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Looking for a used Twike in the USA
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Written on: 17 March 2010 [05:57]
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needatwike
 Topic creator
registered since: 17.03.2010
Posts: 12
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I have been searching non stop for about a year to find a used Twike. Is there anyone that wants to sell? I know about the portland twikes and am afraid I'm not up for that kind of challenge. I need a range over 20 miles, too. |
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Written on: 17 March 2010 [21:09]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 517
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hello there and welcome to the forums! I've sent you a private message with a contact who might have one for sale. Good luck! Stefan TW890 ecocarforum.com - Green Car Network
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Written on: 18 March 2010 [01:58]
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needatwike
Topic creator
registered since: 17.03.2010
Posts: 12
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I'm aware of that Twike, but it only has a 20 mile range, please let me know if any others come up for sale! |
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Written on: 19 March 2010 [23:11]
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iamian
 
registered since: 23.02.2009
Posts: 107
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[quote="needatwike"] I'm aware of that Twike, but it only has a 20 mile range, please let me know if any others come up for sale! The range is limited by the batteries... why not buy one of the used Twikes with a 20 Mile range on the current battery ... then upgrade the battery? 2000 MT Honda Insight
MIMA & FAS equipped ... PHEV in progress. Franken E-Bike 36V NiMH 600W Hub-Motor. |
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Written on: 20 March 2010 [23:35]
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needatwike
Topic creator
registered since: 17.03.2010
Posts: 12
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@Iamian Yes, I'm definitely contemplating the option of upgrading that model, but the sale price + upgrading has me looking at importing a newer one. Do you know how much it would cost to upgrade it to a 60mile range? |
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Written on: 22 March 2010 [11:54]
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Yardonn
 
registered since: 22.08.2007
Posts: 157
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As far as i know the Prices, upgrading is not significant more expensive than buying the same technology in a new one. A new(er?) Twike with 60 miles range will not be cheap. Cheap Twikes tend to have old batteries with limited range... Range is expensive in a twike, and i don't see a way to get around this. If your Twike is still in good shape, i don't think you will make a bargain by selling your twike and buying another one. Alleweder 4
http://www.akkurad.com allmost full weather protection for one person at 0 - 1.5 kWh / 100 km CityEl as secondary E-Car |
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Written on: 24 March 2010 [22:29]
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iamian
registered since: 23.02.2009
Posts: 107
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@Iamian Yes, I'm definitely contemplating the option of upgrading that model, but the sale price + upgrading has me looking at importing a newer one. Do you know how much it would cost to upgrade it to a 60mile range? I would need to know more specifics in order to give you a more specific number. Batteries are not rated in Miles... they are rated in terms of energy stored... and there are lots of variables that can alter the amount of energy it takes to go 60 miles ... flat and level ... up hill ... down hill ... rolling hills... lots of stop and starts ... ~50 MPH or ~30 MPH average speed ... Weight carried .... ambient temperature ... etc... etc... Also the amount of usable energy you will get from a battery will also change depending on how it is treated for charging and discharging and on the temperature ... type of battery ... etc... So give us some data on your conditions ... and expectations ... and we can start to try and fill in the blanks from there. Now of course any used vehicle Twike or not may have some issues to deal with that you might not have to deal with in a newer version ... so there might be value in a newer version anyway. But I would expect 60 Mile Replacement battery pack to be in the $4,000 to $15,000 range for a DIY... if you have to pay someone else for lots of labor ... there is virtually no upper end to the price... professional labor gets very expensive very fast. If you are not very knowledgeable yourself ... some of us here can give you some pointers... and for hands on help your local EV club is usually a good place to go. 2000 MT Honda Insight
MIMA & FAS equipped ... PHEV in progress. Franken E-Bike 36V NiMH 600W Hub-Motor. |
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Written on: 25 March 2010 [13:00]
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needatwike
Topic creator
registered since: 17.03.2010
Posts: 12
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I live in Los Angeles and my typical journey is around 30 miles in stop and go 25mph traffic. I hope the twike active will keep me sane since I can move my feet. The journey is all flat accept for going up a large hill for 5 minutes to my house (very steep) I drove the lion twike around the black forest last year and noticed hills really eat up the battery quick, since my hill climb is at the end of my trip I want to make sure I have enough reserve energy to make it up, I figure double capacity is the safest bet. |
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Written on: 25 March 2010 [23:21]
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iamian
registered since: 23.02.2009
Posts: 107
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I live in Los Angeles and my typical journey is around 30 miles in stop and go 25mph traffic. I hope the twike active will keep me sane since I can move my feet. The journey is all flat accept for going up a large hill for 5 minutes to my house (very steep) I drove the lion twike around the black forest last year and noticed hills really eat up the battery quick, since my hill climb is at the end of my trip I want to make sure I have enough reserve energy to make it up, I figure double capacity is the safest bet. Double what capacity? How many Wh are you looking for? You are correct going up very steep hills can use significant amounts of energy in any vehicle... when you say very steep... what is the incline? ... or, what is the change in elevation from the bottom of the hill to the top of the hill and over what distance do you go up that much? Are you still doing stop and go on the way up this hill? A Twike on the flat part of the trip at an average speed of 25 mph will not need much energy for that part... even ~50 or so miles of it... far far less than the amount of energy it would take to travel the same ~50 Miles at an average speed of ~50 MPH on the highway... the rub might just be that last 'very steep' hill... So let's try to nail it down to a Wh estimate to climb that hill. How skilled are you with batteries and high voltage now? It isn't the kind of thing you want to try and learn by trial and error. 2000 MT Honda Insight
MIMA & FAS equipped ... PHEV in progress. Franken E-Bike 36V NiMH 600W Hub-Motor. |
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Written on: 26 March 2010 [07:09]
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needatwike
Topic creator
registered since: 17.03.2010
Posts: 12
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The hill is steep! 5 minutes of driving at 25mph, only two stop signs and a few speed bumps. I know its a drainer, that's just why I want to make sure I have extra juice, vs running out of power half way up the hill. I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to drive below a half tank. I'm pretty good with electricity, wiring, batteries. I need to learn all technicals, though. |
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