Motors, SLACK & 40T Packs, Chat with David from NUMO

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David From NUMO

Please note that the interview answers were edited as English is David’s secondary language.

Powered by a 72V Samsung battery pack, Kelly controllers, and a titanium/aluminum frame, the 90 mph SLACK CORE 920R is one of the most anticipated performance electric scooters for 2022.

According to industry power calculations, the SLACK CORE outputs 30KW+ of power at its highest setting, which is insane! We’ll talk more about max output below.

Are you ready to take your scooter game to the next level?

Find out more about NUMO, SLACK CORE and its many variations in the sections below.

• Bluetran Lightning is Here!

NUMO

What’s the inspiration and the goal behind the SLACK CORE electric scooter?

I’m David, one of the founders and shareholders of NUMO. My background is in real-estate financing, more recently, my time and energy have been focused in the micro-mobility industry. I was a distributor under the Korean Eurowheel/ Freegodirect, but now am laser-focused on NUMO.

Skin in the game

What a lot of people don’t know about NUMO is that I and some of the team members were behind some of the biggest brands in the market today (Kaabo, Joyor, Zero, Blade, etc). We’re aiming to change the industry in two ways:

1. Provide top-level quality control (input and output) that meets standards in products such as televisions and bicycles.
2. Produce the top-level performance scooter for racing (our main goal). We aim to change the culture behind performance scooters by building the best track day scooters as possible.

Riders may select from Samsung 50E or 40T Battery Packs

• SLACK CORE 920R: 140 KMH, 40T 72V 36AH
• SLACK CORE 1220: 120 KMH, 50E 72V 60AH
• SLACK CORE 920: 120 KMH, 50E 72V 45AH
• SLACK CORE 916: 110 KMH, 50E 60V 45AH

Technical Specs:

• Pricing: $7,000 – $9,000
• Models: Core 920R, CORE 920, CORE 1220, CORE 916
• Top speed: 145 KMH, 120 KMH, 120 KMH, 110 KMH
• Battery Options: Samsung 40T/50E, 36AH, 45AH, 60AH, 45AH
• Controller: Kelly Modified
• Motor: High torque rpm motor, Dual, 200A/400A peak, Golding plating bullet connector 200A
• Body: Titanium, Forged Aluminum
• Brakes: Hydraulic 4 Piston calipers
• Suspension: PSS (parallel sustained suspension), 165MM Hydraulic suspension

The SLACK CORE boasts some jaw-dropping specs

Each model was built for either “speed” or “range”, what’s the wattage behind each model?

I can only speak to our primary performance specs like voltage and amp. If we follow the industry standard, W = V X A, 84V x 200A x 2, the wattage would be 33,600W…

Ready to come to the real world?

My motor’s nominal wattage is 2500-3000W, we’re waiting for test reports to confirm. Rather than being fixated on a number, finding the balance with each part is more important. Let’s look over the SLACK CORE 920R primary specifications:

Battery:

• SAMSUNG SDI 21700 40T cells
• Made in Korea and buying it from Korea means cell quality is Grade AA
• Tip: You can buy 40T from Hong Kong, those should be Grade B
• SDI team states these are 40T real specs
• Discharge rate: Nominal 35A constantly
• Peak current (on 80 Celsius degree 55-60A)

BMS:

• Custom NUMO BMS nominal 300A Peak 700A
• Tested by SDI
• Active balancing is available

Battery Packs Assembly:

• We have to use custom cell holders
• We have to use pure nickel in the builds
• Battery pack peak current is 500A!

Motors:

We design and develop our own custom motors, sorry, we don’t share specs as they’re our own special sauce. We design them, but we don’t produce them. Why not? A motor packaging machine’s price is over 2M per one! Our motor rating is 2500-3000W, that’s all we’ll share for now.

Controllers:

There are lots of good quality controllers on the market, we’ve tried the best controllers and have used some of them. If I can modify VESC source only for my motor then I would use VESC, but we can’t, and so we don’t.

For the SLACK CORE, we’re using modified Kelly 7218 controllers. We’re in the process of developing our own 250A controllers, more info on those should come next year.

90 MPH.

Before we dig in deeper, can normal guys ride the CORE at lower speeds? Say on their way to work or through busy New York City streets for example?

First of all, the 920R is a racing scooter. It is built for explosive performance, the reason why we choose 40T cells for this setup.

There are 3 modes you can choose from urban, sport, and racing boost mode. You can ride it at “walking speed”, it’s very easy to control. If you’re looking for a main commuter, get the 920 instead, range and power.

If you want the most range, the SLACK CORE 1220 will hit the sweet spot for your long-distance needs.

By the way, the numbers behind the models correlate to the battery configurations. 920 is 20s9p. 1220 is 20s12p, get it? The series is SLACK CORE 920R, 1220, 920, and 916 in the pecking order.

Battery packs

• Made in Korea
• We use Chinese parts (battery holder, nickel plate, silicone wire, plug)
• Battery cell, BMS, the case made in Korea
• Packing and assembled in Korea
• We use spot welding machines for battery packing
• We use pure nickel (99.9%)

Charger and BMS

We wanted to only use Korean-produced Samsung 40T cells, not the ones made in Hong Kong or China. Getting authentic ones is tricky, a lot of work is required. The first step is to produce the Samsung SDI test, to do so, we tested a few Chinese BMS and charger samples.

