Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
I'm with Peri. My first impression reading the article was that it jumped right into the nuts and bolts of a conversion with specifications, but nothing on the Why? Even if the first article was on the why, it would be good to summarize. I've put on an alternative vehicle show at my employer. Bringing vehicles to show people really helps them see the possibilities. If there is a way to offer rides, even better. Normal bike riders often like the idea of e-bikes. It takes some discussion with auto drivers to get them to see the possibilities. Hard core bike riders and racers tend to view e-bikes as a foreign add-on that just messed up a perfectly good bike. Mike On August 26, 2014 11:52:08 AM MDT, Peri Hartman via EV ev@lists.evdl.org wrote: Hi Larry, Great start. My first thought is it might benefit the reader to tell him why he might be interested in an e-bike. It may sound obvious but simply adding some tempting phrases might hook the reader into finishing the article. Do you hesitate to ride because there are too many hills in Seattle? Or, I feel like I'm holding up traffic but I don't feel safe riding in the door zone. And so on. I think the first step is to get people interested in the possibility of using their bike *instead* of a car. They may not be that interested in the technical details at that stage. Perhaps they haven't even considered not using a car. First you have to capture their imagination. Then, again, you are writing for CBC so I don't know how many non-cyclists will see your article. Maybe you can start with CBC and then get more publicity in general media. I'm trying to convince my wife to give it a try. Maybe your article will help. Peri -- Original Message -- From: Larry Gales via EV ev@lists.evdl.org To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List ev@lists.evdl.org; SEVA s...@seattleeva.org Sent: 26-Aug-14 10:38:42 AM Subject: [EVDL] Electric bike information I am trying to interest the largest bicycle club in my area (Seattle), he Cascade Bicycle Club, about the importance and future of electric bikes. In July I wrote an article about the fun, practicality, and benefits of e-bikes, and now I would like to provide information that would help them purchase an e-bike or an e-bike kit. So I want to know if the information that I give them is accurate. So if you see any errors in the presentation below, let me know. Thanks,, Larry Gales, Here is the article (limited to 600 words): == In July I wrote an article in the Courier about the many advantages of electric bikes, or e-bikes, and how they are becoming a mainstream form of local transportation throughout Asia and Europe. I hope to encourage people in this country to acquire e-bikes and so relieve us from the problems caused by the near exclusive use of automobiles. There are many aspects to consider when acquiring an e-bike: o The method of purchase: buy a ready made e-bike or convert an existing bike with a kit o The odometer and battery state of charge display o The power you need (typically 250 to 750 watts) o The type and size of battery o The type and location of the motor o The wheel size compatible with an e-bike kit o The weight of the e-bike, typically 15-25 lbs more than conventional bikes, but note that with an e-bike, the weight only matters when lift or carry it, so you can easily detach the battery, cutting the additional weight to 8-12 lbs. o The purchase cost and servicing of e-bikes Here we consider only the type, control, and placement of the electric motor in an e-bike. o There are three main ways to control an e-bike motor: - Pedelic: this multiplies the power you apply to the pedals, typically by 25% to 300%. So the motor only operates when you pedal - Throttle: the motor starts when you press the throttle. You can also pedal to add power or extend the range - Both: many e-bikes provide both options o There are two main types of e-bike motors: - Mid-drive motor: this is a geared motor that drives the chain wheel which in turns powers the chain that powers the rear wheel. The main advantages are that the motor is isolated from the shock and vibration of the wheel, and it operates in a way that is most similar to the way a conventional bike works. However, it requires frequent gear shifting which must be coordinated with the motor controls - Hub motor: this motor fits inside the wheel around the axle, and is the most common e-bike motor. The main advantages are that it greatly reduces the wear and tear on the drive train as it powers the wheel directly, it usually eliminates the need to shift (if the motor is sufficiently powerful), it often enables regenerating braking which
Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
