New Electric motorcycle class for 2012

[Joe Timney]

The ECTA is excited to announce the addition of a new motorcycle class premiering in  2012.    ECTA's Board has been working closely with Dr. Robert Prins from James Madison University, to develop the new Electric Motorcycle class.  We are also pleased to announce that Rob has graciously agreed to chair as Chief Technical Advisor for this new world of electric motorcycles.  Below please find a few of the highlights of this class.  A complete list of the safety and technical requirements will be included in the 2012 ECTA Rulebook.

ECTA Electric Motorcycle Voltage Divisions
 
Division   Measured Voltage
A3   382.9 and above
A2   330.1 - 382.2
A   264.1 - 330.0
B   211.3 - 264.0
C   184.9 - 211.2
D   158.5 - 184.8
E   132.1 - 158.4
F   105.7 - 132.0
G   79.3 - 105.6
H   0 - 79.2
 

Maximum voltage cap is 500 Volts.

Required additional logbook data for electrics for each event including:
i.    number of cells
ii.   nominal voltage of cells
iii.   nominal voltage of pack
iv.   fully charged voltage of pack 

In the event of parallel cells, cell combinations must be “hard wired”, series/parallel switches are not allowed
Voltage verification points must be demonstrated and accessible for inspection.  Controller input lugs or battery charging connections are some examples of acceptable locations.
Traction Battery Pack
Traction battery pack must be rechargeable

Driver must be shielded from traction battery by a barrier, holes in the barrier to accommodate cables and other wiring are acceptable so long as they are reasonably identifiable as such and not just large voids that cables happen to run through if batteries are placed in a box the box is considered a barrier, boxes must be vented

Batteries must be installed using appropriately sized metal hold downs, framework, and fasteners; battery installation should be such that batteries will withstand rollover without flying loose batteries with free liquid (such as flooded lead-acid batteries) are not allowed

Over Current Protection

All battery packs must have over current protection; circuit breaker(s) or fuse(s) permitted. Over current protection devices must have a DC voltage rating equal or greater than the nominal pack voltage current rating of protection device must be lower than the short circuit current that the pack can produce without damage each battery sub-pack that is in a distinctly different location must have its own over current protection

Master Cutoff

The switches described in 7.B.2.1 and 7.B.2.2 must disconnect traction battery pack

[MiltonP]

Hope you had a great holiday season Joe and thanks for keeping us updated.  I assume these are the engine classes and that the normal 3 chassis classes apply.  It is only a matter of time before someone brings one of the production bikes out though I am not sure if any have crossed the 500 units line yet.