Some were decent but at a premium cost. We ultimately decided to produce our own custom system and passed SDI tests without any issues.

Samsung SDI Testing

What the Samsung SDI test is and why you need to pass it?

The thing about testing is that SDI does not sell its cells to any electric scooter manufacturer. SDI is required for any distribution route because they have standards and a reputation to uphold.

They put their durability, stability, and safety to the test. The BMS we designed must be able to handle that amount of current with ease.

The chargers we use have function protection, which means you can charge the scooter for months without it igniting. While we do not recommend or condone charging your scooter while it is unattended, it is comforting to know that the hardware includes these safety features.

• Charger: Up to 85% constant amperage, 85 – 100% constant voltage 84V

Phase Wires

I love the way you folded the phase wires for the front motor, any reason why you did that? I don’t think I’ve seen any other scooter models do that, they usually try to hide the wires.

The entire system is modular, with the goal of making riding and maintaining it as simple as possible. Especially when it comes to repairs.

There’s no need to open the deck if you need to change a tire. Simply disconnect the phase wires and you’re ready to go.

Wiring

• Motors: 8 AWG
• Battery: 10 AWG
• Controller: 10 AWG
• Motor: PVC wire with glass fiber cover
• Battery, Controller: silicone wire

Magura brakes:

• 920R: MT7
• 1220, 920: MT5E

Warranty & Parts

In the case that any of the parts we discussed need to be replaced are defective, what is the warranty policy for after-sales support?

The reseller will be responsible for after-sales and warranty service, and they will have my full support for parts and guidance. The scooter is modular and was created so that any rider can easily maintain it.

It will only take two screws to open the deck. All wire harnesses are waterproof, jack-to-jack, and incredibly simple to install. Waterproof plugs are used in the main harness and handlebar components.

Make it Rain

Does the SLACK CORE have a waterproof rating?

No, it’s impossible. If you see any rating it’s all bullshit. We prepare the scooter by using waterproof plugs, and waterproof spray over the controllers, in the case of water exposure.

Design & Software

What software do you use to design scooters?

Are you familiar with Siemens software? It’s an awesome program that can figure out how thick materials are under pressure, how strong they are, and so on.

It’s a great tool for the builds we do. We’re always learning, researching, and improving when it comes to design, materials, and structure.

Engineering design graphics and Mechanics of Materials are two of our current favorite resources. Our team is currently comprised of ten members: a structural Designer, power train designer, mechanics, product designer, marketing, IT programmer, and accountants.

This keeps us lean and allows us to move more quickly.

The Team

How about production, are you guys building these scooters between you 10?

Our suppliers are huge companies, far larger than we are. Our assemblers and forged partners are the same people who make Hyundai brakes, so they’re well-known in the automotive industry.

Other companies we work with for titanium parts, CNC, die casting, and BMS, among other things. We’re sourcing the best possible components for our units from each partner, who is an expert in their field.

Producing these scooters takes a lot of time and effort, as well as a lot of relationships, which most people are unaware of.

Quality Control

How do you QA your products?

Our quality control process is simple and focuses on input and output QC.

1. We design
2. Decide dimension limit to produce
3. Test
4. Parts purchasing
5. Order assemble specs

Input Quality Control – Part-level QC

• Check dimensions
• Surface checking

Output Quality Control – Output QC

1. Finish checking the scooter inside and out
2. Sound checking on idle specifications
3. Test ride 20m

Stability and Performance!

We wanted the SLACK CORE to be all about power, stability, and durability when we designed it. The RPM of our motor is 3250, and the idle speed is 170 KMH. The true top speed is 146 kilometers per hour, or 85 percent of idle speed.

This produces exceptional ground torque while causing minimal heat loss. Riders often mistakenly believe that our suspension is for comfort, but it is not.

These were created for the purpose of braking. The braking suspension system improves all-around grip, especially in corners.

The front suspension distributes 70% of the braking power, while the rear suspension distributes 30%.

Wobble Wobble.

Are there any speed wobbles with the SLACK CORE?

There are plenty of reasons why a performance scooter will experience wobbles. At its foundation, the scooter geometry is a huge factor in its stability.

External factors such as potholes, tire grips, and handling (think braking) will cause a scooter to lose control.

Fortunately, ERREX has developed a damper for the CORE to dial in external handling factors for potholes and tire grip loss.

1. Wrong geometry
2. Pot holes
3. Lose front grip(2 is same)
4. After fishtail(braking)

Samples.

I’ll be shipping the samples around June 25th, and we’re excited. Each sample is expensive, costing around $10,000 for potential partners.

Keep an eye out for possible collaborations with supercar brands…

How much?

The 920R’s target price in the United States is around $9000, and it will be well worth it. SLACK CORE variants will cost between $7,500 and $9,500, depending on the model…we’re still working out the details.

When the finalized pricing is available, your local distributors and resellers will notify you, and we’ll keep you updated.

Editor's Note: VROOOMIN.COM reports the advertised speed and range from the manufacturer. The exact results will vary depending on the rider's weight, overall payload, road conditions, and charge level. Most PEVs will deliver at least 60-70 percent of the quoted range, if not more. The top speed and range will be decreased for heavier riders.

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