Most bikers I know fix a flat without taking the whole wheel off. The only moment I need to remove the wheel (or at least free one side of the hub) is when the tire has gone bad and needs to be changed. Fixing a flat is a matter of finding and patching the hole (and what caused the hole, or you might have an immediate puncture again) Cor van de Water Chief Scientist Proxim Wireless Corporation http://www.proxim.com Email: cwa...@proxim.com Private: http://www.cvandewater.info Skype: cor_van_de_water Tel: +1 408 383 7626 -Original Message- From: EV [mailto:ev-boun...@lists.evdl.org] On Behalf Of Peter Eckhoff via EV Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 10:50 AM To: Larry Gales; Electric Vehicle Discussion List Subject: Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information Hello Larry, This is a nice summary and I did not see any errors. I do have some comments that I think need to be addressed. I also provided some of my experiences with respect to electric bikes but I am sure you have run across some of these experiences already. One person I know rides a Currie Izip to and from work. Her main goal is to get to work without having to take a shower. She loves her bike for that ability and she rides on basically level ground with some small hills. We are in the southeastern USA and just going to the mailbox in the summer can produce the feeling that you need a shower. I can attest to the ability of an electric bike to climb long hills without generating heat stroke (but still need a shower). I tried a geared bike and stripped a nylon(?) gear. The bike, motor, lead acid pack and me weighed in over 300 pounds. That is a lot of weight to put on the teeth of a nylon gear. I bought a bearing puller to pull the two parts apart to get at the gear... If I had to do it again, I would go with a non-geared bike. The bike I bought was a conversion and used a heavier steel bike frame. For an electric bike conversion, the gap between the forks has to be wide enough to receive a wheel with a motor encased between the spokes. If the gap is too narrow, bending the forks is not a good idea. Most converters use a mountain bike frame. Changing a flat on the motored wheel is problematic as you have to deal with the motor cable. Some of the newer bikes have cable disconnects near the hub. My conversion does not and I have to cut on plastic ties. On one of the trails in the local area, I thought I was making great progress until I was passed by several people on road bikes at twice my speed. Still, no complaints as I was able to go the distance with a bit to a lot of assist from the motor. Your 15-25 pounds may be a little on the light side. A quick glance at the Currie line up has their bikes at around 53 (w/o pedals) to 60 pounds. My son's commuter bike weighs in at 30 pounds. Also, the electric bike frames tend to be sturdier (read heavier) to support the extra weight and stresses. I would up your 15-25 pounds to maybe 20-30 pounds. (My bike weighs about 65+ pounds but it has a lead acid pack.) You might also want to mention electric cargo bikes (Yuba Bikes, etc.). I rode an electric Yuba cargo bike and was impressed with how it felt more like a road bike when using the electric motor. http://yubabikes.com/cargo-bikes/elboda/ So the motor only operates when you pedal My understanding is that the motor only operates **after** you begin pedaling. I think the manufacturer's were working on this because of the initial effort to begin pedaling was strenuous (especially uphill) until the motor kicked in. The ideal was to have the motor kick in as you started pedaling. Not sure of how much progress has been made in that regard. Hope this helps. Peter On 8/26/2014 1:38 PM, Larry Gales via EV wrote: I am trying to interest the largest bicycle club in my area (Seattle), he Cascade Bicycle Club, about the importance and future of electric bikes. In July I wrote an article about the fun, practicality, and benefits of e-bikes, and now I would like to provide information that would help them purchase an e-bike or an e-bike kit. So I want to know if the information that I give them is accurate. So if you see any errors in the presentation below, let me know. Thanks,, Larry Gales, Here is the article (limited to 600 words): == In July I wrote an article in the Courier about the many advantages of electric bikes, or e-bikes, and how they are becoming a mainstream form of local transportation throughout Asia and Europe. I hope to encourage people in this country to acquire e-bikes and so relieve us from the problems caused by the near exclusive use of automobiles. There are many aspects to consider when acquiring an e-bike: o The method of purchase: buy a ready made e-bike or convert an existing bike with a kit o The odometer and battery state of charge display o The power you need
Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
NPR discussion on ebikes right now. On Wed, Aug 27, 2014 at 5:48 AM, Mike Nickerson via EV ev@lists.evdl.org wrote: I'm with Peri. My first impression reading the article was that it jumped right into the nuts and bolts of a conversion with specifications, but nothing on the Why? Even if the first article was on the why, it would be good to summarize. I've put on an alternative vehicle show at my employer. Bringing vehicles to show people really helps them see the possibilities. If there is a way to offer rides, even better. Normal bike riders often like the idea of e-bikes. It takes some discussion with auto drivers to get them to see the possibilities. Hard core bike riders and racers tend to view e-bikes as a foreign add-on that just messed up a perfectly good bike. Mike On August 26, 2014 11:52:08 AM MDT, Peri Hartman via EV ev@lists.evdl.org wrote: Hi Larry, Great start. My first thought is it might benefit the reader to tell him why he might be interested in an e-bike. It may sound obvious but simply adding some