I saw the solo wheel thread, and it got me thinking...

Adding an electric motor to a kite buggy sounds like a great idea.

Can't get upwind? Drive up wind. Need to slow down? Regen off the motor for brakes and to recharge the battery at the same time. Buggy sliding out? Torque vectoring for traction control of the wheels.

It seems like it would make a buggy much higher performance than in it's current state. Motors could be added to an atb as well, although I think all the extra weight would be more detemental than the gains form the motor. I'm sure there are some people that would think it would ruin all the fun of kiting, but I beg to differ!

Power electronics have because so prevalent and cheap in recent years that you can slap a motor on just about anything. A several horsepower motor weighs less than I kilo and and the inverter less than a half of that. The heaviest part would for sure be the batteries, but with the frequent regen and discharge, it could be kept small with supercapacitor bank.

What do you guys think? I haven't done much buggying, I mostly landboard. I do however know alot about motors, being I work with them every day at work, and to me it seems that an electric motor on a kite buggy would be a pretty awesome combination.

Hold the pickle hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us, all we ask is that you lett'uce, serve it your way. :singing:

I suppose that part of the appeal of kite buggy (or any kite sport) is that you are challenged to use the wind and only the wind. But I like innovation too so. It probably would be expensive though.


It is probably worth noting that big sailboats usually have some kind of motor as well to get out of the docking area or to get back if the wind dies.

And other boats laugh at them and call them names...stinkboat.
The motorized kite buggy would work better without the kite for sure.

Proudest sailing moment was at Virginia Beach's Rudee inlet. They fill the sailboat with gas and then again when you return at the end of the day. You have to promise to motor in and out of the dock, out anyway. I day, 1 pint, His fault, no charge for gas. Smiling young captain.
Naaww, no motor..

put a motor in a kite buggy...and its not a kite buggy
you may have something fun...but its not a ^^^^
imo

you'll have a 3 wheel atv. those went away because of the accidents and turned into 4 wheel atv's.
tom

In Washington state the beach is a state highway with speed limits and laws. Wind powered vehicles are finally allowed in certain areas ( thank you Morrie and everyone else that got this passed).

I would imagine that adding a motor/ engine might open you up to other citations and tickets (seatbelt, registration and licensing) in this scenario. Or on other beaches or areas a motorized vehicle might not be allowed where wind powered would be ok.

sacrilege.....!



If one were going on a 10-20 mile distance and then back the same distance, along a primitive beach(no nearby roads or people within 50 mi. at any point), and consider the wind shifting or ceasing, one might consider such for safety....but otherwise...


...sacrilege!

And you could drive your kite buggy to the kite park! I think it's a really interesting idea to explore! I'd love to see pictures of your ideas for a build. Front wheel or rear wheel drive? Sort of like an electric fat tire off road tricycle?

And you could drive your kite buggy to the kite park! I think it's a really interesting idea to explore! I'd love to see pictures of your ideas for a build. Front wheel or rear wheel drive? Sort of like an electric fat tire off road tricycle?

Pack a onewheel and tow line!

Interesting to see how people are reacting to this thread. Anything from SACRILEGE to atta-boys for pushing the envelope. Personally, one the many things that attract me to power kiting is the challenge of having wind as the sole motive power generator. The largest area I've ever buggied in is Lake Ivanpah. On several occasions when the winds were light and variable with risks of complete drop out I've had a big kite up and I've turned around with lots of space left because I was getting beyond the point where I was willing to walk back to camp.

For me I'll stick with a simple free rolling buggy. Power to ya if you want to tinker like this. Just please don't drive it in Washington state!

Of course, all buggies can be ridden downhill just about anytime you want. So they already come wtih the most reliable engine in the world: gravity.

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Of course, all buggies can be ridden downhill just about anytime you want. So they already come wtih the most reliable engine in the world: gravity.

Here, here! Working 3D terrain is a whole lot of fun. A few years ago I made the video below in a set of fields that were split by a smooth hill. I've seen videos over the years of folks working considerable sand dunes too; that looks like a hoot!

Some of my most memorable moments were being stranded on Ivanpah. Soaking up the rays, taking in the great scenery and enjoying the silence. Bliss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF9cRjX4QSw&feature=yout...

A powered buggy sounds like a great idea for my commute to work. I remember lusting after the Sinclair C5 back in the early 80's. Sinclair was way ahead of his time.

