My Electric Bicycle Project

1. Current Version 2. Design Details 3. Early Versions Electric Bicycle FAQ Eric Peltzer Sculpture My BookGem book holder

DESIGN & COMPONENT DETAILS

v1.4 - earlier si !le belt drive

BATTERIES
There is no question that the battery is the single thing, the one and only, overriding thing, that is hol ing ba!" the e#elo$%ent an %ass $roli&eration o& ele!tri! #ehi!les' At this $oint in ti%e %ost o& us are still stu!" (ith using lea a!i batteries' I a% no( using )&) *+ Ah batteries, %a e in China' Originally I use ,a("er O yssey batteries %o el PC-.-, */ lbs' ea!h, (hi!h are basi!ally the sa%e as the ,a("er Genesis G*0EP' All o& the batteries I ha#e use are ee$1!y!ling, AGM 2Absorbe Glass Matt3 seale lea a!i batteries 2SLA3 an are about the best quality lea a!i battery a#ailable' They !an be %ounte in any $osition e4!e$t u$si e o(n an they are seale an %aintenan!e &ree' They are %u!h li"e the O$ti%a batteries use in %any a #an!e ele!tri! #ehi!les li"e the E51* an the S$arro( but are a#ailable in a (i er #ariety o& s%aller si6es' I got the% at Thun erstru!"1E5'!o%' They no( run about 7-8 ea!h' It is ni!e that there is so%e !o%$etition no( in this ty$e o& battery an the $ri!es are !o%ing o(n by about hal& &ro% (hat I $ai &or %y &irst set'

O& !ourse lithiu% ion batteries o& so%e "in (oul be the great enabler' Lithiu% is 9ust no( entering the %ar"et, they are still quite e4$ensi#e an so%ething o& a question %ar"' Con#entional lithiu% !ells, as use in la$to$s, ha#e a ther%al runa(ay $otential 1 %eaning they ten to !at!h &ire, in so%e !ases li"e a :o%an !an le' Ne( %aterials an !he%istries base on lithiu% are atte%$ting to a ress the sa&ety $roble%' I ha#e seen batteries !alle Li;ePo. 1 lithiu% iron $hos$hate 1 o&&ere &or sale at #arious (ebsites selling ele!tri! bi"es an a!!essories' They are !lai%ing no &ire $roble%s, At this $oint, it loo"s li"e a e!ent battery $a!" &or a bi"e li"e this (oul !ost aroun 7*888 or %ore' That is a lot o& %oney to s$en on a battery (ith a *1year or /1year (arranty' In %y o$inion, these batteries nee to !o%e o(n to the sub17088 range be&ore I (oul really be intereste ' A battery is rate in #oltage an a%$1hours' 5oltage ti%es a%$s ti%es hours equals (att1hours an this is the total energy a#ailable &ro% the battery' So %y battery $a!" has / 4 */5 4 *+Ah < 0=. (att hours' In other (or s it (ill gi#e 0=. (atts &or an hour' )ut a!tually, it (on>t' The ?*+ Ah? is a rating to be ta"en (ith a #ery large grain o& salt' An essential thing to "no( about batteries is that they give a lesser amount of total energy when discharged at a high rate' :ea that last senten!e again an absorb it, it>s i%$ortant' A battery>s ele!tri!al $o(er is not li"e a glass o& (ater' I& you rain that glass qui!"ly or slo(ly, it !ontains the sa%e a%ount o& (ater' )atteries, not so' Dra( high a%$erage, an your total a%ount o& energy is less@ )e!ause o& this, batteries are o&ten rate no%inally at a slo( *81hour is!harge rate, in (hi!h !ase they (ill gi#e %ore total energy an thus see% li"e a better battery' )i"es an all ele!tri! #ehi!les use energy at a #ery high rate' A bi"e !an easily ra( enough !urrent to is!harge a battery $a!" &ully in un er hal& an hour, so batteries (ill not gi#e their rate out$ut un er these !on itions' Another te%$ting !hoi!e &or !hea$ batteries %ight be Panasoni! or Po(ersoni! or Sonnens!hein gel1 !ell Alea a!i batteries' Gel !ells are the ty$i!al batteries that !o%e (ith %ost sto!" ele!tri! bi!y!les an "its' They are not AGM' Longe#ity is not as goo , though the state 9ui!e $er (eight ratio see%s better, an they are a#ailable in a #ariety o& s%aller si6es i& (eight (ere %ore o& an issue than range' ,a("er %a"es slightly larger AGM batteries su!h as the G*+EP li"e %y )&) (hi!h ha#e a little %ore 9ui!e but are also hea#ier' The ,a("ers are #ery (ell %a e' Another great thing about AGM ty$e batteries is that they !an be !harge qui!"ly at %u!h higher a%$s than other "in s o& lea a!i batteries' Li"e(ise they ha#e the ability to gi#e high !urrent (ith no $roble%s' AGM batteries are also unique a%ong al%ost all battery ty$es in that they retain a &ull !harge &or %onths (ith no >!harge lea"age'> One o& the big ra(ba!"s o& o& NiM, batteries is that they is!harge about *B to /B $er ay' :egular lea a!i batteries (ill 9ust go ea in a &e( %onths as (ell' )e!ause o& this, AGM batteries are also %ar"ete to $eo$le (ith antique !ars an sno( $lo(s 1 #ehi!les that aren>t use #ery o&ten an are li"ely to ha#e a ea battery (hen you &inally (ant to start it u$' All lea a!i batteries ha#e t(o big ra(ba!"s' They are quite hea#y &or the total a%ount o& $o(er they eli#er' An e#en these so !alle ? ee$ !y!le? batteries really shoul not be ee$1!y!le too o&ten, as re$eate ee$ is!harging ra%ati!ally shortens their use&ul li&es$an' This is (here NiCa s ha#e lea a!i beat, as they are %ore $o(er ense an !an be run o(n $retty %u!h all the (ay (ithout %u!h a%age' O& !ourse large NiCa s are %u!h %ore e4$ensi#e an %ust be re!y!le !are&ully ue to the to4i! !a %iu%' So until better batteries li"e NiM, or Lithiu% Ion are %ore (i ely a#ailable in #ehi!le si6es an less e4$ensi#e, ,a("ers an other AGM ty$e lea a!i are about the best (e !an o' More ru%inations on the Great )attery Cuest belo('

