Leave it to my son to find another "awesomely weird" vehicle he couldn't live without LOL !! I am very glad that I have the electric mini truck at my place here in Florida and he keeps that tuk tuk in Tel Aviv with him !! I got the better end of the deal. @Micah - be careful with that thing !! And no, your wife will not want to go RV-ing in that thing !! Love, Dad.
I thought the e-auto was manufactured in China. Though the construction is good, it's suspensions must be giving you a 'hard seat'
Рік тому+329
Lots of people are making a living with these "trucks" here in Turkey. They collect all kinds of garbage for recycling. Paper, metal, pet bottles, can boxes ect. Different fromTel Aviv, they all have a music/sound system on them. They just stop on each trash bin one after another and throw at the back what can be recycled. No need to turn off or on the engine, stop, go, stop, go. All day long they roam the streets, gather almost everything for recycling and they never beg or ask for something. They just work. I think, they are doing a great job. I personally, sort my garbage at home and wait for them to come by. When I hand it to them respectfully, they get very happy and leave with a smile on their face. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO KEEP THE PLANET CLEAN. REAL NAMELESS HEROS.
Most are syrian those vehicls arent really popular among turkish people, In fact, they are not as innocent as they seem, most of them do not obey the traffic rules and they do not even have a Turkish driver's license and there are cases where they get into an argument with people in traffic and attack them with tools like machete or chopping knife
I lived and worked in China from 2006 to 2010. This kind of electric trikes were everywhere, in lots of different configurations and sizes. From smaller than yours to at least twice the size. Some have beds that will fit a full sheet of plywood. A lot of these were quite well built; I have spoken to drivers who had had their trike for over 10 years, zipping around town as couriers, or delivering goods to factories. I really liked them and I have often said I would like to take one back home, as they are are a lot more versatile than a car trailer. Besides that they are dirt cheap. If you order directly from the factory (minimum order 10 pieces), prices start at around $300 FOB, depending on the type and size. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to have them legalized in the Netherlands
Be careful with stability when you start modifications, pay special attention to the center of gravity, those things turn out to be unstable when they have lithium batteries and high cargo boxes, mostly on turns and going uphill, I drove one and had an accident due to the center of gravity being too far to the rear
Interesting comment. A friend of mine built a rickshaw specifically for ice-cream vending and uses lorry-grade air suspension units. The rickshaw is quite 'top heavy' having a freezer in the back and looks like it's going to topple over sometimes but never actually does. A motorcycle steering damper may help to reduce the swaying.
Rear suspension will feel softer as you add weight. Also you might be be able to replace the rear springs with air ride. Meanwhile you can reduce rear tire air pressure to improve the ride, try about 10/12psi. Won't hurt a thing unless you have lots of weight in the bed.
If it were me, I would look into adding some shocks on the rear. I don't think it would be that difficult or expensive, but it could make a huge difference in ride quality and safety. Maybe also softer springs but add airbags to keep the load capacity.
Get some chalk draw three lines across the tires then drive in a straight line and deflate the tires till you wear the chalk off the tire the face equally across the face. This will help the tires wear longer. The downsize it may decrease your range.
Yeah the suspension is massively overbuilt for light loads. I'd say they could be swapped out for some load-appropriate coil springs held in place by plates u-bolted to the axle and to whatever bit of frame is directly above the axle. Throw a damper tube in the middle, and you've got a smooth ride for days.
Love you videos. the Name "TukTuk" dosen't come from the sound, but from the thai word "tuk" that meas "Cheap" because in the old days, it was a cheaper alternative to a normal taxi, so it got the name "Tuk Tuk" for "Cheap Cheap" :)
Honestly, something like this seems like a decent replacement (with bigger rear tires) for a farmers 3 wheeled Honda. Those things are insanely useful as property runabouts and I could absolutely see something like this with chunky tires being used as a slightly bigger version of that.
I really like the idea of you turning that rickshaw into a functional RV travel vehicle ! I have had the same dream project in mind with my little pickup truck & add the solar to it to make it happen! Looking forward to your next video on this,,,,shalom !
That motor controller should only be able to provide about 1440 watts of continuous power based on the label. Replacing it would be a very easy (and fun!) upgrade. Excited to see what you do with this little tuk tuk.
You might find that the suspension works better with some load in the back. My ute is like that, it’s capable of carrying a thousand kilos in the tub, so empty, it’s a bouncy ride.
cheap lightweight way to quiet those down , rubber washers , foam tape . any generic flex seal type roll on or spray or tube of automotive seam sealer on bed and canopy too . less rust and Quiet
If you RV it, maybe do a flip out tent type thing like the rooftop tents for trucks. Build it on top of the bed & have a slide-out for the back with a stove, fridge, water container or whatever else. You could even hinge the solar roof over the bed just behind the cab to be more modular. Yeah, I think it's a cool idea.
Having built a light weight teardrop camper, I was thinking along that line at first. However, I remember seeing the VW fifth wheel RV on You Tube. Maybe a small camper with a fifth wheel hook up, with the extra axle,it would be less weight hanging on the bed. I used 1/8" bending plywood, but for you, it could also be built of metal studs and bending plywood.
I'm a70 year old, and I would solo camp in that. But I'm in the states, and I want get an old mail jeep, throw the motor out and hook up dual electric motors for 4X4, put in a pop up top like the old Westfallia by VW. That would keep down wind drag and still let me stand up. Then hook up about 400 watts on folding awnings on both sides to run camp and charge my main batteries. (I would use lithium batteries for better range.) A camp stove and a good cooler and a hammock would furnish it. Now that just might make the sweetest little metal detecting, (my hobby), backwoods runabout that a person could want. 😎👍
I liked the mini pickup, but I really like this. Those fold down rear side panels are really revolutionary. I want to share an idea I’ve had recently. There is an Australian company that manufactures a cargo trailer that utilizes the locking devices in the bottom four corners that cargo containers use. Basically with a flatbed trailer you back under the container, lock it in, then go. That’s the concept. It means you could have several differing cargo boxes, but just one trailer. More to the point, those folding back side panels give you a flatbed configuration that could allow a camper build along the lines of the lightweight eBike trailer campers I’ve seen in UA-cam… only bigger. You already have the electric (DC to DC converter) so your half way there already. Solar could be a canopy configuration, or dedicated panels on the camper box. Using those removable truck bed camper lifts you could switch from pickup/flatbed to camper quickly. There is a lot more I’ve got for this type of configuration, but this should get you going. Sure would like to see a build of a lightweight removable camper box. 😁
If you know someone who is an engineer, you should talk to them about the suspension. I don't know enough to consider myself qualified to tell you exactly what to do, but lots of leaf springs are solid on one side and have a shackle on the other, not both. Also, you might be able to add a shock somewhere to dampen the springiness.
Small vehicles such as this are very useful and convenient. The only change i would make is put two wheels in front and one in back connected to the trans-axel. A single person can carry a great deal of cargo behind him. Or can arrange up to 4 seats
Thanks Micah.I appreciate the win.I have a kit to install,and another brother is doing a center-drive,so I need to think about what I need.That Micah-shaw will be a good series.I look forward to the vids.I've always liked their design,and now with electric drive.Wow.
I'd put some rubber strips between the bed and frame and I bet you can find a local shop to add shocks to the back. Leaf springs aren't the problem, it's lack of dampening. Edit: On second thought, the springs are probably too stiff for tuk-tuk-ing around town unloaded. Still, shocks would help with bumps at maximum velocity.
