Topic: electric bike project

[JBMorse]

These usually don't pique my interest too much, but I like the one made from a lifan.  The guy bought a 200cc lifan sportbike with no engine for under $1000 and went from there.  I like the idea of starting with something very small and light, and cheap as well.  Not sure why he didn't buy or build a real battery charger though. He's got a series of wall-wart 12v chargers lined up under the seat!

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/01/31/proof-that-diy-electric-motorcycles-can-be-built-for-under-3k/

This makes me wonder if I should start looking for a small bike frame!  A claimed 1.5 cents/mile!

[gerhed]

A lot of good info on that site-esp. parts and sources.
I really had to scrounge to come up with the right parts
for the electric 3-wheeler I built 12 years ago and I paid quite
a bit more than he claims to have.
I use 4 separate battery chargers for my 48 volt setup
--alot more simple. Easier to monitor the performance of each battery separately.
--and I don't mount the chargers on the bike--I come back to the same place every trip out.
Good luck--let me know if you try this.

[JBMorse]

A lot of good info on that site-esp. parts and sources.
I really had to scrounge to come up with the right parts
for the electric 3-wheeler I built 12 years ago and I paid quite
a bit more than he claims to have.

It's great that you can buy things like a throttle controller instead of having to make one yourself.  It doesn't seem too difficult to undertake a project like this with the parts available now, and I think that it is due to all those people like you who were brave enough build electric vehicles on your own a while back! 
I won't be doing this anytime soon, after all I have a SOHC which is my priority!  But I will think about it for the future for sure!