tempting phrases might hook the reader into finishing the article. Do you hesitate to ride because there are too many hills in Seattle? Or, I feel like I'm holding up traffic but I don't feel safe riding in the door zone. And so on. I think the first step is to get people interested in the possibility of using their bike *instead* of a car. They may not be that interested in the technical details at that stage. Perhaps they haven't even considered not using a car. First you have to capture their imagination. Then, again, you are writing for CBC so I don't know how many non-cyclists will see your article. Maybe you can start with CBC and then get more publicity in general media. I'm trying to convince my wife to give it a try. Maybe your article will help. Peri -- Original Message -- From: Larry Gales via EV ev@lists.evdl.org To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List ev@lists.evdl.org; SEVA s...@seattleeva.org Sent: 26-Aug-14 10:38:42 AM Subject: [EVDL] Electric bike information I am trying to interest the largest bicycle club in my area (Seattle), he Cascade Bicycle Club, about the importance and future of electric bikes. In July I wrote an article about the fun, practicality, and benefits of e-bikes, and now I would like to provide information that would help them purchase an e-bike or an e-bike kit. So I want to know if the information that I give them is accurate. So if you see any errors in the presentation below, let me know. Thanks,, Larry Gales, Here is the article (limited to 600 words): == In July I wrote an article in the Courier about the many advantages of electric bikes, or e-bikes, and how they are becoming a mainstream form of local transportation throughout Asia and Europe. I hope to encourage people in this country to acquire e-bikes and so relieve us from the problems caused by the near exclusive use of automobiles. There are many aspects to consider when acquiring an e-bike: o The method of purchase: buy a ready made e-bike or convert an existing bike with a kit o The odometer and battery state of charge display o The power you need (typically 250 to 750 watts) o The type and size of battery o The type and location of the motor o The wheel size compatible with an e-bike kit o The weight of the e-bike, typically 15-25 lbs more than conventional bikes, but note that with an e-bike, the weight only matters when lift or carry it, so you can easily detach the battery, cutting the additional weight to 8-12 lbs. o The purchase cost and servicing of e-bikes Here we consider only the type, control, and placement of the electric motor in an e-bike. o There are three main ways to control an e-bike motor: - Pedelic: this multiplies the power you apply to the pedals, typically by 25% to 300%. So the motor only operates when you pedal - Throttle: the motor starts when you press the throttle. You can also pedal to add power or extend the range - Both: many e-bikes provide both options o There are two main types of e-bike motors: - Mid-drive motor: this is a geared motor that drives the chain wheel which in turns powers the chain that powers the rear wheel. The main advantages are that the motor is isolated from the shock and vibration of the wheel, and it operates in a way that is most similar to the way a conventional bike works. However, it requires frequent gear shifting which must be coordinated with the motor controls - Hub motor: this motor fits inside the wheel around the axle, and is the most common e-bike motor. The main advantages are that it greatly reduces the wear and
Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
Thanks for your comments. Actually, the article that I am writing now is a followup to an article in the same magazine that I did in July, in which the entire contents of the article dealt with the fun, the practicallity, the benefits, and the widespread use in Europe and Asia of electric bikes. So the readers of this article have likely seen the immediately preceding one. -- Larry Gales On Wed, Aug 27, 2014 at 5:48 AM, Mike Nickerson via EV ev@lists.evdl.org wrote: I'm with Peri. My first impression reading the article was that it jumped right into the nuts and bolts of a conversion with specifications, but nothing on the Why? Even if the first article was on the why, it would be good to summarize. I've put on an alternative vehicle show at my employer. Bringing vehicles to show people really helps them see the possibilities. If there is a way to offer rides, even better. Normal bike riders often like the idea of e-bikes. It takes some discussion with auto drivers to get them to see the possibilities. Hard core bike riders and racers tend to view e-bikes as a foreign add-on that just messed up a perfectly good bike. Mike On August 26, 2014 11:52:08 AM MDT, Peri Hartman via EV ev@lists.evdl.org wrote: Hi Larry, Great start. My first thought is it might benefit the reader to tell him why he might be interested in an e-bike. It may sound obvious but simply adding some tempting phrases might hook the reader into finishing the article. Do you hesitate to ride because there are too many hills in Seattle? Or, I feel like I'm holding up traffic but I don't feel safe riding in the door zone. And so on. I think the first step is to get people interested in the possibility of using their bike *instead* of a car. They may not be that interested in the technical details at that stage. Perhaps they haven't even considered not using a car. First you have to capture their imagination. Then, again, you are writing for CBC so I don't know how many non-cyclists will see your article. Maybe you can start with CBC and then get more publicity in general media. I'm trying to convince my wife to give it a try. Maybe your article will help. Peri -- Original Message -- From: Larry Gales via EV ev@lists.evdl.org To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List ev@lists.evdl.org; SEVA s...