Build your camper out of Hemp supplies. Lumber, plastic, it is so much lighter & the durability will be so satisfying. It needs springs! TY for showing us your new toy...still love the truck, especially since you tricked it out...👍✌🙋♀️
Peace be with you😌 I was also interested in an Electric Cargo Trike but decided against because they’re not street legal in the US. Thank you for sharing your experience. Good luck with it. GOD Bless you🙏
Depends on where you live. In my state, an electrified trike is still a bicycle if you preserve the peddles in the conversion. And bikes are entitled to a full lane - just don't be a dick about it.
These kind of vehicles actually *are* street legal in the US, save for a couple states (New York is one of them I believe) with weird licensing / helmet laws. A three-wheeled vehicle can generally be registered as an "autocycle", treated legally as a cross between a motorcycle and a car. And as with normal motorcycles, FMVSS crash protection standards aren't required to be met (just lighting and whatnot). I will definitely be building a three-wheeled microcar in the future, the potential for extremely efficient, climate-controlled local transport is too good to turn down for those days where the weather isn't well-suited to riding a scooter or ebike.
@@chasemartin4450 In my state (Texas) this wouldn't work as an autocycle since it does not have a steering wheel from the manufacturer. The handlebars make it a no-go here. The only category it fits under is an ATV. But ATVs are off-highway vehicles which aren't street legal except in neighborhoods that have a covenant for them or to-from a golf course, during daylight hours, within 2 miles on roads w/ a speed limit not exceeding 35mph. Since it's made by the manufacturer with more than 1 seat, it can't be classified as an electric personal assistance vehicle. Those can be used on roads with no sidewalks where the speed limit is 30mph or less. Would never get one of these death traps anyways. But surprised so many things can fall under the definition of an electric personal assistance vehicle. As long as it's free standing and with an average power
For the RV idea, a truck bed camper could be perfect. That way you can remove it easily and still have the pick up for 90% of the time and then load the self contained camper add on when needed. Loads of great self builds on UA-cam, with the weather in Tel Aviv you could go for a pop top too to save weight. Good luck and thanks for the videos.
That looks like a pretty cool little around town hauler. I noticed when I was in Tel Aviv this last summer that there are a lot of e-bikes. I almost got my butt ran over by one when it wasn't paying attention crossing from the beach to the hotel LOL.
First thing it needs is a couple of coil-over shocks on the rear, not having shocks is dangerous and the ride quality will improve out of sight if you fit some. I'd probably do a full four-link rear but that's a lot more involved.
This would be perfect to add a Lynch/AGNI motor as a swap, it's small profile would likely fit well. This would give you up to 50hp on demand, it's brushed DC so you can use any controller from 1kw to 30kw, and also cheap or expensive batteries. Here's some more information if you're interested: The Lynch motor is an unconventional design with a disc armature. It marries the advantages of a conventional, wound armature motor with the benefits of a flat (printed circuit) motor. It is similar to a pancake motor, but is more powerful than any of these technologies. The disc armature has magnets on both sides, doubling the available flux density and shortening the magnetic path. It therefore packs more power per pound and per cubic inch than any other motor technology. Of course such a revolutionary motor is not for every application - it is not as cheap as wound field motors, but for many applications it is a far superior motor. It has a previously unheard of power to weight ratio and also power to volume ratio. It is also highly efficient because of the double magnet design and associated short magnetic path. It also includes integral fan cooling. The Lynch motor is an important development which spurred other motor designers to improve their products to remain competitive, such as synchronus permanent magnet machines. As a result of the competition between manufacturers the cost of high performance motors and controllers has fallen dramatically. We hope the cost of solar cells also reduces to allow renewable transportation to develop as a viable alternative to carbon fuels. Cedric Lynch built his electric bike around a mid-drive configuration, also building one of the worlds most efficient light weight electric motors to power his rig reliably at 60-MPH for significant distances. He would later set several world records with his axial flux motor and bring it to market as the Lynch / Agni motor. Briggs and Stratton would eventually buy this technology which would lead to the Etek motor, which is now famous for making high speed efficient electric hot rods. Cedric uses to achieve high speeds is by following the rules of aerodynamics, and building a bike that is as aerodynamic and as efficient as possible. The other builders on this list bypassed this step, and Cedric uses this bicycle as daily transportation on real commutes. Although this high-efficiency motor uses “old school” brushes, this fact allows builders to use very affordable controllers. He has proven his design choices through thousands of miles of commuting, and the Lynch motor is highly respected. Cedric Lynch is known as the creator of the Agni Motor, a highly efficient electric motor that weighs around 25 pounds and can put out as much as 50hp. Cedric Lynch is a British 'mad scientist' type mechanical engineer obsessed with the idea of greener transportation. His interest has been in building a super efficient yet powerful vehicle that can serve as a car replacement. He started thinking of his own design for an electric motor in 1983 when he began entering competitions organized by the Battery Vehicle Society regarding building an efficient electric vehicle. At the time there was no reasonably priced DC motor with descent efficiency so Lynch decided to build his own utilizing modifying existing motors with old tin cans that he would spread out flat to use as cooling fins. Surprisingly using rudimentary materials and a garage work bench, Cedric was making better more efficient electric motors than any of the universities were able to manufacture in state of the art workshops. Cedric then came up with a motor design that could be cheaply manufactured and began manufacturing his own motor that he could sell to the public in 1988 and the Lynch Electric Motor Company was born, known as LEMCO. Cedric first used his motor to create a small boat called “The Spark” that would set an electric boat efficiency record. From there Cedric turned his attention to bicycles, an application generally considered too small for a lynch motor at that time. Cedric mounted his motor in recumbent bike, allowing him space to eventually use a set of thundersky lithium batteries. The resulting aerodynamic recumbent bike had a top speed of 60mph and still managed an incredible range of 150 miles. Cedric rode his recumbent creation everywhere as a daily commuter, putting an amazing 50,000 miles on the machine - technically a motorbike. Briggs and Stratton, the US firm famous for lawn mower engines, bought the technology and used it in their E-Tech Motor, and Cedric went on to manufacture his latest incarnation of his lynch design into the Agni motor, which is used in go karts, sailboats, motor boats, and even small airplanes. The Lynch designed motors all have the same traits. Brushed motors, around 25 pounds in weight and they are able to put out enormous power compared to their weight. Sometimes as high as 50 hp (depending on amperage ran through the motor) at an incredible 98% efficiency. Lynch Motors are also the most often used motors in electric motorcycle racing applications. Cedric's zero-emission motorcycle, which has a top speed of 120mph, was shown in action winning the world’s first zero carbon race - the TTxGP in the Isle of Mann. The idea for the electric motor has been snapped up by the 56-year-old’’s friend Arvind Rabadia, who together with his brother Hasmuk Rabadia had been thinking of starting a business in India. They have now set up Agni Motors to make further-improved versions of Cedric’s motors Despite Cedric’s breakthrough invention he has no formal engineering qualifications and taught himself the techniques needed to construct his engine. He first became interested in electrics when his parents bought him a book entitled How to build things from things found at home. The Etek motor is a brushed 25-pound pancake shaped motor that puts out enormous power for its weight. Depending on amperage and voltage the Etek can easily provide between 15-horsepower and 30-horsepower reliably and consistently (11-kW / 22-kW). A perfect platform for a powerful electric bike if you do not mind the weight. Although brushless motors are considered more modern, a brushed motor like the Etek allows the builder to use very affordable controllers. Cedric-Lynch invented the motor and sold it to Briggs and Stratton which US company produced the Etek at a lower price (around $600). In the late 90’s early 2000’s it was the way to go for a high-power / light-weight electric vehicle. Many small E-vehicle records were set using the Etek motor. Finally, the market had a relatively lightweight and powerful electric motor available to the masses. In essence, the Etek allowed hot rodders to build electric bikes. Before the Etek very few people had ever achieved 50mph on an electric bike. Even today, Etek motors (and newer incarnations of the Etek motor) are used to make some super fast electric bikes. In the case of Liveforphysics, the fastest E-bikes ever. Liveforphysics used a newer version of the Etek (the Agni motor), to achieve speeds of over 70mph, and dominate a recent hill-climb event. Every Etek I have ever ridden has been characterized by brutal off-the-line acceleration, usually to a point where you have to apply the throttle very carefully or get thrown off. However, it is possible to run an Etek at a lower voltage or lower amperage and have a very manageable, safe, and sane electric bike that will not burn out on you, no matter high steep the incline.
