This was a summer project I completed over the span of 3 and a half months, to further develop my metal working skills, learn how to weld, and develop a deeper understanding of electric vehicle systems. I chose a drift trike as this novel vehicle is fun to use, and I had a spare BMX bike to use as the front forks, wheel, and handlebar.

A drift trike can be described as the front end of a bmx and the rear end of a go kart; the rear wheels each have a plastic sleeve to drastically reduce the grip they have with the ground, causing the vehicle to drift easily, hence the name.

I designed the vehicle on Fusion360, and purchased raw materials from an online steel supplier. The electronics were also purchased online from various electronics and electric vehicle suppliers.

To create the drift trike, I learned to use an angle grinder to cut the bmx "front" (down tube, front fork, and handlebars) from the rest of the bmx. The rear frame was manufactured from a mix of steel box section, sheet, and angle to create a robust frame which can take the weight of an adult. I learned how to stick weld and braze in order to build this frame completely.

The electronics were similar to those used in electric moped, with an ESC controlling the speed of the motor as the user turns a throttle handle, powered by 2 6S lipo batteries wired in series. The drift trike was painted in the design style of Memphis, to make it stand out and look cool.

This project was largely a success and I learned a lot during the process. However I found my design to be suboptimal, with minimal ground clearance preventing the vehicle from making sharp turns: if the steering angle becomes too great the bottom of the down tube hits the ground. This could be mitigated by attaching the down tube and frame at a less steep angle, and relatively lowering the rear axis with respect to the frame. Without budget constraints, I believe the drivetrain could be improved as it does not cope well with the high torque of the motor. Should you wish to learn more about this project, commission a similar product, or read my final report, please contact me.