Ape Automobile LLC
Find a way or make one
Idea in Transportation
Introduction
ATVs are critical to farms, yet farmers struggle to find efficient and affordable alternatives to gas ATVs. Ape Auto offers an efficient, sustainable, and high-power electric solution. With a novel drivetrain and recycled batteries we reduce cost and environmental impact - the perfect solution.
Problem
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) powered by gas are considered a significant environmental threat due to their contribution to CO2 emissions. Although Congress allocated $7.9 billion to assist farmers in adopting eco-friendly practices, very few farmers have made the transition to electric 4WD ATVs. One reason is the high initial cost, as electric models are significantly more expensive than gas-powered ones. The primary factor contributing to the higher cost of electric ATVs is expensive battery cells. Additionally, electric ATVs have a limited range, and additional battery packs cost a considerable amount. These factors have resulted in a much higher price for electric ATVs than their gas counterparts, discouraging farmers from making the switch.
Opportunity
For our first prototype we created a functional battery pack using recycled 18650 cells. We discovered that not only can recycled cells meet the power demands of small electric vehicles, but also that they still have several hundred charging cycles left in them. Using them reduced the cost of battery pack manufacturing drastically (to around 1/4 the cost of traditional methods). Together with a modular battery configuration, users can easily swap out dead batteries for fully charged ones, increasing the range of the vehicle. By using these batteries our ATV is able to maintain quality, reduce cost, and extend range. We also have a unique belt driven drivetrain, designed to be compact and light enough to fit within a 14 inch rim. It reduces noise, increases ride quality, and is virtually maintenance free. With this type of transmission, we can use smaller motors to drive down production cost while meeting the power requirements of modern day off-roading.