Batteries and 120 amp speed controller mounted in the main frame space.

SPEED CONTROLLER
A speed controller or motor controller is essential in applying the voltage and power that is delivered to the motor from the batteries. All decent electric vehicles need a motor controller of some kind. On a bike with a very small motor it might be possible to just have an on-off arrangement, and I suppose there are other less expensive and much cruder ways to control speed but I feel that a decent controller is absolutely necessary with a powerful motor like this. The controller is a rather expensive electronic black box with no moving parts. A modern PWM or 'pulse width modulation'' controller is very reliable as long as it's current limit is not exceeded. Unfortunately a high ampere capable controller is not cheap and may cost about as much as the motor. Curtis controllers are well known in golf carts and other industrial vehicles, however I am using a Scoota 180 amp speed controller from 4QD. - www.4QD.co.uk . This is a small company in England, that specializes in smaller and cheaper controllers for light electric vehicles. The controller with a matching thumb-lever throttle was $248. It is capable of regenerative braking, thought you can easily disable this function. Previously I tried a Scoota 120 amp model that was nearly identical. It failed after a few months. I was just working it too hard and the output connections overheated and melted. The 4QD factory has a nice policy of repairing their controllers and exchanging them for different ones if you want, with a very fair exchange allowance. The new 180 amp model gets a little warm but has been quite dependable for well over three years now. I originally used an Eagle 80 amp controller from the same company. It was $120. It failed due to overheating but that was completely my fault for using a much too-small controller. If I lived on flat terrain I think it would have been fine and would have lasted a long time, especially since I added a finned

aluminum heat sink from an audio power amplifier - try a decent electronics store, maybe even Radio Shack. You need to size your controller at about 3 times the rated power of your motor. My motor is rated at 41 amps continuous, HOWEVER it will draw a lot more than that at full throttle under load. Manufacturers tend to state their controllers at intermittent current limits. For example a Scoota 120 will put out 120 amps for a short time but should not be run that high continuously.

Regenerative braking - nice idea but . . .

A lot of people inquire about regenerative braking. Hybrid car manufacturers often tout the ability to reclaim electrical energy when the car is going downhill. I don't know how much energy they are getting back in a car, but on a little electric bicycle, it is almost certainly never worth the added trouble, expense, and operational hassles. You would be much better off with a freewheeling setup. Let me explain how I've come to this conclusion. The speed controller I use has regenerative braking available. After trying it out for a while, adjusting it and testing it every which way, I ended up disabling it. Regenerative braking means that as you brake or coast downhill the controller will use the motor in reverse as a generator to re-charge the batteries. On my route to the market, for instance, I am on flat terrain for a while and then go downhill for about a mile to reach the store. Conceivably this could mean that I arrive at the store with nearly full batteries, which would make the ride back less likely to drain the batteries completely. However, the regenerative braking is a function of the speed controller. If you have the regen set up for maximum regeneration, the throttle can be quite touchy. And if you just suddenly release the throttle, which is fairly normal behavior, the braking effect would be full. It is really not very good to have the throttle set up to brake that hard. I found myself about launching over the handle bars everytime I lost forgot and snapped the throttle off. Also, this is a good way to have other people ride you bike and crash it. Note there is no freewheel on the electric side of my bicycle. A custom freewheel is yet another surprisingly difficult mechanical part to machine or to buy. Of course the pedal-drive freewheel still works, which means that you can motor without the pedals being forced to turn. However, it you pedal the motor will necessarily be turning, which is a drawback if the batteries die. The regenerative braking function requires a solid connection to the wheel. However, after some time with this bike, using the regen function of the special speed controller, I came to a surprising conclusion against using regen. As I say I bought a !ontroller (ith regenerati#e bra"ing' Dith this set1u$, I !oul basi!ally use the thu%b1throttle !are&ully as a &airly $o(er&ul rear bra"e' The a%ount o& bra"ing !oul be a 9uste to %a"e it less grabby, but I ne#er !oul get it to the $oint (here I li"e it at all' It (as obtrusi#e an i&&i!ult to !ontrol' I su$$ose i& you !oul hoo" it u$ to a $ressure sensiti#e bra"e le#er, it (oul (or" better, ho(e#er, that is a bit beyon the le#el o& so$histi!ation I thin" is really ne!essary on a little ele!tri! bi"e' Lu!"ily the regen &un!tion !an be e&eate (hi!h is (hat I &inally e!i e to o' :eali6e, all #ehi!les are ?regenerati#e? going o(n a hill' Turning the engine o&& o(n a long hill in your !ar an !oasting 1 this is re!lai%ing the energy s$ent to !li%b the hill' Enless the #ehi!le is #ery hea#y an Aor has great aero yna%i!s, %ost o& the energy going o(n a hill (ill 9ust be use to o#er!o%e air resistan!e, (ith little le&t o#er to re!harge the batteries' Nor%ally on a bi!y!le, #ery little bra"ing is e#er ne!essary, an to$ s$ee o(n %ost hills is qui!"ly li%ite by $oor aero yna%i!s' The net result, I &elt, is that the regen on %y ebi"e (as 9ust slo(ing %e o(n an !reating hea#y ba!"loa ing on the ri#e train nee lessly' It (oul be better to $ut the %otor on a &ree(heel an a o$t a %etho o& getting u$ to s$ee an !oasting as o&ten as $ossible (ith the %otor shut o&&' This ri ing te!hnique is a$$arently #ery e&&e!ti#e at e4ten ing your range, $robably %ore so than ha#ing regen' Many people who deal even with larger EVs and hybrids have also formed the opinion that a pure freewheeling function would be better in many instances than regenerative braking. The regenerative braking function of hybrid cars, for instance, is vastly overstated. Hybrids work by generating their electric power onboard using the gas engine; they have a power generation function built-in, it is central to the entire concept. So why not use it for braking as well? Sure, but in reality this produces very little in the way of reclaimed power. The batteries in hybrid cars are charged at least 95% by the using the gas engine as a generator; and the reason they are so efficient in city driving is simply because they can run at slow speeds very efficiently on predominantly electric power. It is only while driving at higher speeds down long steep grades that any decent power is truly regenerated to the batteries. How much of this