@seattleeva.org Sent: 26-Aug-14 10:38:42 AM Subject: [EVDL] Electric bike information I am trying to interest the largest bicycle club in my area (Seattle), he Cascade Bicycle Club, about the importance and future of electric bikes. In July I wrote an article about the fun, practicality, and benefits of e-bikes, and now I would like to provide information that would help them purchase an e-bike or an e-bike kit. So I want to know if the information that I give them is accurate. So if you see any errors in the presentation below, let me know. Thanks,, Larry Gales, Here is the article (limited to 600 words): == In July I wrote an article in the Courier about the many advantages of electric bikes, or e-bikes, and how they are becoming a mainstream form of local transportation throughout Asia and Europe. I hope to encourage people in this country to acquire e-bikes and so relieve us from the problems caused by the near exclusive use of automobiles. There are many aspects to consider when acquiring an e-bike: o The method of purchase: buy a ready made e-bike or convert an existing bike with a kit o The odometer and battery state of charge display o The power you need (typically 250 to 750 watts) o The type and size of battery o The type and location of the motor o The wheel size compatible with an e-bike kit o The weight of the e-bike, typically 15-25 lbs more than conventional bikes, but note that with an e-bike, the weight only matters when lift or carry it, so you can easily detach the battery, cutting the additional weight to 8-12 lbs. o The purchase cost and servicing of e-bikes Here we consider only the type, control, and placement of the electric motor in an e-bike. o There are three main ways to control an e-bike motor: - Pedelic: this multiplies the power you apply to the pedals, typically by 25% to 300%. So the motor only operates when you pedal - Throttle: the motor starts when you press the throttle. You can also pedal to add power or extend the range - Both: many e-bikes provide both options o There are two main types of e-bike motors: - Mid-drive motor: this is a geared motor that drives the chain wheel which in turns powers the chain that powers the rear wheel. The main advantages are that the motor is isolated from the shock and vibration of the wheel, and it operates in a way that is most
Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
Nice summary. I would say you're a little optimistic on total weight for an e-bike, I use a hub motor with a light 15ah 48v battery, and I'm easily 30 lbs over a standard, maybe just a quibble. The regen % however is a bit less realistic. I ride my e-bike up/down hills, and don't get more than 5% regen, on a good day. Also, the small amount of drag when the hub motor is off is more than slight, it's rather like cycling with a partially flat tire. Otherwise, nice general write up. - Dan Gallagher http://www.evalbum.com/3854 -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Electric-bike-information-tp4671202p4671221.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
-Original Message- From: EV [mailto:ev-boun...@lists.evdl.org] On Behalf Of Peter Eckhoff via EV Sent: Thursday, 28 August 2014 5:50 a.m. To: Larry Gales; Electric Vehicle Discussion List Subject: Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information Hello Larry, This is a nice summary and I did not see any errors. ... I tried a geared bike and stripped a nylon(?) gear. The bike, motor, lead acid pack and me weighed in over 300 pounds. That is a lot of weight to put on the teeth of a nylon gear. I bought a bearing puller to pull the two parts apart to get at the gear... If I had to do it again, I would go with a non-geared bike. The bike I bought was a conversion and used a heavier steel bike frame... it seems that often the nylon gears strip due to overheating. You don't have to raise the temperature much to weaken them. There are steel replacements available for some hub motors, but they are more noisy. At low speeds there is a thing that happens, current limit is basically on battery current, so if you are running at full throttle at 10 km/hr up a hill then your battery current may be ok, but the motor current is another story due to PWM. ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
