Motors

[TheKid]

I have the hub motor on the tadpole. The DR has a Currie gear reduction brushed motor. Because hub motors aren't legal in NY yet, I put the Currie on the DR, where it's hidden. However, once they become legal, I'll install a hub motor on the front wheel of the DR and use both motors for slippery roads. Then I'll have all wheel drive, when using both motors and the pedals. (My state Senator said the bill will be passed in early 2010.)
For the tadpole, I have a 36v 500w 9C motor, but I lucked into the GM motor. Both work well with the GM controller. I had the 9C motor redone onto a 24" wheel. This way I have a spare. However, I found in the GM forums that the same controller can be used with 48v. In fact, it's the same controller that's used in their new "Magic Pie", which will work on up to 60v. I'm passing on the Pie, but I found an e-bike with a 48v 1000w motor for a hundred bucks, also on a 24" rim. It can run on 60v also, so I'll run it at the higher voltage for the heavy trike I plan to build.
So far, I haven't had any problems with cops using the obvious motor on the tadpole, but I keep a copy of the "Mobility Assist Device" law as a precaution. I could still get a ticket if a cop hasn't filled his or her quota, but it would give me a better chance in court if the occasion arose.
I don't see any reason why a front hub motor wouldn't work on a delta, especially since Brad had one on a DW. Check out his videos on the main site.