Ken Norwick's 1980 Kawasaki KZ440A

Owner	Ken Norwick
Owner's Other EV	1996 Saturn SL1
Location	Calgary, Alberta Canada ^map
Web/Email	WebPage
Vehicle	1980 Kawasaki KZ440A
Motor	Briggs and Stratton Etek Permanent Magnet DC 8 HP
Drivetrain	Chain Drive 5.54:1 ratio 13t (front) 72t (rear)
Controller	Curtis 48 Volt
Batteries	4 Optima 750 DS, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, AGM Yellow Top
System Voltage	48 Volts
Charger	Delta-Q Technologies QuiQ 910-48
DC/DC Converter	none as yet
Instrumentation	Speedometer, E-Meter
Top Speed	45 MPH (72 KPH) approximately
Acceleration	not measured, but good acceleration
Range	Not determined yet. Hoping for 30+ miles
Seating Capacity	2 adults
Tires	new Dunlop motorcycle tires
Conversion Time	3 months
Conversion Cost	Approximately $3000 CAN
Additional Features	Unique "V4" arrangement of the battery racks to maximize the amount of "lead" carried on the bike. A switch to 12 Volt Lithium batteries is planned for later. An over-sized rear sprocket (72 tooth) provides a 5.54:1 final drive ratio. this was designed to limit the top speed to ~60-80 kms/hr while greatly increasing the acceleration. This setup was deemed optimal for inner-city commuting.
Final version of this EV will include full custom fiberglass bodywork to hide the "innards". Solar panels will be mounted to the roof of my garage and used to charged a large battery pack. This pack will then provide energy to charge the four batteries on the motorcycle each night. A daily blog supports this project and is available at: WebPage or by way of my original site at: WebPage

1980 Kawasaki KZ440A“Electric Kawasaki V4”