describes typical driving conditions? Coasting with minimal drag from the motor is actually much more efficient. While coasting the vehicle uses no juice whatsoever. It is common practice during mileage or efficiency runs with a hybrid like the Honda Insight, to accelerate to speed, then go into neutral and coast for a ways. This actually produces the greatest mileage and efficiency. On an electric bike it is undoubtedly most efficient to pulse the motor on till you get up to speed, and coast on downhills, or pedal on the flat to maintain speed. Having the motor freewheel would be a big advantage. Unfortunately, a decent ready made right-hand drive doesn't seem to be available, at least for a reasonable price. A minor drawback.

THROTTLE
At &irst I si%$ly got a 7/'88 *8F $otentio%eter &ro% :a io Sha!", (ire it u$ to the .CD (iring an %ounte it on a $lasti! s$a!er beneath the right1han han gri$' There (as no s$ring return, you ha to turn it o(n to slo( o(n, but on the other han it (as !hea$ an si%$le an the bra"es !an easily o#er!o%e the %otor in an e%ergen!y sto$$ing situation' Also, it (or"e $er&e!tly as a !ruise !ontrol' Then (ith the ne( larger %otor !ontroller I got a bo41%ounte thu%b le#er throttle' This is 9ust a short1 thro( *8" $ot (ith a return s$ring an le#er %ounte on the en ' There are no( %otor!y!le1style t(ist gri$ throttles (ith built in $ots (i ely a#ailable at s!ooter sho$s &or about 7-8, su!h as the Magura' The S!oota !ontroller requires an on1o&& s(it!h 1 I got a s%all ro!"er thu%b s(it!h &ro% an ele!troni!s store, an %ounte it in the throttle bo4'

thumb-lever throttle and on-off switch

BATTERY CHARGER
I &oun a great /.1#olt - a%$ auto%ati! !harger %a e &or the no(1 e&un!t e1bi"e E5 Darrior &ro% All Ele!troni!s sur$lus in LA' It (as /8 bu!"s, it>s !o%$a!t an (or"s (on er&ully' Dhat a bargain 1 I got t(o' These %ay not still be a#ailable but there are a &e( sites that eal (ith s!ooters an ele!tri! bi"es no( that ha#e si%ilar !hargers &or 7-8 to 7=8' Dhen I (as &irst buil ing this bi"e, in the ne( (orl o& ele!tri! #ehi!le hobbyists, a goo non1*/5 !harger 2or any e!ent !o%$onent &or that %atter3 (as har to !o%e by !hea$ly' ;or instan!e, I s!oure the sur$lus ele!tri! su$$liers loo"ing &or a e!ent, $o(er&ul, !hea$ */5 or /.5 %otor an basi!ally !a%e u$ e%$ty' )e&ore this I use a Sears */5 auto battery !harger, !harging ea!h battery se$arately' This (or"e &ine but re%e%bering to go out an s(it!h the !harger bet(een batteries (as #ery in!on#enient' The E5 Darrior !harger shuts o&& auto%ati!ally, the bi"e is al(ays !harge an rea y to ri e'

COST AND CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

I use high quality $arts an the total !ost o& all the a e !o%$onents in!lu ing !harger !a%e to about 7G-8' Not !hea$, but %y ne( %ountain bi"e !ost %ore than that 1 an you ha#e to $e al it' Hou !an get a turn1"ey ele!tri! %otor "it &or aroun 7.881I88, or a rea y made e-bike for $1000-2000, but of course the motors and batteries are all only 1/3 as powerful as this.

Weight - At 85 pounds, this is pretty heavy for a "bicycle," but I think of it more as an ultralight moped.
And it is a true "mo-ped" in that you can still meaningfully pedal it. Plus I can still lift it into my pickup or my car trunk if needed. My old Peugeot moped weighed twice as much at 150 pounds with similar speed capability, and pedaling it was a joke - the pedals were geared really low, purely for starting the motor.

