Taiwan PTW Parts Makers Unveil Topnotch Products at Motorcycle Taiwan 2008

Taiwan has built up an impressive reputation for delivering high-quality parts to some of the world's top brands of powered two-wheelers (PTWs). They are also providing a solid foundation for Taiwan's push into the global assembled PTW market, a push that was widely apparent at the 3rd Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan 2008).

LED Headlamps, Ready for the Road

After six years of intensive R&D, Mycarr Lighting Technology Co., Ltd., one of the largest auto and motorcycle lighting makers in Taiwan, premiered Taiwan's first pure LED scooter headlamp for commercialization.

Jack Shih, chairman of Mycarr, claimed that his company tied up with Taiwan's Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC) to jointly develop both auto and motorcycle headlamps. In March 2008, Mycarr completed all the development work, certified the lamps under the E-mark, and readied the advanced new products for mass production.

Mycarr's first LED PTW headlamp was developed for a light scooter model. The headlamp delivers 9.7 lux with six high-power LED modules (the number can be adjusted based on customer needs). The lamp whole set also has passed ECE R113 C-Type certification. The company has set a roadmap to develop about five LED headlamp models per year.

Though the cost of LED headlamps is still higher than traditional counterparts, Shih is confident his company will tap demand in the high-end market. Mycarr is already a major lighting supplier to many local and international PTW and all terrain vehicle (ATV) brands, including Harley Davison.

Frames for All Vehicles

Hsu-I Metal Industry Co., Ltd. is a major vehicle-frame developer and manufacturer in Taiwan. The company has grabbed a sizeable share of the local PTW, ATV, buggy, and cart frame business.

The company is also one of the few local companies capable of supplying exhaust systems that meet Taiwan's fifth-stage emission regulations, one of the toughest emission standards in the world.

Company president Jeffrey Hsieh claims that his firm can fully design and develop frames for all kinds of vehicle. The company also uses advanced welding robots to produce the frames.

Hsu-I has also diversified into high-level nerf bars and skid plates made of aluminum alloy and high-quality finishing.

After gaining a solid foothold in Taiwan, Hsu-I has been expanding exports of jigs and fixtures to PTW makers around the globe.

5-in-1 Integrated Lock System

Taiwan Kou Mu Industrial Co., Ltd. (TKM), a specialized developer and maker of locks and lock systems for all kinds of vehicle, showcased its latest multi-function locking system for PTWs at Motorcycle Taiwan 2008.

The five-in-one locking system can simultaneously control the ignition, seat lock, fuel-tank lock, handlebar lock, and toolbox lock. Its main lock (integrated in the ignition lock) features a double-security function that only opens with the use of a hidden magnetic sub-key integrated into the main key. The main key opens various switches and locks through left and right turns as well as pushing.

Huang Jhen-liang, general manager of TKM, pointed out that the multifunctional locking system has been adopted by some local assembled PTW makers and his company could develop similar systems to other kinds of vehicles such as ATVs and UTVs.

Scooter-tuning Specialist

James Tsai, president of Ming Chyan International Co., Ltd. (RUIMA brand), said that Taiwan is currently the most important supply base of high-end tuning parts for scooters with engine displacements under 250cc. Ming Chyan, however, is aiming to become a leader in performance-upgrading engine parts.

Tsai claims that performance-upgrading engine parts deliver the best horsepower upgrading results, but the modified engines require that key parts be made of much stronger and more durable materials. A higher precision level is also essential.

"Every item supplied by RUIMA is designed and developed to high standards by our specialized R&D team. Such products include cylinders, positions, exhaust systems, cylinder heads, continuous variable transmission (CVT) systems, carburetors, and crankshafts among other items," Tsai said." We also closely cooperate with top-quality specialized makers to produce various items."

Weather-proof Meters

Another exhibitor at the show was Acewell International Co., Ltd. A major maker of bicycle meters and electronic dart games, Acewell has been aggressively diversifying into the production of high-end powersports meters in recent years.

