8x8 Electric Argo Springer

[=ego=]

Started working on an Argo Springer with Tinodesis who told me about this forum. Got some good ideas from Whipper and wanted to share our progress. Here are some pics of early prototype A-arms, axles, bearing carrier etc.

[Mike]

Looks like a cool project. With the 8x8 you can really keep those batteries low. Keep up updated as you go along. Have you considered using two electric motors and completely eliminating the transmission?

[evil8x8]

Wow!!! An Argo 8x8 springer should be awesome!!!

[Tinodesis]

Looks like a cool project. With the 8x8 you can really keep those batteries low. Keep up updated as you go along. Have you considered using two electric motors and completely eliminating the transmission?

Hello Mike,

Going with two motors seems like a good idea, but it's actually not practical. Two motors would require twice as many batteries and a second controller. You could use half of the batteries for each motor, but that would cut the voltage in half. Either way you lose performance and spend more money.

[Roger S]

Looks like a T20 candidate..

[Mike]

Hello Mike,

Going with two motors seems like a good idea, but it's actually not practical. Two motors would require twice as many batteries and a second controller. You could use half of the batteries for each motor, but that would cut the voltage in half. Either way you lose performance and spend more money.

I hear you but hey, an electric Argo 8x8 Springer isn't the most practical (cost-wise) vehicle to begin with If you ignore the cost aspect the only other factor that would be prohibitive is the weight of the batteries?

But if you are applying 48V to each motor that's 8 batteries total for two motors @ ~ 20 lbs a piece for 160 lbs. Even if you are using 96V that's 16 batteries at 320 lbs. But you eliminate the heavy transmission too. Plus it's an 8x8.

Just thinking out loud here...

Looks like a T20 candidate..

That would be my next choice.

[evil8x8]

Two motors would also allow you to counter-rotate instantaneously.

[jpswift1]

Looks like a T20 candidate..

Good call, Roger.


That looks like a really cool project......be sure to keep us updated on it.

[Tinodesis]

Wow!!! An Argo 8x8 springer should be awesome!!!

Thanks evil.

I hear you but hey, an electric Argo 8x8 Springer isn't the most practical (cost-wise) vehicle to begin with If you ignore the cost aspect the only other factor that would be prohibitive is the weight of the batteries?

But if you are applying 48V to each motor that's 8 batteries total for two motors @ ~ 20 lbs a piece for 160 lbs. Even if you are using 96V that's 16 batteries at 320 lbs. But you eliminate the heavy transmission too. Plus it's an 8x8.

Just thinking out loud here...

That would be my next choice.

Mike,

I'm using 24 Thundersky 160AH LiFePO4 batteries that weigh 12.3 lbs each. My pack weighs 295 lbs.

A 48V pack would need 16 batteries and weigh 197 lbs. Double that and add 75 lbs for the second motor and you're at 470 lbs. The additional cost of batteries, motor and controller will be over $2K. Two motors just complicates too many factors for me.

Two motors would also allow you to counter-rotate instantaneously.

I don't think it's that simple but it would be nice.

Looks like a T20 candidate..

Roger,

I considered using a T20 and decided to go with what I have now. My drive train has me just a bit worried in regards to reliability.

Good call, Roger.

That looks like a really cool project......be sure to keep us updated on it.

Thanks jp. I will try and keep the thread current.

[lewis]

Nice work guys, keep us posted!

Lewis

[whipper-ag]

Cool. Keep the updates coming.

Whipper

[techfx]

This will be very interesting!

[Tinodesis]

Cool. Keep the updates coming.

Whipper

Thanks Whipper. I just couldn't get the springer idea out of my head.

I am learning as I go and have made some mistakes, but I'm having fun and hope the 8x8 will perform well enough for me to sneak up on some wild critters. I have no plans to mimic your riding style. I need a mellow machine.

=ego= is waiting for me to make final adjustments to the suspension before we machine anything else.

This will be very interesting!

Thanks Tech.


Using a T20 was mentioned on page one. I haven't read anything negative about the Argo trans, so what are the benefits of using a T20? Anyone?

[Roger S]

argo trans eats power in steering effort

[=ego=]

Here is a rough draft of the spring and a-arm assembly with tire.

Also, because I am hosting these on a different website instead of here, I noticed that the forum still re-sizes the pictures after the page fully uploads. I figured out a simple trick to keep them as big as possible. After this page is fully uploaded to your web browser, click the refresh button and once you see anything reload, quickly hit the "stop" loading or "stop" refresh button on your browser and the forum will not have time to resize the picture, and you will see the full size pics. Let me know if it works for anyone, works for me.