Several years ago, I built a human-electric hybrid recumbent bicycle. The original pedal system remained intact to drive the rear wheel with a 1hp Bosch PM motor driving the front via a 3 speed internal hub 16" wheel. The 3 speed hub made a nice little gearbox I achieved the proper gear ratio by welding a large go-cart style sprocket on to the original. I also upgraded the braking by using a band style go-cart brake on the front wheel. It required a custom adaptor from a machine shop, but provided excellent braking with 0 drag when not in use. You will need a speed controller as the use of an on/off switch will destroy the internal gearing of the hub. The bike was capable of brisk (front tire smoking, very scary in the rain) acceleration with a top speed of 35-37 mph. I never kept close track of the range, but using 2 group 22 gels, I got around 15 miles with pedaling on acceleration. In 3rd gear (front wheel), larger bicycle gearing was required to keep pace with the motor. Since the bike used two separate motive systems, which were both capable of freewheeling, you could pedal, motor or both. In retrospect, the batteries were too heavy for a non-suspension bike. The bike was a real hot rod, but you could use a smaller battery/motor combination and have a very useable machine.
9/30/02 12:41 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Well let me explain a little better. I have been working on > different variations of an electric go-kart for the past 3 years and > am starting on another version right now. I go to school 250 miles > from home and get home at most once a month. So I got to thinking > yesterday about wht good this go-kart would do me. Obviously it will > be fun to build and drive, but if I am not near it very often, there > won't be much time to drive it. So maybe something practical would > be a better bet. I do not have a car with me at school and I live 5 > miles from my place of part time employment. Even if I couldn't > charge at work, 10 miles is definitely doable with electric. An > electric assisted bike would seem like the best option, but I agree > with the Wayland philosophy that electric vehicle does not mean > traveling science project (in public anyway). That is why I was > thinking about a converted moped. Does anyone have first hand > experience with moped pedals? Is pedaling practical at all? I have > read that it is difficult, but doable. > > Keith > > At 9:06 AM -0700 9/30/02, Peter VanDerWal wrote: >> From what I understand the pedals on most mopeds are mostly for >> show. You use them to start the motor and that's about it. In the >> event of motor failure, it's generally quicker and easier to get off >> and push then it is to try pedaling. >> >> [snip] >> The point is that it's possible to convert just about any vehicle to >> electric, some are just better candidates than others. From the gas >> powered mopeds I've seen, converting them would generally be more >> effort than it was worth. It's doable but better results could be >> achieved by starting with a bicycle or from scratch. >> >> [snip] >> >> Keith Richtman wrote: >> >>> Anyone on the list ever converted a moped? I am talking the real >>> mopeds that are pedalable in an emergency. Most of them have a >>> rear rack for some batteries and a engine nicely situated for >>> replacement with electric. >>> >>> Keith >