Acewell president George Lee said that his company has developed a series of high-end meters that are fully waterproof and have high impact-resistance. According to Lee, the meters can work at a wide working-temperature range from -40- to +90 degrees Celsius, and they are the first meters in the world with circuit boards directly incorporated into the forged aluminum meter housing, making them fully water-proof.

Lee also claims that the meters can simultaneously display more functions than any other meters in the world. The display combines a graphic tachometer, digital tachometer and warning meter, temperature meter, speed meter, trip meter, odometer, maximum speed meter, average speed meter, 12/24 hour clock, riding timer, and total ride timer.

Power Solutions for Electric Vehicle

TecWind Technology Co., Ltd. promoted its lithium-polymer (LiFePO4) battery pack and the powertrain system for electric scooters at Motorcycle Taiwan 2008.

TecWind claims that its high-efficiency battery management system (BMS) reduces power consumption of its 500W motor system to just one-third of a general 1000W counterpart. Moreover, the company's brushless hub motor has an outside rotor/inside stator design that makes it more power efficient and durable.

The company's rapid charger can fully recharge a lithium-polymer battery pack in two hours. A 10-minute charge will provide enough juice for a 10-kilometer ride, the company claims.

TecWind's 500W electric scooter performs much like a 50cc four-stroke gasoline-engine, though with the added benefits of zero-emission, no noise, and no trips to the pump.

Various Hybrid Solutions

Giant Lion Know-how Co., Ltd., specializes in advanced product coordination and design. It is also a patent holder and provides innovative know-how for "Green" PTW solutions and related technologies, developed in partnerships with local universities.

The company's supportive power system (SPS) for electric scooters has a 1KW power generator system (powered by a 50cc traditional gasoline engine), a 1.5KW wheel-hub motor, and four lead-acid batteries. The hub motor acts as an actuator with electrical power supplied from the battery or generator. The system, according to Giant Lion president Giant Yang, solves the major disadvantages of electric scooters, namely short cruising range and the inconvenience of battery recharging. The power generation system can also act as an auxiliary power unit.

A SPS-based electric scooter has much better fuel economy (about 90 kilometers per liter) than a 50cc gasoline scooter (60 kilometers), longer battery life (up to about 50,000 kilometers), and many other advantages.

The heavy hybrid system brings together a 125cc electronic fuel-injection (EFI) gasoline engine, generator, and hub motor. Through switches between serial or parallel hybrid modes, a vehicle starts running with the motor to avoid the higher pollution stage of a gasoline engine at high rotation per minute (rpm) and to improve torque. The vehicle's control unit determines when torque is sufficient to activate the electromagnetic clutch to join the two power sources which are adjusted according to torque requirements and to maximize efficiency at various speeds.

Compared with a general 125cc gasoline-engine scooter, the heavy hybrid scooter can cut emissions by up to 54% and fuel consumption by about 50%.

The micro hybrid system operates under the same concept as the heavy hybrid system, but with less displacement of gasoline.

For the advanced hybrid solutions, Giant Lion has also developed a dual-action clutch (DAC) power switch system with a gasoline-electric power switch system. The unit also has an uninterruptible combustion system (UCS) to maintain stable combustion and easy restarting of the gasoline engine.

Yang says his company is focused on mainly hybrid or pure electric vehicles with low costs and easy repair/maintenance, which are key factors in the popularity of the products. Drawing on its strengths in precision machinery and vehicle parts manufacturing, Giant Lion will continue to develop clean power and energy products, Yang says. The company expects to commercialize vehicles with the hybrid systems within a year.

Helmet Wiper

HaiHao Technology Co., Ltd. showcased an innovative product that is certain to bring relief to rainy day riders: an electronically controlled wiper system that attaches to a helmet.

HaiHao's patented helmet wiper system is powered by a high-torque mini motor that can be powered for up to 800 hours of continuous operation with just four AAA batteries. Jerry Tseng, general manager of HaiHao, points out that his company overcame several technical thresholds to make the wipers, including reducing the motor size, improving heat-dissipation, and waterproofing the unit.

The helmet wiper system can be switched on and off and speed-adjusted by remote control.

HaiHao's next step, according to Tseng, is to develop a temperature-setting heat-dissipation system for helmets.