The Pukka Electric Mini-bike is a small,
battery
Battery most often refers to:
* Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power
* Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact
Battery may also refer to:
Energy source
*Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...
-powered, two-wheeled
electric vehicle
An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. It can be powered by a collector system, with electricity from extravehicular sources, or it can be powered autonomously by a battery (sometimes cha ...
formerly manufactured by Pukka USA, LLC. It is capable of carrying a single passenger, weighing a maximum of , to speeds up to .
Components
The Pukka is powered by two 12-volt sealed
lead–acid batteries contained in a rear compartment, held by the frame behind the seat. It has an electronic motor control board which uses
pulse-width modulation
Pulse-width modulation (PWM), or pulse-duration modulation (PDM), is a method of reducing the average power delivered by an electrical signal, by effectively chopping it up into discrete parts. The average value of voltage (and current) fed ...
, and can provide up to 55 amps when required.
Pukka electric scooters
It receives low voltage signals from the throttle
A throttle is the mechanism by which fluid flow is managed by constriction or obstruction.
An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases (by the use of a throttle), but usually decreased. The term ''throttle'' ...
, which is attached to the right handle bar. The braking system is a drum brake
A drum brake is a brake that uses friction caused by a set of shoes or pads that press outward against a rotating cylinder-shaped part called a brake drum.
The term ''drum brake'' usually means a brake in which shoes press on the inner surfac ...
activated through a metal brake cable from a brake handle on the left handle bar. A circuit runs through the brake handle to allow the motor control board to detect when the brake is being used and shut off power to the motor. Thus, the Pukka is designed so that the motor and the brakes cannot be used at the same time.
Models
The Pukka was available in only one model, the GX400C, released in 2002 and quietly discontinued ca. 2007. During its production run it underwent many minor parts changes, including the coulomb valve, kickstand, and internal circuit board or PWM controller. It was sold for approximately $400 through a small, primarily online dealer network. In the midst of significantly declining sales, Pukka USA was acquired by the "blank check" company Sunrise USA in mid-2006.
References
External links
Information about the Pukka from Powerstream, the designer of the PWM controller
Information about the Electric Razor Pocket Rocket Mini Bike
Electric scooters
Battery electric vehicles
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