of the lipo (at least one of the other bikes is running lipo, no?), to the tune of about 30% if memory serves. I'd have to look it up...