Wouldnt really matter right now as the battery is whats heavily lacking for it, If he puts a lithium battery i wouldnt be surprised it would start wheelying
Hi, that's a great little vehicle - it made me smile watching you drive it around. Perfect for last mile deliveries and that sort of thing. I wonder what size Li battery you could fit in there.
I think it is a great way to get around and grocery getter. I would get one if they were available here in the States. As a welder and fabricator I can see adding a couple of feet in the wheel base to make it a better camper.
They make dual axel gas/diesel models. Window shop in Alibaba for “cargo trikes motorcycle”. I haven’t been able to find a manufacture that has a diesel or gas that can be imported into the states.
I love all your reviews and opinions about high efficiency small vehicles. The recent article about people not needing SUVs got some hate, bit I thought it was brilliant. I have a Zero SR/S, but after your review, I've got my eye on a CSC Wiz. Keep the content coming!
When the video first started, my mind wondered to what a camper van version would look like, then at the end you started talking about it. I like this little thing. I can hardly wait till you trick it out. Take Care.
Exactly what I was thinking. Alibaba has some similar but seen lots of horror stories from them and most items have a minimum order of multiple pieces.
I own a bike shop in rishon le zion with a metal cnc router / lathe / mig welder and your video made me think maybe to get one and convrt it to a 4 seat with full quality motorcycle suspension. Great vid thank you
It looks great. It actually sounds like a milk float that woke me up every Monday at 7 a.m. when I was in Manchester in 2018. I hadn't seen or heard one in years. These were endemic to Britain's streets once through the Post War 50's until maybe the 80's when home milk deliveries went out of fashion. They were once the only common electric vehicle in the UK. Every city had them. Some looked like the tuk tuk, some had four wheels. Nearly every school kid wanted one but the only power source were huge heavy lead acid batteries that severely limited practical use but had found an ideal niche for stop start home dairy product deliveries. They were quite before their time. It's amazing that they endured and amazing that they didn't cross over so fully to other uses. The Co-op in Edinburgh used horse drawn milk floats till the 1980's.
You can get the same electric from India: Mahindra Treo Tuk Tuk for $2,500 to $3,000 + shipping to the US. I think it is great for large compact cities. The top speed is 45 m/hr which is not too bad. One can add a solar panel too and never have to pay for gas or electric!
Hello Mike, At first I thought you were in Modi'in. It looked as if you were in front of an organization I am, associated in Israel called Chimes, that provides services to people with special needs. I really liked the vehicle. I wonder if you could add rear shocks which might improve the ride. I am thinking lever style shocks that were used on a variety of small Euorpean cars, including I think the original VW. Its very cool. I wonder if it would pass muster in the states as a moped. I think this would be consdered a Low Speed Vehicle it restricts you to roads with speed limits of less than 35 mph. In any case very cool. Look forward to seeing more about it.
Ignore my last comment, THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH EV INFO! I watched your trike episode, and I'm back at square 1, guess I'll get my license back and go with gas, I think the 22mph trike would work but 3k addmotor is out of my range ATM. I have biked on/ off road my whole life but I was smashed at work and my pelvis was broke in 4 places. I get winded easy now. The pharmacy and every store I need is within a mile of me. I wanted to go electric and have a vehicle that does not need insurance, I can't afford all that taking care of my mom. So electric trike would solve it all. 4 wheel scooters look cool but they are too slow and expensive.
In Turkey, these are registered as 3 wheel motorcycles and street legal but not highway permitted. You can use these with an A1 or A2 driver's license. If you add a fourth wheel, you can drive around with B1 license.
Suspension upgrades: Rear: get air bags to mount with compressor, tank, and ride height sensor, then pull all but the main top leaf spring for each side. Front: get the weight on the front wheel, pull your springs and measure the length and diameter. Use that to order progressive fork springs for the weight. Bed: add a latching pin to lock the bed down while driving so it doesn’t jump around.
it is posible to adjust leaf spring suspension to be softer.. you can remove some of them or cut a little bit of some of them, plenty of instructions online. its pretty normal to remove what is not needed, they are often oversized to take a load they will never see..
I wonder what it would take to add shocks to the back? There's so many different models for all the different cars, you'd just (just?) have to work out the geometry, and of course, work out the mounting. Something to consider for your free time.
Mabe add shocks to the rear for sure. Change front suspension add shocks up there. Just thinking realistically. And could use rubber mount washers on existing bolts. That in itself would definitely make for way better ride and tone down the rattling shoot not so out of the question and it would be a lot more pleasurable to drive around. And doesn't cost a arm and a leg to do. The little things ohhh yeah. Awesome set up. Love it.
I love this. And the fact that it has lead acid batteries is very much a positive to my mind. Not much chance of a battery fire from the old school arrangement! I would call this the most desirable EV I have yet seen, and hilarious to report, the advert at the start was for the Lotus Eletra, which represents everything that is wrong with current EVs. Too big, too complex and much too expensive! Best wishes from George in UK.
Plonk a modern mini generator under the seat & a solar panel on the roof & travel the globe. I love it! Excellent for a smallholding vehicle on a farmstead. I want one! ❤
As I come from India.. it’s really interesting that you are enjoying Electric Rikshaw… not sure if it’s street legal… but you are having best time out of it.
I would put a canopy over the back that can be detached, for if I ever have people in the rear on it. I Could also see vehicles like this on Golf Courses, modified so the back seat is fixed up for golf bags especially due to the price over a modern golf cart, adding a solar panel will help ensure the vehicle will almost never need charging due to how little a golf cart is moved an most of the time sitting even for golf as a player could turn it off between shots depending on how easy the Rikshaw/Tuk-Tuk is to turn on.
Neat tent RV camper kits are sold that I have seen used and people appear to love them. Full size bed much lighter than rigid construction. My RAM PROMASTER CITY VAN is also built in Turkey. I live full-time in it and find it to be comfortable with an attractive interior. Glad your having fun.
50 years ago quad-runners were all 3-wheeled. There were so many accidents due to one rear wheel bouncing over something and tipping it over towards the diagonally opposite corner that the CPSC banned them and that's why quad runners exist today.
I've seen the future and it looks like the 1970's. This is very, very similar to old British milk floats that used to be ubiquitous back in the days when people had fresh milk delivered to the door. They were about the same size and specs as this EV. They were one of the few EVs that saw mass adoption then due to their quiet engines which would have been used early in the morning before most people woke up.