Brakes -

The old brakes on this bike were okay for 12 mph but hair-raising at 30 mph. A new side pull "vee brake" as used on decent modern mountain bikes luckily bolted right onto the old brake mount posts.Regular bicycles are too light and top heavy to use the front brake as the main squeeze, but as any motorcyclist can tell you, on any heavier two wheeler the front brake does 90% of the work. The veebrake kit was about 25 bucks on sale at a bike dealer, and came with a new lever for the handle bar. I only replaced the front brake, as the rear posts are in the wrong place. A number of people have written to ask me where the rear brake is - it looks like there is no rear brake at all. Look closely in the photos: the rear brake on this GT mountain bike in mounted down low, on the chainstays, just aft of the pedal crank.

Frame -

I (oul en!ourage $eo$le oing this "in o& !on#ersion to use a hea#y uty steel %ountain bi"e &ra%e' The !o%$onents !an ta"e the a e &or!e an (eight o& the %otor syste%' Mountain bi"e !o%$onents no( are a%a6ingly strong an urable 1 they are %a e to ta"e o&&1roa abuse' The (i er (heels es$e!ially are %u!h better &or the a itional (eight an $o(er' Also, a steel &ra%e is easier to (el or bra6e %otor an battery %ounts onto' Stay a(ay &ro% alu%inu% unless you !an &igure a (ay to bolt or !la%$ e#erything on (ithout (el ing' Del ing onto an alu%inu% &ra%e (ill li"ely ruint the te%$ering an se#erely (ea"en it' It>s quite i&&i!ult to (el on thin alu%inu%' My ol GT (as too hea#y &or a goo %ountain bi"e these ays but 9ust the ti!"et &or an ele!tri! %otor $ro9e!t' The $e!uliar geo%etry o& the GT rear &ra%e esign a!tually %a"es a $er&e!t $la!e &or the %otor'

Construction -

I ha to (el a %otor %ount onto the rear &ra%e behin the seat' The !hain 9ust !lears the (heel an &ra%e an it (as !riti!al to get the %otor soli ly %ounte ' Dith su!h a $o(er&ul %otor, the %otor %ount %ust be strong, an it>s really $retty i%$ortant to ha#e a ball1bearing %otor' The %otor %ount is re%o#able &ro% the &ra%e (ith three allen hea s!re(s' I ha#e a TIG (el er an lots o& %etal (or"ing tools so it (as not a big eal &or %e but I on>t see (hy all this !oul n>t be one on a steel bi"e &ra%e (ith sil#er sol er or bra6ing ro an a gas tor!h' The batteries also ha#e a #ery soli (el e 1on %ount (ith a s!re(1 o(n to$ retaining rail' The batteries are hea#y an nee a goo soli %ount (ith sho!" $a ing' These batteries are narro( an on>t inter&ere at all (ith $e aling' In this arrange%ent they are also lo( an "ee$ the !enter o& gra#ity o(n'

LEGAL ISSUES OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES

At /8 %$h this bi"e is basi!ally legal as an unregistere %otori6e bi!y!le in Cali&' I belie#e the ;e eral la(s no( allo( u$ to a I-8 (att %otor, (hi!h is (hat the S!ott is 2* horse$o(er < I.+ (atts'3 Also, the ;e eral La( li%its su!h bi"es to /8 %$h' I &ully e4$e!te the ;e s to !ri$$le these #ehi!les (ith a so%ething li"e a .88 (att li%it, but &or on!e (as $leasantly sur$rise 1 it>s a!tually a rational an reasonable la( an $robably $ro%otes goo ele!tri! bi"es rather than un er$o(ere toys that no one (ill buy' Geare &or 08 %$h this (oul te!hni!ally ha#e to be registere an insure as a %otori6e !y!le or $ossibly as a &ull %otor!y!le' Not sure e4a!tly (hat the i&&eren!e is but I belie#e there is a te!hni!al istin!tion' ,o(e#er, use 9u i!iously, %ost $eo$le are still going to assu%e that it>s 9ust a $arti!ularly &ast bi!y!le, es$e!ially i& it>s being $e ale ' A!tually I ha#e no $roble% (ith a legal li%it o& /8 %$h' Slo( is not ba ' The (in noise is less an you !an a!tually hear the (orl ' A bi"e li%ite to /8 (ith no registration an no insuran!e an no ri#er>s li!ense 2an no noise an no #ibration an no gasoline an no %e!hani!s an no s%og !he!"s an no s%og an no $ar"ing hassles an no !ar $ay%ents ' ' ' 3 Not a ba tra eo&&, to $ut it %il ly'

I (oul not re!o%%en ri ing on bi"e $aths or &oot trails' Most o& these bar %otori6e #ehi!les o& any "in , e#en i& it>s not $oste ' It is te%$ting sin!e the bi"e is silent an by $e aling, %ost $eo$le (ill not e#en noti!e that you>#e got a %otor' I thin" s$ee is the "ey' I& I %ust ri e on a bi"e $ath, I use the $e als an 9ust on>t go any &aster than a gently $e ale bi!y!le' It is har to argue (ith that, an no one e#er has' I thin" e#entually there (ill be a lot %ore ele!tri! bi!y!les an other s%all $o(ere #ehi!les an it (ill $robably be!o%e a $roble% !o%$eting (ith $e estrians, roller bla ers, et!' The a #ent o& a&&or able lithiu% batteries (ill %ean that ele!tri! #ehi!les o& all "in s (ill be be!o%e ra i!ally better, an i%%ensely $o$ular' It>s 9ust ine#itable' There>s alrea y enough &ri!tion bet(een these grou$s on !ro( e $aths an trails' This is another reason (hy "ee$ing %a4i%u% s$ee s un er /8 %$h is $robably a goo i ea'

FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS, VARIATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES It's the batteries, stupid. This bi"e is great &un right no( but I !an see a lot o& roo% &or
i%$ro#e%ent' Ah, batteries, e#er the A!hilles> heel o& the ele!tri! #ehi!le' Oh ho( I hate lea a!i batteries but 1 still stu!" (ith the%' NiM,, Lithiu% Ion, or Ni!"el Jin! batteries (oul i%$ro#e the 9ui!e1to1 (eight ratio enor%ously, an (oul $robably ouble the range, (hi!h is the single least satis&a!tory thing about this an all ele!tri! bi"es' The batteries no( (eigh o#er /- $oun s an are the hea#iest single !o%$onent' There are so%e reasons &or ho$e' The in!reasing nu%bers o& hybri !ars are generally using NiM, batteries (hi!h shoul tri!"le o(n e#entually an be #ery suitable &or ele!tri! bi"es' Other battery !he%istries as (ell ha#e %a e it to %ar"et, though su!!ess al(ays see%s elusi#e' The biggest $ro%ise right no( is that GM an Toyota are really $ushing to $ut lithiu% batteries in the ne4t generations o& hybri !ars an $lug1in hybri s' GM>s Che#y 5olt, ue out by /8*8, (ill only (or" i& they su!!ee in %ass $ro u!ing lithiu% ions, an getting the !ost o(n' It>s "in o& a !hi!"en an egg $roble%K huge %ass $ro u!tion (ill bring the !ost o(n, but until they>re !hea$er, there isn>t enough e%an to %ass $ro u!e the%' The soaring $ri!e o& %otor &uels an the resulting e%an &or %ore an better hybri !ars is $robably (hat (ill !on#in!e %anu&a!turers to bite the bullet an buil the &a!tories'

he promise o! lithium ion. Certainly the lithiu% battery has the greatest $otential o& all the ne4t1generation !he%istries' It has the %ost energy $er $oun an is (ell $ro#en in s%aller a$$li!ations li"e !ell $hones an la$to$s' A $ra!ti!al battery (ith this !a$a!ity (oul al%ost instantly $ut battery #ehi!les on a !o%$etiti#e &ooting (ith gasoline $o(ere ones' Current !on#entional lithiu% ions ha#e a serious (ea"ness 1 they ie !o%$letely a&ter about / to 0 years, no %atter (hat' )ut again, i& GM an Toyota su!!ee in getting lithiu% batteries into hybri s, as they say they (ill (ithin the ne4t t(o years, it (ill %ean that they ha#e largely eli%inate or %ini%i6e these ra(ba!"s' Progress (ith this battery see%s to be stea y' They are no( being use in so%e !or less $o(er tools, (hi!h use bigger !ell si6es an ra( hea#ier loa s than ele!troni! e#i!es' They on>t use any hea#y %etals' There are a nu%ber o& ne( ty$es o& lithiu% !ells that on>t burst into &la%es (hen o#erheate or $ier!e ' A*/0 has so%e o& the %ost su!!ess&ul ne( !ells, an Toshiba has e#en e%onstrate !ells that !an be re!harge al%ost &ully in 9ust a &e( %inutes' Chinese !ells are no( on the %ar"et es$e!ially &or bi!y!les !alle Li;ePo.' These !ells are a#ailable in a battery $a!" &or s%all ele!tri! #ehi!les !alle the Eony4, as (ell as &ro% other $a!"agers' They are still so%ething o& an un"no(n quantity' On!e these get into %ore $eo$le>s han s, (e (ill be able to get a rea ing on their longe#ity an $er&or%an!e' :ight no( they are still about ten or &i&teen ti%es as e4$ensi#e as lea a!i batteries' "ell, #hat about !uel cells$
O& !ourse the !on!e$t an e%onstrations o& this still1 e4$eri%ental te!hnology is #ery !o%$elling, but there has been so %u!h hy$e on the sub9e!t that it is still har to say i& this is all 9ust in!re ibly su!!ess&ul %ar"eting s$in by the ;C e#elo$ers' I also thin" that in the early /888>s there (as an ele%ent o& !le#er subter&uge by the auto in ustry to ta"e the heat o&& the &a!t that a#erage &uel e!ono%y in this !ountry (as e!reasing ue to e#er %ore $o$ular an larger SE5s' It is so %u!h easier an !hea$er &or an auto !o%$any li"e GM to run a relati#ely s%all early resear!h $ro9e!t on &uel !ells, than it is to o serious engineering on real li#e $ro u!tion1rea y hybri e#elo$%ent' E#en in /88+ there are still basi!ally no e!ono%i!ally $ra!ti!al &uel !ells in a!tual use an e#en their $ro%oters say that any !o%%er!ially #iable %o el is at least - years o&& an %aybe *8' It is the running 9o"e that the ay o& (i es$rea &uel !ells an the hy rogen e!ono%y al(ays see%s to be /8 years o&& 1 no %atter (hen the question is as"e ' An then, (here o (e get all the hy rogenL See%s to %e

hy rogen is an (ill re%ain (ay %ore e4$ensi#e than any $etro &uel an I ha#e ne#er seen any realisti! i eas to o#er!o%e this $roble%' An (e store it in *8,888 $si !ylin ers in the trun"L Eh, OF ' ' ' )elie#e %e I (oul lo#e to be $ro#e (rong an initially (as e4!ite about this te!hnology li"e e#eryone else, but in!reasingly I a% thin"ing the e%$eror has no !lothes' Maybe a loin!loth'