Well, my e-bike is a Dahon Marineer folding bike with a 350 watt BIONx motor and a 350 wh battery. It lets me ride a 10% grade with no pedaling at all, and a 13% grade with very light (no sweat) pedaling. When I ride using the throttle only and very light pedaling I get a realistic range of 18 miles at a speed of 17 MPH.The original bike weighed 28 lbs and with the full motor, and battery it weighs 46 lbs, so a total weight of 18 lbs more than the original bike. The BIONx kit cost $1300, but after 5 years and 7000 miles the only maintenance I have had is one pair of brake pads and a set of tires (oh, I always ride in high gear and never change gears). And I detect no significant reduction in either power or range. I also have another Dahon marineer bike with no motor and I do not detect any significant drag compared with my BIONx kit. Your battery, however, at 720 WH, is almost twice as heavy as mine. I have tested many different e-bikes, but so far the BIONx kit is by far the best I have seen so far. -- Larry On Wed, Aug 27, 2014 at 2:00 PM, Danpatgal via EV ev@lists.evdl.org wrote: Nice summary. I would say you're a little optimistic on total weight for an e-bike, I use a hub motor with a light 15ah 48v battery, and I'm easily 30 lbs over a standard, maybe just a quibble. The regen % however is a bit less realistic. I ride my e-bike up/down hills, and don't get more than 5% regen, on a good day. Also, the small amount of drag when the hub motor is off is more than slight, it's rather like cycling with a partially flat tire. Otherwise, nice general write up. - Dan Gallagher http://www.evalbum.com/3854 -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Electric-bike-information-tp4671202p4671221.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) -- Larry Gales -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20140827/b5eebc0e/attachment.htm ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
Not all you guy's live on the left coast, how about looking at this with the somewhat flat southeast in mind? \ -Original Message- From: EV [mailto:ev-boun...@lists.evdl.org] On Behalf Of Gary Krysztopik via EV Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 3:54 PM To: Mike Nickerson; Electric Vehicle Discussion List Subject: Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information NPR discussion on ebikes right now. On Wed, Aug 27, 2014 at 5:48 AM, Mike Nickerson via EV ev@lists.evdl.org wrote: I'm with Peri. My first impression reading the article was that it jumped right into the nuts and bolts of a conversion with specifications, but nothing on the Why? Even if the first article was on the why, it would be good to summarize. I've put on an alternative vehicle show at my employer. Bringing vehicles to show people really helps them see the possibilities. If there is a way to offer rides, even better. Normal bike riders often like the idea of e-bikes. It takes some discussion with auto drivers to get them to see the possibilities. Hard core bike riders and racers tend to view e-bikes as a foreign add-on that just messed up a perfectly good bike. Mike On August 26, 2014 11:52:08 AM MDT, Peri Hartman via EV ev@lists.evdl.org wrote: Hi Larry, Great start. My first thought is it might benefit the reader to tell him why he might be interested in an e-bike. It may sound obvious but simply adding some tempting phrases might hook the reader into finishing the article. Do you hesitate to ride because there are too many hills in Seattle? Or, I feel like I'm holding up traffic but I don't feel safe riding in the door zone. And so on. I think the first step is to get people interested in the possibility of using their bike *instead* of a car. They may not be that interested in the technical details at that stage. Perhaps they haven't even considered not using a car. First you have to capture their imagination. Then, again, you are writing for CBC so I don't know how many non-cyclists will see your article. Maybe you can start with CBC and then get more publicity in general media. I'm trying to convince my wife to give it a try. Maybe your article will help. Peri -- Original Message -- From: Larry Gales via EV ev@lists.evdl.org To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List ev@lists.evdl.org; SEVA s...@seattleeva.org Sent: 26-Aug-14 10:38:42 AM Subject: [EVDL] Electric bike information I am trying to interest the largest bicycle club in my area (Seattle), he Cascade Bicycle Club, about the importance and future of electric bikes. In July I wrote an article about the fun, practicality, and benefits of e-bikes, and now I would like to provide information that would help them purchase an e-bike or an e-bike kit. So I want to know if the information that I give them is accurate. So if you see any errors in the presentation below, let me know. Thanks,, Larry Gales, Here is the article (limited to 600 words): == In July I wrote an article in the Courier about the many advantages of electric bikes, or e-bikes, and how they are becoming a mainstream form of local transportation throughout Asia and Europe. I hope to encourage people in this country to acquire e-bikes and so relieve us from the problems caused by the near exclusive use of automobiles. There are many aspects to consider when acquiring an e-bike: o The method of purchase: buy a ready made e-bike or convert an existing bike with a kit o The odometer and battery state of charge display o The power you need (typically 250 to 750 watts) o The type and size of battery o The type and location of the motor o The wheel size compatible with an e-bike kit o The weight of the e-bike, typically 15-25 lbs more than conventional bikes, but note that with an e-bike, the weight only matters when lift or carry it, so you can easily detach the battery, cutting the additional weight to 8-12 lbs. o The purchase cost and servicing of e-bikes Here we consider only the type, control, and placement of the electric motor in an e-bike. o There are three main ways to control an e-bike motor: - Pedelic: this multiplies the power you apply to the pedals, typically by 25% to 300%. So the motor only operates when you pedal - Throttle: the motor starts when you press the throttle. You can also pedal to add power or extend the range - Both: many e-bikes provide both options o There are two main types of e-bike motors: - Mid-drive motor: this is a geared motor that drives the chain wheel which in turns powers the chain that powers the rear wheel. The main advantages are that the motor is isolated from the shock and vibration of the wheel