Economic and simple to maintain, they were ideal for delivering heavy cargoes of bottled milk house to house in the mornings, especially as they could spend a large part of the rest of the day slowly recharging. They were good workhorses, powerful enough but pretty slow, but that didn't matter. The technology for such vehicles has been around since the 1890s. Interestingly, some of the earliest powered buses and taxis in the UK were battery electrics. They were also often used on industrial premises, for example as as fork lift trucks.
I love the 2 inches of wheel travel and the 5 mile range fully loaded with topsoil. They are cheap to repair with $400 on average replacement cost for all the vital parts.
that thing looks awesome, I wish we could have them in Australia! just fyi Leaf springs work best when under load, when they have no load on them, they are horrible.. however put a couple of hundred kilograms in the back and take it for a spin and it should be HEAPS nicer to ride in, give it a test and let us know how you go.. also when you build a camper on the back this will probably resolve the issue for you with the extra weight :) enjoy!
This was really cool to see. My first car was a 1980 Renault Letrictric Leopard.. It was factory converted to electric with 16 6v golf cart batteries. It used a relay to switch it from 24v or 48v for 2 speeds. Unfortunately I brought the full set of batteries before I found out it worked much better with only 8 batteries(due to the extra weight). If I only knew about LiPos back then.. I would have had a hotrod.. I hope you make your vehicle modular, so you can change the back end as easily as changing the battery on a cordless drill...
Leaf springs are fine if you have good progressive multi leafs an shocks. Those are junk single leaf used on trailers an no shocks. It would be easy to upgrade that to ride smooth. Probably under $300 an a few hours with hand tools.
I have always liked these TukTuks or Trykes in the Philippines. At WDW Security our golf carts have a "mirror bar" from the ceiling that goes across the whole length. That may give you good visibility of what is behind you and improve safety. 2nd: I had no idea Telavive is so nice. Can you drive one of your weird vehicles around and show the place one day? Have a Magical Day!
I have been driving mine for 2300 km now. Made a lot of modifications and still love the original 🛺 feeling. It is just fun. Quality? Well not so much 😜 its someething for ppl who like the 🪛
Lead acid is actually better for the environment and can be recycled as a rejuvenated battery over and over again! You only need several deep charging cycles and a small amount of distilled water. And you can reuse the battery many times!
The rear could do with some shocks. When you have some weight in the back it will be hard to tip, could do with a bigger or more lifters. Also looks a little flimsy needs to be bolstered in a few areas.
In 1968 I had a temp job delivering legal papers in San Francisco, driving a 3 wheel Cushman gas trike. It was a blast to drive, especially getting air while cresting a steep street, think the chase scene in the BULLIT movie!
The rear suspension is meant to carry heavy loads. If you put some weight in the back, maybe 100 to 120 lbs, it will tame the bouncing you get when it’s not carrying cargo.
This is important. People on here acting like most cargo trucks have shocks in the rear. Most don't and only use leaf springs. The difference is this thing weighs almost nothing so the leaf springs are mostly useless. I'd also put in rubber spacers all over the place to deal with the clanking noise.
13:26 that license plate on the blue one says 台铃 which is an electric scooter manufacturer in China, probably one of the biggest here, amazing that little thing was exported all the way to Israel!
Had a passenger model shipped to us from Thailand in 1992. Put in a motor that was left over from the silly EV programs of the mid 70's 20hp motor. Six group size 27 AGM batteries and a golf cart controller made an easy conversion. It pulled 3000 pounds up a 20% grade from a standing start. Would do wheelies with four big people in it.
I'm trying to get one of these, but fully covered maybe even 2 cab version, for work and shopping. I only live like 5 miles to town. So 10 to 15 miles a day. This would be perfect.
You need to add lights on the top of the cab so you could drive with the tail gate down. Looks pretty cool. You could put a 24V battery in that under seat storage for emergency.
I think that is a great little truck with potential for all kinds of conversions. I would not trust it for carrying people without higher sides and seat belts. Having no doors makes it quick and easy for delivery people who have to stop a lot of times with small items. Incidentally the price is lower than some Cargo Ebikes and your tuk tuk can do more with more power
Cool vehicle! Nice video! Certainly see use for them, but not me. I tend more towards a light terrain minitruck or an ATV, to haul stuff arround the property and on drivable forest paths between properties..
These gas and electric trikes are all over the Philippines. I bought a small Chinese e-trike new for $800. It carries 3 people. Kind of wished I had purchased a bigger faster one as it's currently our family car..
I like this rascal. Here where I live it would be street legal as long as I purchase a city permit which for me is $50 a year. I currently drive a Ku Ota Sidekick around town, but to have something electric to drive would be awesome. Thanx for sharing...I look forward to more of your content
Great video! Thanks for sharing. I’ve often wondered about those vehicles and yours is the first electric one I’ve seen. They might not be all that practical here in NW Montana with our long winters. Thanks again.
Leave it to my son to find another "awesomely weird" vehicle he couldn't live without LOL !! I am very glad that I have the electric mini truck at my place here in Florida and he keeps that tuk tuk in Tel Aviv with him !! I got the better end of the deal. @Micah - be careful with that thing !! And no, your wife will not want to go RV-ing in that thing !! Love, Dad.
tuk tuks are all over Asia and South America = very common vehicle used for taxi etc. 😊
🤣🤣🤣
Lol. A dad with a very good sense of humor and practicality.👌👍
@@sandasturner9529 Thanks !! I keep telling Micah that he chose his parents well !! Best regards
I thought the e-auto was manufactured in China. Though the construction is good, it's suspensions must be giving you a 'hard seat'
Lots of people are making a living with these "trucks" here in Turkey. They collect all kinds of garbage for recycling. Paper, metal, pet bottles, can boxes ect. Different fromTel Aviv, they all have a music/sound system on them. They just stop on each trash bin one after another and throw at the back what can be recycled. No need to turn off or on the engine, stop, go, stop, go. All day long they roam the streets, gather almost everything for recycling and they never beg or ask for something. They just work. I think, they are doing a great job. I personally, sort my garbage at home and wait for them to come by. When I hand it to them respectfully, they get very happy and leave with a smile on their face. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO KEEP THE PLANET CLEAN. REAL NAMELESS HEROS.
And they get paid by the recycle place for bringing it. Everyone wins
Really good to hear how other countries are dealing with this 🙂
@@jackhemsworth7515 right. This is how it works.
How do they manufacture clean batteries ? Not really a question but they cannot so not keeping the planet as clean as you think.
Most are syrian those vehicls arent really popular among turkish people, In fact, they are not as innocent as they seem, most of them do not obey the traffic rules and they do not even have a Turkish driver's license and there are cases where they get into an argument with people in traffic and attack them with tools like machete or chopping knife
I lived and worked in China from 2006 to 2010. This kind of electric trikes were everywhere, in lots of different configurations and sizes. From smaller than yours to at least twice the size. Some have beds that will fit a full sheet of plywood. A lot of these were quite well built; I have spoken to drivers who had had their trike for over 10 years, zipping around town as couriers, or delivering goods to factories. I really liked them and I have often said I would like to take one back home, as they are are a lot more versatile than a car trailer. Besides that they are dirt cheap. If you order directly from the factory (minimum order 10 pieces), prices start at around $300 FOB, depending on the type and size.
Unfortunately it is almost impossible to have them legalized in the Netherlands
上海也不能用这种车子的，其他城市可以使用，送快递非常方便
The parking fee in the Netherlands is very high. I will feel sad if the parking fee of one year is higher than the total price of the parked vehicle.