Motors are already pretty much per!ected, ri%ht$

Dell, yes an no' My S!ott %otor is starting to loo" li"e a inosaur, it !oul stan to lose so%e (eight' The $o(er is a!tually about right &or a bi!y!le but 9ust loo" at it, it>s too big an hea#y' There are tons o& little s!ooters out there an it (oul be $ossible to get a -88 (att or I-8 (att s!ooter %otor, (hi!h is (oul un oubte ly (or" (ell' Currently 2Muly /88G3 I see that a /.5 Currie +88 (att %otor is a#ailable &or aroun 7*08' It is !o%$a!t an $o(er&ul' The MAC +88D %otor %ight be a better !hoi!e but is 7/IG' Try e# eals'!o% &or an u$ ate %otor a#ailability' I (oul lo#e to get a Le%!o $an!a"e %otor, ((('le%!olt '!o% 1 they are light, $o(er&ul, an e&&i!ient but e4$ensi#e' This !o%$any is no( %a"ing e#en s%aller %otors that (oul be $er&e!t &or high1$o(ere bi"es but 7=88 &or a %otor is a bit %u!h' An o& !ourse %y (hole %otori6ation s!he%e, (ith the belt an !hain, is not terribly !lean or elegant' I $ersonally thin" the &hub motor& is the ob#ious solution &or ele!tri! bi"es, as use on Lee Ia!o!!a>s E1bi"e an the Da#e!rest 2(hi!h see%s to ha#e ie an resurre!te as the EN3 an others' ,ein6%ann o& Ger%any see%s to still be %a"ing a #ariety o& hub %otors, as are other !o%$anies' Try ,ein6%ann>s site ((('estelle' e &or so%e $retty interesting i eas 1 I guess they are no( selling bi"es, !o%$lete "its, %otors, batteries an !ontrollers' ,o(e#er, at this $oint they are still only about 088 (atts < *A0 ,P (hi!h is about *A0 o& (hat they ought to be' Also, ,ein6%ann %otors ten to be a little noisy an e4$ensi#e'A hub (heel %otor re$la!es the nor%al (heel hub an ob#iously nee s no other trans%ission, !hain, or belt (hi!h is a huge si%$li&i!ation 1 although o& !ourse this !an also be a slight ra(ba!" in that the gear ratio !an>t be !hange ' A #ery $o$ular an reasonably $ri!e hub %otor %a e in China see%s to be the Crystalyte, though I ha#en>t use one %ysel&' There is a si%ilar syste% sol by Wilderness nergy' These are sol in "its (here the hub %otor is basi!ally s$o"e to a bi"e (heel ri% o& your !hoi!e an you 9ust re$la!e your ol (heel (ith the %otori6e one' They ten to go on the &ront (heel but !an also be installe at the rear' The "its in!lu e a $retty sli!" s$ee !ontroller, throttle, an bra"e1s(it!hes to !ut the $o(er' O&ten batteries are a se$arate $ur!hase' The hubs the%sel#es are %a e in #arious #oltages, $o(ers, an rotational s$ee s to %at!h #arious (heel si6es an to$ s$ee require%ents' This see%s to be a e!ent site (ith lin"s to ealers in the ES an Cana a 1 ((('e#solutions'net' The gearing, &or %y use, !oul !ertainly bene&it &ro% a ni!e si%$le t#o-speed transmission' One s$ee &or the hill an the other &or the &lat' Ele!tri! %otors ha#e su!h great torque throughout the :PM range that %ore than t(o s$ee s 9ust isn>t ne!essary unless the %otor is se#erely un er$o(ere ' The ob#ious thing to %e (oul be a hub %otor (ith t(o or three s$ee s built in' I ha#e ne#er seen su!h a beast' I thin" (ith better batteries an %otor, this bi"e !oul easily (eigh /- $oun s less or ha#e t(i!e the range, %aybe both' The &ra%e an (heels are no light(eights either, at 0+ $oun s' That>s a goo *8 $oun s %ore than %y ne( %ountain bi"e, an it>s got a sus$ension &or"' So in short (ith %o ern !o%$onents this ty$e o& bi"e !oul easily (eigh less than -8 lbs' Per&or%an!e (oul i%$ro#e, it (oul be easier to $e al an you !oul e#en !arry it on a !ar roo& ra!"' ,o( about a solar cell battery char%er$ They sell these to :5 o(ners' A!tually there>s no reason (hy you !oul n>t thro( a solar !ell on your roo& an !harge the batteries all ay' I%agine 1 this is real1(orl &ully solar $o(ere trans$ortation, oable to ay' As &urther (or" on the e4isting bi"e, I (oul lo#e to $ut a sus$ension &or" on the &ront an %aybe a sus$ension seat $ost' Lights (oul be ni!e' At this $oint this bi"e (oul be an a%a6ing trans$ortation unit by any stan ar s, not 9ust ele!tri! #ehi!les' Also, this starts to be!o%e a $retty intriguing $ossibility &or a trail bi"e' I use to ha#e irt bi"es but they are irty an noisy an en#iron%entally a big $roble%' A irt bi"e is a blast but you>re not e4a!tly !o%%uning (ith nature' A !o%$letely silent ele!tri! trail bi"e (oul be %u!h %ore li"e hi"ing aestheti!ally, an (oul o$en u$ long1range trails 1 !an>t (ait to get so%e better batteries an go u$ to the %ountains'

