Xenos 59 Electric Build

[Xenos 59]

Hello Everyone! I didn't want to post anything until I had made some substantial progress. Today I achieved the milestone of getting the new motor mount, motor, battery, and controller test fit to the front of my Xenos!

This is using an upgraded version of the Zero Motorcycles drive conversion I have on my Electric Ultralight, the E-Gull.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zLX ... sp=sharing

I'll be sharing more details as I go, let me know if you have any specific questions!

Write-up of Electric Xenos (WIP)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16Xo ... sp=sharing

Album of Electric Xenos photos
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DK2adzkvmgLs7TKx8

Podcast with lots of info
http://www.sonexflight.com/71/

FAQ:
How long does it fly?
About an hour

How far does it fly?
About 70miles

How high can it climb?
About 10,000ft

How much does it weigh?
830lbs empty. About the same as the gas version with a 1/2 tank of gas.

How do I build one?
Reach out to me directly (only if you're serious please...)

[13brv3]

Always great to see electric projects, since I'd like to try it some day myself. Sounds like you have plenty of experience already. I'll definitely be following your progress.

[N111YX]

Thanks for sharing. I'm really looking forward to watching your progress!

I've been close to buying a Zero (for riding) in the past but when their motor system is an adequate replacement for the Rotax 503 in my Kolb, I just may need to find a "donor".

[racaldwell]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing. Keep on keeping us informed.

Are the batteries that large black box inside the engine mount?

What is the weight & hp of the system?

Must be nice not having the forward fuselage filled up with a fuel tank.

Rick Caldwell
Xenos 0057

[Bryan Cotton]

Very cool! Where I work they are building a lab for developing electric hybrid aircraft, but on a larger scale. Keep us posted and good luck!

[Matt541]

Great stuff, cool to see more people using it. The battery technology is quickly improving. Nice vids with the E-Gull too.

I've been waiting for more improvements before going the electric dirt bike route, but they are pretty good now. The Zero FX does has my eye...

[Carlos Trigo]

Curiously enough, I was about to post here asking if someone had already gone the electric power route in a XENOS or in any other Sonex... :-)
So now I know the answer to question!

When I started building my XENOS I already had made my mind to put an electric motor in it.
Therefore, XENOS 59 please keep us posted about your electric powering venture, better yet with pictures of your installation.

Keep up that good work
Carlos

[Xenos 59]

It's alive!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_I5xnIPt9c

can't figure out to how to imbed youtube video in here...

[bvolcko38]

Looking good.
My other toy is a Quad City Challenger II with a 503 Rotax and a belt drive reduction. It uses a 50mm GT3 cog belt which is more than adequate for 54 hp.
Your belt looks a little smallish for 80hp equivalent. jmho

[Bryan Cotton]

Cool! Here is the video embedded.

There are two buttons in the edit bar, youtu_be and youtube. Pick the one that looks like your link.

The belt looks small, I agree. But the peak and average torque of an electric motor are about the same. On a two stroke all the torque is jammed onto 30, maybe 40 degrees of crankshaft rotation for a given cylinder. For a parallel twin let's estimate the peak torque as 360/70 ~ 5x peak to nominal torque.

I don't know how the two reduction ratios compare, so that also affects torque.

We learned this peak torque lesson the hard way at Sikorsky years ago. A first generation UAV we built and flew had a 50 HP Wankel rotary. Generation 2 had two 25 HP, 2-cylinder opposed two strokes. Parts that were twice as strong as required for the Wankel were half as strong as required for one of the opposed twins. The Wankel is as close as you get to electric in a recip.