300 US dollars is too low, usually 700-1000 US dollars. （FOB）
My factory has EEC certification for this vehicle. If you are interested you can contact me
How @@Efengxian
Be careful with stability when you start modifications, pay special attention to the center of gravity, those things turn out to be unstable when they have lithium batteries and high cargo boxes, mostly on turns and going uphill, I drove one and had an accident due to the center of gravity being too far to the rear
Memories of Jeremy Clarkson's camper...
Interesting comment. A friend of mine built a rickshaw specifically for ice-cream vending and uses lorry-grade air suspension units. The rickshaw is quite 'top heavy' having a freezer in the back and looks like it's going to topple over sometimes but never actually does. A motorcycle steering damper may help to reduce the swaying.
Rear suspension will feel softer as you add weight. Also you might be be able to replace the rear springs with air ride. Meanwhile you can reduce rear tire air pressure to improve the ride, try about 10/12psi. Won't hurt a thing unless you have lots of weight in the bed.
Good points, thanks!
yeah I was going to suggest some air springs too . I think they make some smaller ones for motorcycles.
If it were me, I would look into adding some shocks on the rear. I don't think it would be that difficult or expensive, but it could make a huge difference in ride quality and safety. Maybe also softer springs but add airbags to keep the load capacity.
Get some chalk draw three lines across the tires then drive in a straight line and deflate the tires till you wear the chalk off the tire the face equally across the face. This will help the tires wear longer. The downsize it may decrease your range.
Yeah the suspension is massively overbuilt for light loads. I'd say they could be swapped out for some load-appropriate coil springs held in place by plates u-bolted to the axle and to whatever bit of frame is directly above the axle. Throw a damper tube in the middle, and you've got a smooth ride for days.
Love you videos. the Name "TukTuk" dosen't come from the sound, but from the thai word "tuk" that meas "Cheap" because in the old days, it was a cheaper alternative to a normal taxi, so it got the name "Tuk Tuk" for "Cheap Cheap" :)
I did a Solar Tuk Tuk project and had so much fun with it (SolarTuk). Great project, mate.
What exactly is it and can you share more?
Honestly, something like this seems like a decent replacement (with bigger rear tires) for a farmers 3 wheeled Honda. Those things are insanely useful as property runabouts and I could absolutely see something like this with chunky tires being used as a slightly bigger version of that.
I really like the idea of you turning that rickshaw into a functional RV travel vehicle ! I have had the same dream project in mind with my little pickup truck & add the solar to it to make it happen! Looking forward to your next video on this,,,,shalom !
That motor controller should only be able to provide about 1440 watts of continuous power based on the label. Replacing it would be a very easy (and fun!) upgrade. Excited to see what you do with this little tuk tuk.
Thats not the controller. Its a voltage converter to rum the 12v stuff. Not sure what power the controller is.
You might find that the suspension works better with some load in the back. My ute is like that, it’s capable of carrying a thousand kilos in the tub, so empty, it’s a bouncy ride.
cheap lightweight way to quiet those down , rubber washers , foam tape . any generic flex seal type roll on or spray or tube of automotive seam sealer on bed and canopy too . less rust and Quiet
If you RV it, maybe do a flip out tent type thing like the rooftop tents for trucks. Build it on top of the bed & have a slide-out for the back with a stove, fridge, water container or whatever else. You could even hinge the solar roof over the bed just behind the cab to be more modular. Yeah, I think it's a cool idea.
Having built a light weight teardrop camper, I was thinking along that line at first. However, I remember seeing the VW fifth wheel RV on You Tube. Maybe a small camper with a fifth wheel hook up, with the extra axle,it would be less weight hanging on the bed. I used 1/8" bending plywood, but for you, it could also be built of metal studs and bending plywood.
I'm a70 year old, and I would solo camp in that. But I'm in the states, and I want get an old mail jeep, throw the motor out and hook up dual electric motors for 4X4, put in a pop up top like the old Westfallia by VW. That would keep down wind drag and still let me stand up.
Then hook up about 400 watts on folding awnings on both sides to run camp and charge my main batteries. (I would use lithium batteries for better range.) A camp stove and a good cooler and a hammock would furnish it.
Now that just might make the sweetest little metal detecting, (my hobby), backwoods runabout that a person could want. 😎👍
@@tinkerstrade3553 I am also 70y .Is that a coincidence or what ?
I'd build a little camper that can be put on the back and taken off for when it's not needed.
I liked the mini pickup, but I really like this. Those fold down rear side panels are really revolutionary.
I want to share an idea I’ve had recently. There is an Australian company that manufactures a cargo trailer that utilizes the locking devices in the bottom four corners that cargo containers use. Basically with a flatbed trailer you back under the container, lock it in, then go. That’s the concept. It means you could have several differing cargo boxes, but just one trailer.
More to the point, those folding back side panels give you a flatbed configuration that could allow a camper build along the lines of the lightweight eBike trailer campers I’ve seen in UA-cam… only bigger. You already have the electric (DC to DC converter) so your half way there already. Solar could be a canopy configuration, or dedicated panels on the camper box. Using those removable truck bed camper lifts you could switch from pickup/flatbed to camper quickly. There is a lot more I’ve got for this type of configuration, but this should get you going. Sure would like to see a build of a lightweight removable camper box. 😁
VW had that on their truck back in the 60s
@@robertheinkel6225 Rob, any info or links on this. Sounds interesting, it seems nothing good is ever new.
I believe most Japanese kei trucks also have that same feature.
If you know someone who is an engineer, you should talk to them about the suspension. I don't know enough to consider myself qualified to tell you exactly what to do, but lots of leaf springs are solid on one side and have a shackle on the other, not both. Also, you might be able to add a shock somewhere to dampen the springiness.
It looks like ATV front shocks might fit in there.
Small vehicles such as this are very useful and convenient. The only change i would make is put two wheels in front and one in back connected to the trans-axel. A single person can carry a great deal of cargo behind him. Or can arrange up to 4 seats
Thanks Micah.I appreciate the win.I have a kit to install,and another brother is doing a center-drive,so I need to think about what I need.That Micah-shaw will be a good series.I look forward to the vids.I've always liked their design,and now with electric drive.Wow.
Hey! Great transportation for quick emergencies and excellent for additional solar details!! I can’t wait to see you build the ultimate tuk tuk
It was a nice bonus seeing the streets of Tel Aviv. I never know what you have planned for a project, you're such a fun guy.
I'd put some rubber strips between the bed and frame and I bet you can find a local shop to add shocks to the back. Leaf springs aren't the problem, it's lack of dampening.
Edit: On second thought, the springs are probably too stiff for tuk-tuk-ing around town unloaded. Still, shocks would help with bumps at maximum velocity.
Build your camper out of Hemp supplies. Lumber, plastic, it is so much lighter & the durability will be so satisfying. It needs springs! TY for showing us your new toy...still love the truck, especially since you tricked it out...👍✌🙋♀️
Peace be with you😌 I was also interested in an Electric Cargo Trike but decided against because they’re not street legal in the US. Thank you for sharing your experience. Good luck with it. GOD Bless you🙏
Depends on where you live.
In my state, an electrified trike is still a bicycle if you preserve the peddles in the conversion.
And bikes are entitled to a full lane - just don't be a dick about it.
These kind of vehicles actually *are* street legal in the US, save for a couple states (New York is one of them I believe) with weird licensing / helmet laws.
A three-wheeled vehicle can generally be registered as an "autocycle", treated legally as a cross between a motorcycle and a car. And as with normal motorcycles, FMVSS crash protection standards aren't required to be met (just lighting and whatnot).
