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Hybrid Scooters?
I'm feeling a bit disappointed in the ZEV's performance and range, but every time I consider getting another IC bike for longer rides (or just to be able to out-drag a 125CC scooter) I remember that IC bikes put out *four times the pollution* of cars with pollution controls. The Suzuki TU250 interested me because of its catalytic converter, but it's starting to look like that is just a gimmick: the bike isn't even CARB certified! Not to mention the one I sat on had a somewhat uncomfortable riding position for those of us with bad backs...
...so I was looking into propane-powered bikes, which appear to exist only in a few hand-converted forms, and that got me a mention of a 50CC hybrid Chinese scooter that bombed, and *that* got me to thinking about what needs to be done to get real hybrids on the road. I'm in bad shape physically, but since riding season is more or less over, I thought it would be fun to spitball some ideas around. I'm thinking: take a 125CC four-stroke maxi-scooter, and add a 3500 watt front hub drive, with a lithium pack occupying the usual storage space under the seat, and a capacious cargo trunk on the back, with a real lock, for carrying things. Couldn't a standard rear hub motor, complete with disk brake, be adapted to drive the front wheel? How would the thing handle? It could use regenerative braking in front at least, and maybe a more robust alternator fitted to the IC drive to at least extend the range of the battery pack. Ideally, it would have a starter/alternator like the current "weak hybrid" cars, and the engine would shut off when not needed. Which would be better, a mode switch or a two-stage throttle that activated the hub motor first and then started the IC above a certain opening? If I were building one I'd put a catalytic converter on it, but small engine manufacturers have been so adamant in opposing this idea it might be hard to find one - until people start breaking their TU250s, anyway. ;-)
Take it away, folks! I'd especially like to hear from manufacturers and home builders one this.
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