Steve...I aim to get you out of your comfort zone at IBX2019. I want you to join me (and Redbeard...or is it redstach?) out in the furthest reaches of the South field. Be prepared!

As for a powered buggy...I bought some ABS plastic from a local guy and he showed me his creation. Check out ride kick.

www.ridekick.com

I offered to buy his prototype...he said no. Drat!!

Steve...I aim to get you out of your comfort zone at IBX2019. I want you to join me (and Redbeard...or is it redstach?) out in the furthest reaches of the South field. Be prepared!

As for a powered buggy...I bought some ABS plastic from a local guy and he showed me his creation. Check out ride kick.

www.ridekick.com

I offered to buy his prototype...he said no. Drat!!

Quote: Originally posted by jeepersjoey

Steve...I aim to get you out of your comfort zone at IBX2019. I want you to join me (and Redbeard...or is it redstach?) out in the furthest reaches of the South field. Be prepared! As for a powered buggy...I bought some ABS plastic from a local guy and he showed me his creation. Check out ride kick. www.ridekick.com I offered to buy his prototype...he said no. Drat!!

Now that is a nifty gadget!

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Quote: Originally posted by Randy   Of course, all buggies can be ridden downhill just about anytime you want. So they already come wtih the most reliable engine in the world: gravity. Here, here! Working 3D terrain is a whole lot of fun. A few years ago I made the video below in a set of fields that were split by a smooth hill. I've seen videos over the years of folks working considerable sand dunes too; that looks like a hoot!

Thank you for sharing this video! Looks like quite a nice spot to buggy.

I am going to have to come down on the side of not putting motors onto the buggies.

Interestingly enough I have been looking at a couple of interesting configurations:
These guys out of the Netherlands [http://whike.com/en/pagina/25/about-the-whike] who make a combination recumbent tricycle and land sailor. Then when your land sailor gets stranded you just pedal back or "assist" the wind
For a different aspect of my outdoor life I have been looking at recumbent fat tire tricycles like this one [http://www.utahtrikes.com/PROD-11619373.html] [BTW your neck of the woods Windstruck] Most of not all of the trikes on that site can be gotten with electric assist motors which I think are small enough so that the vehicle still qualifies as human powered for bike lane and "non motorized" locations.

JeepersJoey is your dementia kicking in in your old age [he is 9 mo. older than me BTW] such that you are mixing up RedSky and some guy you occasionally fly with who has a red beard and or mustache? I will gladly help you drag Steve into the desert for nefarious purposes

Generally I'm in it for the wind power. BUT here is an idea for someone to try for a little power or help getting to the beach/field.
My nephews have this scooter attachment for their hoverboards.
https://www.amazon.com/HoovyKart-Conversion-Hoverboards-Comp...
Small enough, simple enough, good range, might store easy when you get where you are going.
Who wants to try it?

Nope. Definitely talking about you, pointy-stache guy.

Yea...next year we are pulling everyone out into the great shrub-field in the South.

The ultimate goal is if you can prove that you made it all the way down to Nipon road. That guy would be legendary!

Btw...if the Ride Kick guy had product, I would probably have bought it. My only kicker was whether the thing free-wheeled very well. Oh well...guess I will need to make my own.

I wonder if I mounted a cordless drill to a sprocket? Or, remember those little dynamos that powered your headlight on your schwinn? I wonder if I could run one of those off a battery and click it down onto a tire to get me moving.

[oh yea, baby...I need a project!!!]
Paul

Quote: Originally posted by Cerebite

JeepersJoey is your dementia kicking in in your old age [he is 9 mo. older than me BTW] such that you are mixing up RedSky and some guy you occasionally fly with who has a red beard and or mustache? I will gladly help you drag Steve into the desert for nefarious purposes

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Quote: Originally posted by Randy   Of course, all buggies can be ridden downhill just about anytime you want. So they already come wtih the most reliable engine in the world: gravity. Here, here! Working 3D terrain is a whole lot of fun. A few years ago I made the video below in a set of fields that were split by a smooth hill. I've seen videos over the years of folks working considerable sand dunes too; that looks like a hoot!

Say, thats a nice kite... looks very familiar to me...

http://img110.xooimage.com/files/6/8/c/buggy-msuper2av-549a6...
not mine