I will definitely be building a three-wheeled microcar in the future, the potential for extremely efficient, climate-controlled local transport is too good to turn down for those days where the weather isn't well-suited to riding a scooter or ebike.
@@chasemartin4450 In my state (Texas) this wouldn't work as an autocycle since it does not have a steering wheel from the manufacturer. The handlebars make it a no-go here. The only category it fits under is an ATV. But ATVs are off-highway vehicles which aren't street legal except in neighborhoods that have a covenant for them or to-from a golf course, during daylight hours, within 2 miles on roads w/ a speed limit not exceeding 35mph. Since it's made by the manufacturer with more than 1 seat, it can't be classified as an electric personal assistance vehicle. Those can be used on roads with no sidewalks where the speed limit is 30mph or less.
Would never get one of these death traps anyways. But surprised so many things can fall under the definition of an electric personal assistance vehicle. As long as it's free standing and with an average power
For the RV idea, a truck bed camper could be perfect. That way you can remove it easily and still have the pick up for 90% of the time and then load the self contained camper add on when needed. Loads of great self builds on UA-cam, with the weather in Tel Aviv you could go for a pop top too to save weight.
Good luck and thanks for the videos.
I like it! I am looking forward to watching your mods take shape.
the smile on your face in the first second of the vid shows exactly how you feel about it. very cool.
That looks like a pretty cool little around town hauler. I noticed when I was in Tel Aviv this last summer that there are a lot of e-bikes. I almost got my butt ran over by one when it wasn't paying attention crossing from the beach to the hotel LOL.
First thing it needs is a couple of coil-over shocks on the rear, not having shocks is dangerous and the ride quality will improve out of sight if you fit some. I'd probably do a full four-link rear but that's a lot more involved.
This would be perfect to add a Lynch/AGNI motor as a swap, it's small profile would likely fit well. This would give you up to 50hp on demand, it's brushed DC so you can use any controller from 1kw to 30kw, and also cheap or expensive batteries. Here's some more information if you're interested:
The Lynch motor is an unconventional design with a disc armature. It marries the advantages of a conventional, wound armature motor with the benefits of a flat (printed circuit) motor. It is similar to a pancake motor, but is more powerful than any of these technologies. The disc armature has magnets on both sides, doubling the available flux density and shortening the magnetic path. It therefore packs more power per pound and per cubic inch than any other motor technology. Of course such a revolutionary motor is not for every application - it is not as cheap as wound field motors, but for many applications it is a far superior motor. It has a previously unheard of power to weight ratio and also power to volume ratio. It is also highly efficient because of the double magnet design and associated short magnetic path. It also includes integral fan cooling.
The Lynch motor is an important development which spurred other motor designers to improve their products to remain competitive, such as synchronus permanent magnet machines. As a result of the competition between manufacturers the cost of high performance motors and controllers has fallen dramatically. We hope the cost of solar cells also reduces to allow renewable transportation to develop as a viable alternative to carbon fuels.
Cedric Lynch built his electric bike around a mid-drive configuration, also building one of the worlds most efficient light weight electric motors to power his rig reliably at 60-MPH for significant distances. He would later set several world records with his axial flux motor and bring it to market as the Lynch / Agni motor. Briggs and Stratton would eventually buy this technology which would lead to the Etek motor, which is now famous for making high speed efficient electric hot rods.
Cedric uses to achieve high speeds is by following the rules of aerodynamics, and building a bike that is as aerodynamic and as efficient as possible. The other builders on this list bypassed this step, and Cedric uses this bicycle as daily transportation on real commutes. Although this high-efficiency motor uses “old school” brushes, this fact allows builders to use very affordable controllers. He has proven his design choices through thousands of miles of commuting, and the Lynch motor is highly respected.
Cedric Lynch is known as the creator of the Agni Motor, a highly efficient electric motor that weighs around 25 pounds and can put out as much as 50hp.
Cedric Lynch is a British 'mad scientist' type mechanical engineer obsessed with the idea of greener transportation. His interest has been in building a super efficient yet powerful vehicle that can serve as a car replacement.
He started thinking of his own design for an electric motor in 1983 when he began entering competitions organized by the Battery Vehicle Society regarding building an efficient electric vehicle. At the time there was no reasonably priced DC motor with descent efficiency so Lynch decided to build his own utilizing modifying existing motors with old tin cans that he would spread out flat to use as cooling fins. Surprisingly using rudimentary materials and a garage work bench, Cedric was making better more efficient electric motors than any of the universities were able to manufacture in state of the art workshops.
Cedric then came up with a motor design that could be cheaply manufactured and began manufacturing his own motor that he could sell to the public in 1988 and the Lynch Electric Motor Company was born, known as LEMCO.
Cedric first used his motor to create a small boat called “The Spark” that would set an electric boat efficiency record. From there Cedric turned his attention to bicycles, an application generally considered too small for a lynch motor at that time. Cedric mounted his motor in recumbent bike, allowing him space to eventually use a set of thundersky lithium batteries.
The resulting aerodynamic recumbent bike had a top speed of 60mph and still managed an incredible range of 150 miles. Cedric rode his recumbent creation everywhere as a daily commuter, putting an amazing 50,000 miles on the machine - technically a motorbike.
Briggs and Stratton, the US firm famous for lawn mower engines, bought the technology and used it in their E-Tech Motor, and Cedric went on to manufacture his latest incarnation of his lynch design into the Agni motor, which is used in go karts, sailboats, motor boats, and even small airplanes.
The Lynch designed motors all have the same traits. Brushed motors, around 25 pounds in weight and they are able to put out enormous power compared to their weight. Sometimes as high as 50 hp (depending on amperage ran through the motor) at an incredible 98% efficiency. Lynch Motors are also the most often used motors in electric motorcycle racing applications.
Cedric's zero-emission motorcycle, which has a top speed of 120mph, was shown in action winning the world’s first zero carbon race - the TTxGP in the Isle of Mann.
The idea for the electric motor has been snapped up by the 56-year-old’’s friend Arvind Rabadia, who together with his brother Hasmuk Rabadia had been thinking of starting a business in India. They have now set up Agni Motors to make further-improved versions of Cedric’s motors
Despite Cedric’s breakthrough invention he has no formal engineering qualifications and taught himself the techniques needed to construct his engine. He first became interested in electrics when his parents bought him a book entitled How to build things from things found at home.
The Etek motor is a brushed 25-pound pancake shaped motor that puts out enormous power for its weight. Depending on amperage and voltage the Etek can easily provide between 15-horsepower and 30-horsepower reliably and consistently (11-kW / 22-kW). A perfect platform for a powerful electric bike if you do not mind the weight. Although brushless motors are considered more modern, a brushed motor like the Etek allows the builder to use very affordable controllers.
Cedric-Lynch invented the motor and sold it to Briggs and Stratton which US company produced the Etek at a lower price (around $600). In the late 90’s early 2000’s it was the way to go for a high-power / light-weight electric vehicle. Many small E-vehicle records were set using the Etek motor. Finally, the market had a relatively lightweight and powerful electric motor available to the masses.
In essence, the Etek allowed hot rodders to build electric bikes. Before the Etek very few people had ever achieved 50mph on an electric bike. Even today, Etek motors (and newer incarnations of the Etek motor) are used to make some super fast electric bikes. In the case of Liveforphysics, the fastest E-bikes ever.
