Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.
1. A ridable vehicle, comprising:
a chassis including a steering assembly comprising a fork, a steering column coupled to the fork, and at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, the fork oriented with a longitudinal axis of the chassis;
a battery housing coupled to the chassis, where the battery housing includes a controller and at least one battery;
wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor; and
two caster wheels coupled to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis;
wherein the fork supports the at least one front steerable wheel and also supports the electric motor adjacent the at least one front steerable wheel, and
wherein the two caster wheels are coupled to the chassis via a rotatable member that is coupled to a hand lever coupled to the chassis and rotation of the hand lever rotates the caster wheels from a first position where the caster wheels are aligned so that the weight on the caster wheels limits the ability of the caster wheels to swivel about their swivel axes, to a second position where the caster wheels are aligned so that they are free to swivel about their swivel axes.
2. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steerable wheel is coupled to a zero camber zero rake fork.
3. The ridable vehicle of claim 2 wherein the electric motor is a variable speed electric motor; and the power delivered to the variable speed electric motor is controlled by an acceleration pedal.
4. The ridable vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising a seat mounted to the chassis and positioned in front of the battery housing.
5. The ridable vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the seat is coupled to the chassis so that a steering wheel fixed to the steering column is within reach of a driver seated in the seat and so that the driver is seated low to the ground.
6. The ridable vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the fork is configured to rotate through 360 degrees.
7. The ridable vehicle of claim 6 , wherein each caster wheel is configured to rotate 360 degrees around its rotational axis.
8. A ridable vehicle, comprising:
a chassis having a forward portion and a rearward portion;
a steering mount coupled to the forward portion of the chassis, the steering mount comprising a first leg and a second leg, the first leg coupled to the chassis forward of the second leg such that the steering mount is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the steering mount comprising a steering column configured to support a fork and a steering wheel, the fork supporting a steerable front wheel and an electric motor adjacent the steerable front wheel;
a seat coupled to the chassis;
two caster wheels coupled to a rear portion of the chassis, wherein each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, a swivel axis of each of the two caster wheels fixed relative to the chassis;
a battery housing coupled to the rearward portion of the chassis, wherein the battery housing includes a controller and at least one battery; and
wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor;
wherein the electric motor drives the steerable front wheel.
9. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the two caster wheels are coupled to the chassis via a rotatable member that is coupled to a hand lever coupled to the chassis and rotation of the hand lever rotates the caster wheels from a first position where the caster wheels are aligned so that the weight on the caster wheels limits the ability of the caster wheels to swivel about their swivel axes, to a second position where the caster wheels are aligned so that they are free to swivel about their swivel axes.
10. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the steerable wheel is coupled to a zero camber zero rake fork.
11. The ridable vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the fork is configured to rotate through 360 degrees.
12. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein each caster wheel is configured to rotate 360 degrees around its rotational axis.
13. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 wherein the electric motor is a variable speed electric motor; and the power delivered to the variable speed electric motor is controlled by an acceleration pedal.
14. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising a seat mounted to the chassis and positioned in front of the battery housing.
15. The ridable vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the seat is coupled to the chassis so that a steering wheel fixed to the steering column is within reach of a driver seated in the seat and so that the driver is seated low to the ground.
16. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the second leg of the steering mount is coupled to the chassis forward of the seat and spaced apart from the seat along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
17. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the steering mount has a maximum lateral width that is less than a maximum lateral width of the fork.
18. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the chassis is a hollow tube chassis.
19. The ridable vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the second leg is coupled to a lateral tube of the hollow tube chassis and wherein the lateral tube extends laterally across the chassis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
20. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the steering mount has a lateral width that is about equal to the axial width of a tire of the steerable front wheel.
21. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the steering mount comprises a substantially trapezoidal shape from a side vantage point of the ridable vehicle.
22. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the steering mount further comprises a third leg connecting the first leg and the second leg.
23. The ridable vehicle of claim 22 , wherein the third leg is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis.
24. The ridable vehicle of claim 22 , wherein the third leg is generally perpendicular to the steering column.