I !an also see going to a hi%her 'olta%e system. () or e'en *+ 'olts (oul be a lot better an "ee$ the !urrent ra( o(n' I starte (ith a */ 5 syste% &or si%$li!ity>s sa"e but the $o(er (as lo( an the !urrent ra( (as high' I (on>t go into the basi!s o& ele!tri! $o(er e4!e$t to say that lo(er #oltage is ba be!ause it lea s to higher !urrent (hi!h !reates %ore heat an requires a %u!h bigger %otor !ontroller' Controllers are basi!ally sol by a%$erage or !urrent !a$a!ity, an high a%$erage !ontrollers are %u!h %ore e4$ensi#e than lo(er a%$erage ones' The sa%e !ontroller !an $ut out t(i!e as %u!h $o(er at the sa%e a%$erage le#el i& the syste% #oltage is ouble ' I ha#e e#en !onsi ere si%$ly a ing another battery on this bi"e an 9ust o#er1#olting the %otor to 0+ #olts' The %otor is $robably able to ta"e it 2though I>% sure the %anu&a!turer (oul n>t re!o%%en it3 an %y !ontroller !an easily be s(it!he to 0+ 5' The bi"e (oul be hea#ier, &aster, an ha#e better range' It>s 9ust a tra e o&&' Intriguing' 2Note that %ost !ontrollers ha#e #oltage li%itations an %ust be altere or 9u%$ere to %a"e syste% #oltage !hanges'3 That>s (hat>s neat about ele!tri!s &or the tin"erer 1 you !an !hange %otors, !hange batteries, !hange !ontrollers, !hange gearing 1 it>s all so easy an inter!hangeable !o%$are to an internal !o%bustion #ehi!le' I%agine a ha#ing an ol 5es$a s!ooter, an you thin" one ay ?Gee, (oul n>t it be interesting to $ut a ni!e ne( ,on a /88!! engine in that thing? 1 you> ha#e to be hal& nuts to e#en !onsi er it'

urnkey solutions. So you on>t ha#e a TIG (el er an a %etal latheL Hou 9ust (ant to bolt so%ething onto your bi!y!leL As I>#e %entione the turn"ey "its %a e by Dil erness Energy an Crystalyte see% to be the si%$lest an !leanest (ays to ele!tri&y a bi!y!le' Sin!e I %a e this bi"e there ha#e been so%e e#elo$%ents in the ele!tri! bi"e (orl ' The $o$ular Curry ESProDri#e bolt1on "it that I es!he(e as too un e$o(ere (as al(ays a e!ent "it but I on>t thin" it>s a#ailable at all any%ore' The batteries (ere not AGM quality, the sto!" !ontroller (as 9er"y an %ounte insi e the %otor (here it>s har to "ee$ !ool, an the ri#e train (as not terribly robust, but all in all a e!ent "it, an they sol quite a &e( o& the%' A si%ilar !on!e$t !alle Lashout see%s to be a#ailable' This "it has a built1in &ree(heel on the %otor (hi!h is ni!e' MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS
,ere in /88=, (ith the !ost o& gas no( at 7.'-8 a gallon, true $ain is being &elt by al%ost e#eryone at the &uel $u%$s, an by the sellers o& ol &ashione gas burning #ehi!les' )ig !ars an SE5>s are sitting on ealers lots' There are . %onth (aits ' There is no( tre%en ous $ressure to !o%e u$ (ith solutions' This shoul , &inally, lea to so%e real i%$ro#e%ents in $ure ele!tri! trans$ortation' I lo#e the i ea o& ele!tri! #ehi!les but the $ra!ti!al ele!tri! !ar is still not quite a reality' The ele!tri! bi"e to %e is no( a real1(orl , a&&or able an $ra!ti!al solution' The li%ite range is not a big eal &or erran s aroun to(n an short !o%%utes' Gi#en that really ni!e batteries are going to be e4$ensi#e &or the &oreseeable &uture, it %a"es so %u!h %ore sense to use a !ou$le o& s%all ones on a bi"e than try to $ay &or 088 big ones &or a !ar' Most $eo$le (on>t 9usti&y a li%ite range &ull1si6e ele!tri! !ar 9ust &or gro!eries an erran s, but %any $eo$le !oul thro( an e1bi"e or t(o in their garage (ithout thin"ing t(i!e' Gro(n a ults giggle (hen they ri e %y bi"e' It is #ery quiet 1 it>s li"e so%e genie is $e aling &or you' The silen!e is #ery i%$ortant 1 it 9ust !o%$letely !hanges the (hole $i!ture' Hou !an a!tually hear things an sto$ an $ull u$ onto the si e(al" an tal" to your neighbors (hen you ri e o(n the street' I ha#e $ulle u$ ire!tly into %y ATM booth an $eo$le har ly gi#e %e a se!on glan!e 1 not e#en thin"able on a %otor!y!le' Ele!tri!s are not inti%i ating li"e a %otor!y!le or e#en a s!ooter 1 to %ost $eo$le, they>re 9ust a bi!y!le you on>t ha#e to $e al' Theres no !lut!h, no gears to shi&t, no "i!"starter' They aren>t 9ust en#iron%entally &rien ly 1 they>re neighborhoo an $eo$le &rien ly' Another a%a6ing thing to %eK this is not ro!"et s!ien!e te!hnology' This is lea a!i batteries $o(ering a DC %otor on a steel bi"e &ra%e 1 this bike could pretty much ha'e been made +,

or -,, years a%o. Those ne(1&angle

high $ressure $neu%ati! tires %ay be the %ost %o ern !o%$onent@ Dhy has it ta"en so long &or e1bi"es to ta"e o&&L I o&&er these esign an !o%$onent i eas to anyone (ho !an %a"e use o& the% an en!ourage anyone (ith a garage an so%e tools to %a"e an ele!tri! bi"e or buy a "it or a rea y1%a e' At %y house (e ha#e a #ery &ast %otor!y!le, a hybri !ar an a $i!"u$, but the e1bi"e is the %ost &un 1 I use it al%ost e#ery ay'