Liveforphysics used a newer version of the Etek (the Agni motor), to achieve speeds of over 70mph, and dominate a recent hill-climb event.
Every Etek I have ever ridden has been characterized by brutal off-the-line acceleration, usually to a point where you have to apply the throttle very carefully or get thrown off. However, it is possible to run an Etek at a lower voltage or lower amperage and have a very manageable, safe, and sane electric bike that will not burn out on you, no matter high steep the incline.
Wouldnt really matter right now as the battery is whats heavily lacking for it, If he puts a lithium battery i wouldnt be surprised it would start wheelying
@@moneer7139 If only it were that simple
Perfect for supermarket runs too. If you do the RV thing a pop-up structure seems the way to go.
Hi, that's a great little vehicle - it made me smile watching you drive it around. Perfect for last mile deliveries and that sort of thing. I wonder what size Li battery you could fit in there.
Hello from Canada! When I saw this tuk tuk I was thinking the exact same thing as you: adding a solar panel and adding a camper in the back. Haha
I think it is a great way to get around and grocery getter. I would get one if they were available here in the States.
As a welder and fabricator I can see adding a couple of feet in the wheel base to make it a better camper.
They make dual axel gas/diesel models. Window shop in Alibaba for “cargo trikes motorcycle”. I haven’t been able to find a manufacture that has a diesel or gas that can be imported into the states.
Thank you for your love for tricycles. I feel proud to be a tricycle manufacturer.
I love all your reviews and opinions about high efficiency small vehicles. The recent article about people not needing SUVs got some hate, bit I thought it was brilliant. I have a Zero SR/S, but after your review, I've got my eye on a CSC Wiz. Keep the content coming!
keep zeeo lóng eltric rangr
When the video first started, my mind wondered to what a camper van version would look like, then at the end you started talking about it. I like this little thing. I can hardly wait till you trick it out. Take Care.
Can you provide a link to a web site where one could buy one?
Exactly what I was thinking. Alibaba has some similar but seen lots of horror stories from them and most items have a minimum order of multiple pieces.
你们真这么喜欢这三轮吗我可以试着代购不过关税和运费很高
I own a bike shop in rishon le zion with a metal cnc router / lathe / mig welder and your video made me think maybe to get one and convrt it to a 4 seat with full quality motorcycle suspension.
Great vid thank you
God, I wish I could get something like that.
It looks great. It actually sounds like a milk float that woke me up every Monday at 7 a.m. when I was in Manchester in 2018. I hadn't seen or heard one in years. These were endemic to Britain's streets once through the Post War 50's until maybe the 80's when home milk deliveries went out of fashion.
They were once the only common electric vehicle in the UK. Every city had them. Some looked like the tuk tuk, some had four wheels. Nearly every school kid wanted one but the only power source were huge heavy lead acid batteries that severely limited practical use but had found an ideal niche for stop start home dairy product deliveries. They were quite before their time. It's amazing that they endured and amazing that they didn't cross over so fully to other uses.
The Co-op in Edinburgh used horse drawn milk floats till the 1980's.
You can get the same electric from India: Mahindra Treo Tuk Tuk for $2,500 to $3,000 + shipping to the US. I think it is great for large compact cities. The top speed is 45 m/hr which is not too bad.
One can add a solar panel too and never have to pay for gas or electric!
我是中国人。你可以来中国旅游并询问电动三轮车价格。全新的大概800-1000美金。并且如果印度制造商想降低价格，最简单的方式就是从中国进口电池和电机。
Hello Mike, At first I thought you were in Modi'in. It looked as if you were in front of an organization I am, associated in Israel called Chimes, that provides services to people with special needs. I really liked the vehicle.
I wonder if you could add rear shocks which might improve the ride. I am thinking lever style shocks that were used on a variety of small Euorpean cars, including I think the original VW. Its very cool. I wonder if it would pass muster in the states as a moped. I think this would be consdered a Low Speed Vehicle it restricts you to roads with speed limits of less than 35 mph. In any case very cool. Look forward to seeing more about it.
Ignore my last comment, THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH EV INFO! I watched your trike episode, and I'm back at square 1, guess I'll get my license back and go with gas, I think the 22mph trike would work but 3k addmotor is out of my range ATM. I have biked on/ off road my whole life but I was smashed at work and my pelvis was broke in 4 places. I get winded easy now. The pharmacy and every store I need is within a mile of me. I wanted to go electric and have a vehicle that does not need insurance, I can't afford all that taking care of my mom. So electric trike would solve it all. 4 wheel scooters look cool but they are too slow and expensive.
Great for urban areas, would love to see more of these type of vehicles on our roads
In Turkey, these are registered as 3 wheel motorcycles and street legal but not highway permitted. You can use these with an A1 or A2 driver's license. If you add a fourth wheel, you can drive around with B1 license.
Suspension upgrades:
Rear: get air bags to mount with compressor, tank, and ride height sensor, then pull all but the main top leaf spring for each side.
Front: get the weight on the front wheel, pull your springs and measure the length and diameter. Use that to order progressive fork springs for the weight.
Bed: add a latching pin to lock the bed down while driving so it doesn’t jump around.
it is posible to adjust leaf spring suspension to be softer..
you can remove some of them or cut a little bit of some of them, plenty of instructions online.
its pretty normal to remove what is not needed, they are often oversized to take a load they will never see..
I wonder what it would take to add shocks to the back? There's so many different models for all the different cars, you'd just (just?) have to work out the geometry, and of course, work out the mounting. Something to consider for your free time.
Mabe add shocks to the rear for sure. Change front suspension add shocks up there. Just thinking realistically. And could use rubber mount washers on existing bolts. That in itself would definitely make for way better ride and tone down the rattling shoot not so out of the question and it would be a lot more pleasurable to drive around. And doesn't cost a arm and a leg to do. The little things ohhh yeah. Awesome set up. Love it.
your arm bars that are on each end of the drivers bench are on the wrong sides, the hand grips are to face forward to grab when you get in or out.
I really hope you build the RV idea onto that thing it would be amazing!!
I love this. And the fact that it has lead acid batteries is very much a positive to my mind. Not much chance of a battery fire from the old school arrangement!
I would call this the most desirable EV I have yet seen, and hilarious to report, the advert at the start was for the Lotus Eletra, which represents everything that is wrong with current EVs. Too big, too complex and much too expensive!
Best wishes from George in UK.
That's who stole my shelves, I waked away for 5 minutes.
Plonk a modern mini generator under the seat & a solar panel on the roof & travel the globe. I love it! Excellent for a smallholding vehicle on a farmstead. I want one! ❤
As I come from India.. it’s really interesting that you are enjoying Electric Rikshaw… not sure if it’s street legal… but you are having best time out of it.
I would put a canopy over the back that can be detached, for if I ever have people in the rear on it. I Could also see vehicles like this on Golf Courses, modified so the back seat is fixed up for golf bags especially due to the price over a modern golf cart, adding a solar panel will help ensure the vehicle will almost never need charging due to how little a golf cart is moved an most of the time sitting even for golf as a player could turn it off between shots depending on how easy the Rikshaw/Tuk-Tuk is to turn on.
