made in china centaur ripoff?
 

just found this on youtube today. Looks almost exactly like a centaur but it looks as if it doesnt stand up???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJn-1D5qS60

Ugh... looks like an electric 4 wheeler with a ripoff Centaur design. Good designs always get copied... obvious with only a fraction of [the Centaur's capabilities] functionality.

Thanks for posting this. I hadn't seen this before. (and we've seen our share of Segway ripoffs)

-Sal

Seems to be a lesser copy, but if it hits the market first, it becomes the standard...

It seems that he who hesitates is lost....

Send in the clones
 

Since, for all intensive purposes, the "market" doesn't even exist...

What's the point of grousing about it?

Let "the market" become more developed with this clone, then someone can release a superior product that (literally) stands above the rest.

Segway Inc. may not be that someone. But once an ATV-related company can see that money is being made with the 4 wheel only clone, they may license the Centaur design from Segway, Inc. in order to compete in that market.

And if the 4 wheel only clone dies on the vine, it didn't cost Segway, Inc. another expensive marketing lesson.

Very Good point!!!
 

"The Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese"

Jonathan

Apply a little math...
 

Quote:

(1) Wheelbase:750mm (2) Loading: <75kg (3) Range: >25km (4) Max. speed: 30Km/h (5) Batter: Lead-Acid (6) Battery: 24V x 40Ah (7) Motor: Speedy brush motor 700W (8) Tyre: 70/80-13(F/R) tubeless (9) Rims' material: aluminum (10) Frame material: iron (11) Dimensions: 1,180 X 800 X 920mm Packing:G.W.: 78kgs, N.W.: 65kgs Carton size: 1,150 X 830 X 750mm

...and get more information.

Max speed divided by Range gives 30 kph / 25 km = 50 minutes runtime at full speed

Battery volts x battery amp-hours gives capacity = 960 watt-hours

Motor power rating times max runtime gives max discharge, 700 watts * 0.8333 hours = 583 watt hours

Depth of discharge = 1 minus (battery capacity minus max discharge / battery capacity, 1 - (960 wh - 583 wh) / 960wh = 60%

Estimated weight of Lead-acid battery pack is 960 wh / 13 wh/lb. = 70 lbs.

Estimated weight of necessary, unused reserve of battery pack is 40 % * 70 lbs. = 28 lbs.

Unlike NiCad, NiMH, & Lithium-ion, the Lead-acid chemistry is not capable of 100% depth of discharge (DOD) if you expect it to last for several hundred charge cycles. If you want your Lead-acid battery to last a normal lifetime, you'd better not discharge it completely before recharging it. If you do discharge it 100%, it will severely affect the number of remaining lifetime cycles left in the battery.

That's why it would make sense to keep a sizeable reserve on any Lead-acid battery powered electric vehicle.

Which makes the clone pay a substantial weight penalty. Oh well, being heavier will increase traction, but could increase stopping distance, depending on the braking methods.

Typical suggested retail on 24v, 40ah worth of Lead-acid batteries, about $225 - $300

Approx. volume of 24v, 40ah worth of Lead-acid batteries, a little over 1 / 3 of a cubic foot

Other significant differences to a Centaur:

Centaur has low-speed, two wheel balance mode.

The two Centaur motors are 2.5 HP peak, each, although they may only operate at an average of 1 hp (~750 watts) or so.

Centaur motors are brushless, and therefore do not require maintenance.

Centaur prototypes seen so far have plastic wheel rims and are 14" diameter, not 13".

Centaur's battery, being Saphion, weighs about 45 lbs.

Centaur has a built-in charger.

Centaur's speed control sonically masks the PWM drive signals to the motors, no annoying hum or tone.

Things we'd like to know about the clone:

What's the hill climbing performance like?

What does it use for brakes?

Does the motor controller regeneratively recharge the batteries on downhills and during braking?

Based on the mech. specs., it should cost less than twice as much as a "Q" scooter. Is this so?

What are the consequences if someone accidentally throws the reverse switch when traveling full speed?

Does it qualify as a NEV in the US?

Bwahahaha . . . I made a comment about how he stole the basic design styling from Segway and the guy removed it.

Ok, well, I guess that was to be expected. ;^)

Nope.
Check out the US DOT's standards for low speed vehicles.

Thanks for the link. By "Nope", I suppose you mean the S5.b.8. - windshield, and S5.b.10. - seatbelt requirements. It looks like the rest (lights, signals, reflectors, mirrors, parking brake) could be tacked on. Perhaps S5.b.8 could be circumvented by wearing a helmet that includes a faceshield. Not sure why S5.b.10 is apt for a vehicle with a saddle type seat. Motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and equestrians do not face this restriction.