Three months ago, Drew, the owner of the popular YouTube channel Drew Builds Stuff, caught attention by building a mobile home using a bike “engine”.
Using a bike as a mobile home is not impossible, but there is one inconvenience: it only has a human-powered engine. Therefore, it’s not easy to move uphill, nor is it convenient for long distances.
Thus, he decided to use an electric bike to make the journey easier.
However, instead of buying a real electric bike or purchasing a ready-made motor to install, Drew built his own “electric motor” for his bike.
The reason he did this is that it would be more cost-effective. Additionally, he needed a sufficiently powerful electric motor to pull the “house” weighing 91kg behind.
To create a 51Ah 48V electric bike battery, he used 221 batteries glued together, providing a range of about 100km. The battery is placed in a box originally used for holding a camera and mounted at the back of the “house”.
He still needs to modify further to enhance safety, such as adding a “cooling system” so the “motor” doesn’t overheat.
But essentially, he now has an electric bike that costs only about $1,000 for the battery, $700 for the conversion kit to turn the bike into an electric bike, $800 for the solar panel, and $500 for accessories like bolts and metal rods…
In total, it amounts to $3,000, cheaper than buying a new bike with comparable power. (A standard bike costs around $1,000 – $3,000, while an off-road bike capable of towing a trailer runs between $2,000 – $18,000).
As for the “house” or trailer being towed, Drew built it three months ago, using a metal frame, plywood, and “poor man’s fiberglass” (comprising canvas, glue, and paint) to construct it.
Drew also made the house with easily available materials. The wheels were taken from an old bike. Insulation was done with foam sheets. Waterproofing was done with glue applied to the threads of all screws. Cheap LED lights. All of this cost about $1,200 – Photo: Drew Builds Stuff/YouTube
In this electric bike upgrade, Drew also changed some details to ensure greater safety.
