Attached (I hope) are details of a Meridian Adult Etrike conversion. It's still a work in progress particularly since it's so darn cold but I thought it was worth posting for comment. And maybe it will help someone.
This is a front wheel drive conversion because it's "easy" as opposed to being "hard" for a mid-drive since that would involve a lot of issues with the chain to the rear wheels.
I decided to build an adult trike because it's actually possible to ride it to a number of stores near me. Having a large basket makes it a useful thing. Also, I've never found biking for exercise any fun so doing a traditional ebike had no real hope of being used. With this, I have the choice of biking to the store rather than taking the car which could be fun because it's novel.
What was really hard was that there are a million ways to do things and 3 million wrong ways are on YouTube! Everything had a challenge like how to do the Anderson Powerpole connector without buying a $100 crimp tool. I must have watched 10 horrible YouTube videos before finding one that wasn't stupid. And trying to figure out what the entire system needed to look like was a challenge because everything affects everything.
John's videos are some of the best on YouTube for ebikes. I was really tempted to do a mid-drive but the front drive is really the right answer for this particular conversion. I'm toying with the idea of doing a foldable next since it would be fun to have something to ride short distances around RV campsites. "NO . . . Don't do it!" I just don't have the space in the van for a full sized ebike and it would just be a point A to Point B thing.
For those curious, I'm 68 and a retired EE. I'm having to channel my inner 5 year old to ride a trike again since I have to concentrate not to lean into turns which could cause bad things to happen. I haven't tried the max speed test or the hill climb test (which it would fail because the hills are ice and snow covered!) but it motors along just fine at 20mph which is plenty scary enough for the moment!
Mark
very impressive work, especially on the battery. i would love to have that much info from my BMS. you seem to have thought everything through quite well, the only thing i would ask is what material is the front fork? it looks like the trike is made out of aluminum, if that fork is aluminum as well i would maybe think about replacing it with a steel one. i have seen front hubs do some nasty things to forks, if those torque arms have even a hair of play in them your wheel could decide it wants freedom. i am by no means an expert on hub motors though, just a thought. best.