Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Solo Electric Bike

(click on images to enlarge)

According to reports, the "Solo Electric Motor Scooter", an electric bicycle(ebike), was made in the 1970's in Australia. It has a 24 volt electric motor with centrifugal clutch, and working pedals. It is is the design of a scooter.

the motor and power train are very similar to the Cyclone in that it is connected to the crank. But perhaps more closely similar to the StokeMonkey electric bicycle kit design, in that the motor is place behind the seat post bar in the triangle spad where the rear wheel is bolted in addition to being directly connected to the pedal crank. As in those two designs, the electric motor can use existing gearing to increase torque up hills by down shifting and speed on leval ground by shifting the higher gears.

Here is what I found in the report with picture.
An electric motor scooter

These are the before shots of my Solo Electric motor scooter. My father was given it by his uncle who won it on a television quiz show in the 1970s. My father rode it for several years as he went visiting his parish. I overhauled it in the 1980s after it had fallen into disuse and disrepair. One of the magnets in the motor had come unstuck and the batteries were dead.

I rode the scooter to school until the charging plug shorted out. I couldn't afford to fix the damage at the time so once again the scooter was forgotten about.

Discovering the community of the Electric Vehicle Discussion List has given me the inspiration to get the old cycle running again. It will serve good purpose as a run-about in the city for the company I work at.

I have included some photos which can best be described as 'before'. I will upload pictures as I go.


There is a smart red cover not shown here with the words SoloElectra printed on the side.


Note the centrifugal clutch and the motor speed controller, i.e. the big cable operated switch. This cable died in the short circuit.


These are not the original batteries. These batteries are designed to fit a Porche motor car and have a slightly lower capacity than the originals. I hope that almost 30 years after the cycle was made I can find batteries of similar capacity to the originals. The charred cable in front is what is left of the throttle cable. The cut cable between the packs is what stopped the electrical fire after the charging cables shorted and caught fire. You can see the 'big switch' clearly here to the left.

The horn and brake light were added in Australia to make the cycle street legal. I am going to find out this week what 'street legal' means in 2001 compare to 1974 when the cycle was first registered.

Vital stats
Location: - - - - - - - - - - Adelaide Australia
Motor: - - - - - - - - - - - - 24 volt PM
Drivetrain: - - - - - - - - - Centrifugal clutch driving a V belt pulley to a chain
Controller: - - - - - - - - - The big switch - wrist driven PWM
Batteries: - - - - - - - - - - 2 x 12 volt latest model still to be decided
System Voltage: - - - - 24 volts
Charger: - - - - - - - - - - Very basic and to be replaced
Heater: - - - - - - - - - - - RM Williams DryAsABone
DC/DC Convertor: - - - nil 12 volt system run from one pack
Instrumentation: - - - - Expanded scale volt meter
Top Speed: - - - - - - - - - 25 KMH
Range: - - - - - - - - - - - - 25 KM
Seating Capacity: - - - 1
Curb weight: - - - - - - - 125KG

12 comments:

  1. Hi! today I bought just a same Solo Electric Bike in Hungary. It was used in Austria by an old man but not too much, it runs only 247kms! It is in perfect condition, looks like yours in the first photo.
    The manufacturing date is 1974. I'll take a few photos of it, please write me if you are interested!

    Best wishes: Aron Nagy,
    Budapest-Hungary
    erwache@freemail.hu

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous2:16 AM

    Hello. I 've just found one Solo in very good condition and I 'd like to know me the suitable price to buy it.

    Please send me info here or in my email ktriantafi@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. hi could anyone help i'm looking for the clutch to fit a solo electric bike. This is attatched to the motor

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi,could anyone help by sending detailed photos of the clutch of a solo electric bike, the part at the end of the motor to josephduncan@tiscali.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for introducing me the wonderful information.And .....Totally boring.!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am thoroughly convinced in this said post. I am currently searching for ways in which I could enhance my knowledge in this said topic you have posted here. It does help me a lot knowing that you have shared this information here freely. I love the way the people here interact and shared their opinions too. I would love to track your future posts pertaining to the said topic we are able to read.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Solo Electric bike is here in UK as well. Very expensive is true.

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    ReplyDelete
  8. the scooter looks really cool. the technology used in making the scooter is really commendable. kudos to you for the post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for the post. I liked it. Keep going I follow you.
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    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous4:58 AM

    My God we are 40 years behind !!!! And we are still killing people for oil!.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for a wonderful share. Your article has proved your hard work and experience you have got in this field. Brilliant .i love it reading. electric scooter singapore

    ReplyDelete
  12. Electric Scooter UK have seen a gigantic resurgence in notoriety in the course of the most recent year or thereabouts, both with children..

    ReplyDelete