Re: [EVDL] Electric bike information
Hi Larry, Great start. My first thought is it might benefit the reader to tell him why he might be interested in an e-bike. It may sound obvious but simply adding some tempting phrases might hook the reader into finishing the article. Do you hesitate to ride because there are too many hills in Seattle? Or, I feel like I'm holding up traffic but I don't feel safe riding in the door zone. And so on. I think the first step is to get people interested in the possibility of using their bike *instead* of a car. They may not be that interested in the technical details at that stage. Perhaps they haven't even considered not using a car. First you have to capture their imagination. Then, again, you are writing for CBC so I don't know how many non-cyclists will see your article. Maybe you can start with CBC and then get more publicity in general media. I'm trying to convince my wife to give it a try. Maybe your article will help. Peri -- Original Message -- From: Larry Gales via EV ev@lists.evdl.org To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List ev@lists.evdl.org; SEVA s...@seattleeva.org Sent: 26-Aug-14 10:38:42 AM Subject: [EVDL] Electric bike information I am trying to interest the largest bicycle club in my area (Seattle), he Cascade Bicycle Club, about the importance and future of electric bikes. In July I wrote an article about the fun, practicality, and benefits of e-bikes, and now I would like to provide information that would help them purchase an e-bike or an e-bike kit. So I want to know if the information that I give them is accurate. So if you see any errors in the presentation below, let me know. Thanks,, Larry Gales, Here is the article (limited to 600 words): == In July I wrote an article in the Courier about the many advantages of electric bikes, or e-bikes, and how they are becoming a mainstream form of local transportation throughout Asia and Europe. I hope to encourage people in this country to acquire e-bikes and so relieve us from the problems caused by the near exclusive use of automobiles. There are many aspects to consider when acquiring an e-bike: o The method of purchase: buy a ready made e-bike or convert an existing bike with a kit o The odometer and battery state of charge display o The power you need (typically 250 to 750 watts) o The type and size of battery o The type and location of the motor o The wheel size compatible with an e-bike kit o The weight of the e-bike, typically 15-25 lbs more than conventional bikes, but note that with an e-bike, the weight only matters when lift or carry it, so you can easily detach the battery, cutting the additional weight to 8-12 lbs. o The purchase cost and servicing of e-bikes Here we consider only the type, control, and placement of the electric motor in an e-bike. o There are three main ways to control an e-bike motor: - Pedelic: this multiplies the power you apply to the pedals, typically by 25% to 300%. So the motor only operates when you pedal - Throttle: the motor starts when you press the throttle. You can also pedal to add power or extend the range - Both: many e-bikes provide both options o There are two main types of e-bike motors: - Mid-drive motor: this is a geared motor that drives the chain wheel which in turns powers the chain that powers the rear wheel. The main advantages are that the motor is isolated from the shock and vibration of the wheel, and it operates in a way that is most similar to the way a conventional bike works. However, it requires frequent gear shifting which must be coordinated with the motor controls - Hub motor: this motor fits inside the wheel around the axle, and is the most common e-bike motor. The main advantages are that it greatly reduces the wear and tear on the drive train as it powers the wheel directly, it usually eliminates the need to shift (if the motor is sufficiently powerful), it often enables regenerating braking which can restore 10-20% of the battery charge, and adds a 3rd braking option. Note that hub motors mounted in the front wheel cannot use pedelic control. There are two main types of hub motors: * Gearless hub motor: this is powered by a ring of rare earth magnets that are electronically switched on and off to turn the wheel. It has no moving parts and lasts longer with less (usually no) maintenance than geared motors, it is the quietest of all motors, and enables regenerative braking. The main disadvantages are that it is larger and somewhat heavier for the same power as a geared motor, the torque (needed for hill climbing) is about 20-30% less, especially
