Converting a gasoline motorbike to an electric motorbike: Possible?

The solution of converting electric motors for gasoline-powered motorbikes brings significant economic efficiency, but it is necessary to prevent the risk of fire.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has just sent a document to the Vietnam Register requesting consideration, direction in building and completing a legal corridor to legalize the electric motor conversion system for gasoline-powered vehicles.

Principle like hybrid car

The above proposal was made after the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction received a document from Motorcycles TV Trading and Service Company Limited (abbreviated as Motorcycles TV) proposing a mechanism to legally implement the model of converting gasoline motorbikes to electric motorbikes. According to this company, the conversion not only helps people save costs but also contributes to realizing the commitment to green conversion and achieving the goal of net zero emissions.

On November 4, speaking with a reporter from Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Thach Lan - CEO and founder of Motorcycles TV - affirmed that the conversion does not change the original structure of the old motorbike at all. With the conversion kit including an electric motor mounted directly on the wheel, a compact salt battery placed in the trunk and an IC controller, the conversion cost is only from 8 million VND/vehicle. "A normal motorbike consumes 1 liter of gasoline for a distance of 50 km while a converted motorbike can go up to 150 km after one battery charge" - Mr. Lan compared.

According to Mr. Lan, users can easily remove the battery to charge or replace it when needed, without taking up space and without emitting smoke or dust. Charging the battery can be done at home, very convenient and safe.

On the management side, Mr. Bui Hoa An, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, also admitted that there are currently no specific technical standards or regulations for converting gasoline motorbikes to electric motorbikes. According to him, this is just an idea of ​​a business about an electric motor conversion system for gasoline motorbikes. This business has registered for intellectual property protection but has not yet received official certification.

The leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction said that the department plays a connecting and coordinating role with management agencies, including the Vietnam Register - the competent authority on technical safety standards. When the standards are issued, the registration centers under the management of the Department of Construction will inspect and supervise the conversion. The procedure for registering vehicles after conversion is still the responsibility of the police.

Regarding the possibility of piloting the conversion model in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. An said that this is just a research model, there is no specific data to evaluate. The current conversion cost is estimated to be about 3 times higher than the value of old cars, due to the small production scale. "If motorbike manufacturers participate, the cost can be significantly reduced. The operating principle of the converted car is similar to a hybrid car, combining a gasoline engine and an electric battery," Mr. An explained.

Gasoline motorbikes are equipped with electric motor conversion parts, batteries, and control ICs at the facility of Motorcyles TV Trading and Service Company Limited. Photo: LONG GIANG

There are many limitations

Commenting on this model, Associate Professor Dr. Do Van Dung, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Automobile - Engine Association, said that the conversion helps vehicle owners save long-term operating costs when reusing old vehicles, while contributing to environmental protection. However, the conversion cost can be high if using lithium batteries, electric motors and good quality controllers. After a while, the battery can degrade and need to be replaced for several million VND. "Installing additional equipment also increases the vehicle's weight, affecting the balance and handling when driving on bad terrain or carrying heavy loads. If installed incorrectly, the vehicle may be unsafe or consume more energy," Mr. Dung warned.

According to Mr. Dung, currently, Vietnam does not have specific regulations on converting electric motors on gasoline-powered motorbikes, leading to the possibility of not being inspected or not ensuring technical safety standards.

A representative of a delivery company in Ho Chi Minh City said that they have studied the model of converting gasoline motorbikes to electric vehicles, but this solution is not attractive enough for the shipper team. In fact, this form of conversion has appeared on the market for a long time and is applied by some technology car drivers to save fuel costs. "The nature of the shipper's job is to use personal vehicles, move continuously, carry heavy goods and often go through steep roads. The additional battery pack is difficult to meet the required capacity and is easy to wear out if overloaded" - the representative of this company analyzed.

And not all types of vehicles are suitable for battery mounting. For example, many motorbike models such as Wave Alpha, Exciter or Winner do not have a trunk to store the battery, and the front rack is often used to hang goods, serving the need for fast delivery.

Another concern is the safety and durability of the battery after conversion. Many people worry that when changing the structure, the quality of the vehicle can hardly be guaranteed to be equivalent to that of gasoline or electric vehicles produced from the factory. "Converting a vehicle may be suitable for people who travel personally but is not suitable for shippers who often work at high intensity" - the representative of the above delivery business assessed.

Risk of damage, electrical short circuit

Mr. Do Huu Chi - a car mechanic in Hiep Binh ward, Ho Chi Minh City - said that installing a hybrid system for a gasoline car will help the car run smoother, save fuel and reduce emissions. However, additional components often have to be "modified" to fit the car, so they are not waterproof and can easily short-circuit if connected incorrectly. When driving in the rain or through flooded areas, the motor, controller or battery can easily be damaged, leading to short-circuits, motor burns or battery failure. Repair costs range from several hundred thousand VND to 1 - 2 million VND, and are difficult to completely fix. "Modifying" or "modifying" means not being able to enjoy the genuine warranty policy. It is convenient but also inconvenient, so you need to consider carefully before installing" - Mr. Chi warned.

Associate Professor Dr. Do Van Dung noted that there are currently some types of batteries floating around on the market, of poor quality, with the potential risk of explosion if not strictly inspected. Automotive expert Nguyen Minh Dong also stated that in theory, the conversion is feasible but needs to be carefully monitored and inspected, while also taking into account weather factors and material durability.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/hoan-cai-xe-may-xang-sang-xe-dien-kha-thi-196251104215306726.htm