Neat tent RV camper kits are sold that I have seen used and people appear to love them. Full size bed much lighter than rigid construction. My RAM PROMASTER CITY VAN is also built in Turkey. I live full-time in it and find it to be comfortable with an attractive interior. Glad your having fun.
yes ítß éltróç ñow buy ektríc vdesiíñ
Here in the Philippines it only costs $1,100. But the battery is quiet low only 60v 20ah sealed Lead Acid
Wow, is that enough battery? Seems like the range would be terrible and the controller would cut out easily on hills or big losds
Love it! That is what our kids will drive since cars are too expensive in the USA
Maybe a set of shocks would help the leaf springs out. It should smooth things out a bit
50 years ago quad-runners were all 3-wheeled. There were so many accidents due to one rear wheel bouncing over something and tipping it over towards the diagonally opposite corner that the CPSC banned them and that's why quad runners exist today.
Cool unit. Lower the tire pressure for a smoother ride on the bumps.
I've seen the future and it looks like the 1970's. This is very, very similar to old British milk floats that used to be ubiquitous back in the days when people had fresh milk delivered to the door. They were about the same size and specs as this EV. They were one of the few EVs that saw mass adoption then due to their quiet engines which would have been used early in the morning before most people woke up.
Economic and simple to maintain, they were ideal for delivering heavy cargoes of bottled milk house to house in the mornings, especially as they could spend a large part of the rest of the day slowly recharging. They were good workhorses, powerful enough but pretty slow, but that didn't matter. The technology for such vehicles has been around since the 1890s. Interestingly, some of the earliest powered buses and taxis in the UK were battery electrics. They were also often used on industrial premises, for example as as fork lift trucks.
Hi Mikey. Thanks for the video. Great little utility vehicle.
I think it looks cool and a mini rv / camper wouldn't be impossible as you get micro campers now
I love the 2 inches of wheel travel and the 5 mile range fully loaded with topsoil. They are cheap to repair with $400 on average replacement cost for all the vital parts.
that thing looks awesome, I wish we could have them in Australia! just fyi Leaf springs work best when under load, when they have no load on them, they are horrible.. however put a couple of hundred kilograms in the back and take it for a spin and it should be HEAPS nicer to ride in, give it a test and let us know how you go.. also when you build a camper on the back this will probably resolve the issue for you with the extra weight :) enjoy!
My factory has this vehicle. If you are interested you can contact me
This was really cool to see. My first car was a 1980 Renault Letrictric Leopard..
It was factory converted to electric with 16 6v golf cart batteries. It used a relay to switch it from 24v or 48v for 2 speeds. Unfortunately I brought the full set of batteries before I found out it worked much better with only 8 batteries(due to the extra weight). If I only knew about LiPos back then.. I would have had a hotrod..
I hope you make your vehicle modular, so you can change the back end as easily as changing the battery on a cordless drill...
Wow, love it! Tuk-tuks are awesome.
Leaf springs are fine if you have good progressive multi leafs an shocks. Those are junk single leaf used on trailers an no shocks. It would be easy to upgrade that to ride smooth. Probably under $300 an a few hours with hand tools.
I have always liked these TukTuks or Trykes in the Philippines. At WDW Security our golf carts have a "mirror bar" from the ceiling that goes across the whole length. That may give you good visibility of what is behind you and improve safety. 2nd: I had no idea Telavive is so nice. Can you drive one of your weird vehicles around and show the place one day? Have a Magical Day!
I have been driving mine for 2300 km now. Made a lot of modifications and still love the original 🛺 feeling. It is just fun. Quality? Well not so much 😜 its someething for ppl who like the 🪛
Can’t wait to see the solar canopy performance! If you go over 500 W you could get close to indefinite daytime cruising.
Lead acid is actually better for the environment and can be recycled as a rejuvenated battery over and over again!
You only need several deep charging cycles and a small amount of distilled water. And you can reuse the battery many times!
The rear could do with some shocks. When you have some weight in the back it will be hard to tip, could do with a bigger or more lifters. Also looks a little flimsy needs to be bolstered in a few areas.
In 1968 I had a temp job delivering legal papers in San Francisco, driving a 3 wheel Cushman gas trike. It was a blast to drive, especially getting air while cresting a steep street, think the chase scene in the BULLIT movie!
The rear suspension is meant to carry heavy loads. If you put some weight in the back, maybe 100 to 120 lbs, it will tame the bouncing you get when it’s not carrying cargo.
This is important. People on here acting like most cargo trucks have shocks in the rear. Most don't and only use leaf springs. The difference is this thing weighs almost nothing so the leaf springs are mostly useless. I'd also put in rubber spacers all over the place to deal with the clanking noise.
U cant wait to see your RV build I might need to buy one of your creations as well.
13:26 that license plate on the blue one says 台铃 which is an electric scooter manufacturer in China, probably one of the biggest here, amazing that little thing was exported all the way to Israel!
These are work horses in China. They are everywhere. I mostly see them delivering mail, but they are also in the markets moving merchandise around.
What a fun little ride! A reminder that we don't need a big truck to take those little treks that make up most of our travel.
The first thing that came to mind when i saw this was to build a camper on the back! Can't wait to see what you come up with😀
Had a passenger model shipped to us from Thailand in 1992. Put in a motor that was left over from the silly EV programs of the mid 70's 20hp motor. Six group size 27 AGM batteries and a golf cart controller made an easy conversion. It pulled 3000 pounds up a 20% grade from a standing start. Would do wheelies with four big people in it.
ues yiú çan ràbhe whil towing
A nice modification would be a dual wheel conversion on the front, to make it a 4-wheeler, and add some stability.
I'm trying to get one of these, but fully covered maybe even 2 cab version, for work and shopping. I only live like 5 miles to town. So 10 to 15 miles a day. This would be perfect.
fun video. my suggestion would be to change the suspension, and tighten all joints. thanks for sharing
You need to add lights on the top of the cab so you could drive with the tail gate down. Looks pretty cool. You could put a 24V battery in that under seat storage for emergency.
I think that is a great little truck with potential for all kinds of conversions. I would not trust it for carrying people without higher sides and seat belts. Having no doors makes it quick and easy for delivery people who have to stop a lot of times with small items.
Incidentally the price is lower than some Cargo Ebikes and your tuk tuk can do more with more power
10:15 you can always get a bakfiets! Those e-bikes can take quite a bit of cargo, especially with a trailer!
Would like to see inside the battery box, maybe when you're doing the battery and solar upgrades. Is it street legal in the U.S.?
This guy always shows up in a new ride, lol i love it
Cool vehicle! Nice video!
Certainly see use for them, but not me.
I tend more towards a light terrain minitruck or an ATV, to haul stuff arround the property and on drivable forest paths between properties..
Break out the welder and throw some shocks on that rear-end. Still, pretty cool. Can't wait to see the solar panel and RV mods.
These gas and electric trikes are all over the Philippines. I bought a small Chinese e-trike new for $800. It carries 3 people. Kind of wished I had purchased a bigger faster one as it's currently our family car..
I like this rascal. Here where I live it would be street legal as long as I purchase a city permit which for me is $50 a year. I currently drive a Ku Ota Sidekick around town, but to have something electric to drive would be awesome. Thanx for sharing...I look forward to more of your content
Looks brilliant! Hopefully it will help turn cities like Mumbai into places where people can breathe clean air!! 🇨🇦
buy mailibú hybred
I like it! Still would like more of a hybrid or straight gas for distance. Pretty cool though.
Cool little truck! Would be great for Costco runs
Re the rough ride, my first solution would be to install Sumo springs that fit between the leaf springs and the frame.
Great video! Thanks for sharing. I’ve often wondered about those vehicles and yours is the first electric one I’ve seen. They might not be all that practical here in NW Montana with our long winters. Thanks again.
Try adding some shock absorbs to the rear and if forks are soft stiffer springs and thicker fork will help.