An the %ost a%a6ing thing that I ha#e learne a&ter all o& this 1 you really on>t nee .888 $oun s o& gasoline $o(ere steel1rubber1$lasti!1an 1glass, 708,8881*/81%$h %ar#el1o&1%o ern1trans$ortation1 engineering to go a %ile an a hal& &or a quart o& %il", a loa& o& brea an a ne(s$a$er' 1 Eri! Pelt6er

E-B"#E$ A Electric Bike or Scooter is a battery

operated vehicle that is

very

eco o%ical&ith lo& %ai te a ce cost a d zero pollutio . Electric t&o &heelers use theelectrical tech olo!y o' rechar!eable battery that co verts the electrical e er!yi to %echa ical e er!y. (he battery o' a E) ca be char!ed easily usi ! a po&er co ectio . (here are %a y possible types o' electric %otorized bicycles&ith several tech olo!ies available* varyi ! i cost a d co%ple+ity, directdrivea d !eared %otor u its are both used. A electric po&er-assist syste% %ay beadded to al%ost a y pedal cycle usi ! chai drive* belt drive* hub %otors or 'rictio drive. (he po&er levels o' %otors used are i 'lue ced by available le!alcate!ories a d are o'te li%ited to u der -.. &atts.Electric bicycles use rechar!eable batteries* electric %otors a d so%e 'or% o' /0epart%e t o' Ma a!e%e t Studies* MS1"(

2o su%er A&are ess a d Perceptio to&ards E-bikes co trol. (his ca be a si%ple as a o -o'' s&itch but is % o r e u s u a l l y a electro ic pulse &idth %odulatio co trol. E l e c t r i c b i c y c l e s d e v e l o p e d i S&itzerla d i the late 134.s 'or the (our de Sol solar vehicle race ca%e &ithsolar char!i ! statio s but these &ere later 'i+ed o roo's a d co ected so as to'eed i to the electric %ai s.5167 (he bicycles &ere the char!ed 'ro% the %ai s*as is co%%o today. Battery syste%s i use i clude lead-acid* 8i2d* 8iM9 a d:i-io batteries.E l e c t r i c % o t o r i z e d b i c y c l e s c a b e p o & e r- o - d e % a d * &here the %otor isactivated by a ha dlebar %ou ted throttle* a d ; o r a p e d e l e c < ' r o % p e d a l electric=* also k o& as electric assist* &here the electric %otor is re!ulated by pedalli !. (hese have a se sor to detect the pedalli ! speed* the pedalli ! 'orce*or both. A electro ic co troller provides assista ce as a 'u ctio o' the se sor i puts* the vehicle speed a d the re>uired 'orce. Most co trollers also provide'or %a ual ad?ust%e t.1a !e is a key co sideratio &ith electric bikes* a d is a''ected by 'actors suchas %otor e''icie cy* battery capacity* e''icie cy o' the drivi ! electro ics*aerody a%ics* hills a d &ei!ht o' the bike a d rider. (he ra !e o' a electric bike is usually stated as so%e&here bet&ee - k% <uphill o electric po&er o ly= to -. k% <%i i%u% assista ce= a d is hi!hly depe de t o &hether or otthe bike is tested o 'lat roads or hills.5147 So%e %a u'acturers* such as the2a adia Bio @ or A%erica EA <%a u'actured by Electric Motio Syste%s=*have the optio o' usi ! re!e erative braki !* the %otor acts as a !e erator toslo& the bike do& prior to the brake pads e !a!i !.51/7 (his is use'ul 'or e+te di ! the ra !e a d

the li'e o' brake pads a d &heel ri%s. (here are also e+peri%e ts usi ! 'uel cells. e.!. the P9B. So%e e+peri%e ts have also bee u dertake &ith super capacitors to supple%e t or replace batteries 'or cars a dso%e SB)S.

C9D E-Bikes$

Elobal &ar%i ! is a %a?or co cer all arou d a d

to save Mother Earth* thereare several policies* pro%ises a d pled!es. Cith

the ever i creasi ! e%issio o' !ree house !ases* there is a i creased 'ear o'

e viro %e t pollutio at everystep. Cith %oder tech olo!y a d i ovatio *

tra sportatio a dco%%u ic atio have u der!o e a paradi!% shi't. Alo !

&ith this* &e are alsoe+perie ci ! the e!ative e''ects o' i dustrializati

o i the 'or% o' !lobal&ar%i !. B der these circu%sta ces * &he there

are tra''ic ?a%s* &he you eed to ru a erra d at a odd hour o' the day* &he

you eed to !o to&orkplace >uickly* you stu%ble a d 'u%ble as there are so

%a y vehiclese%itti ! soot a d 2FG polluti ! the air i cessa tly. Cith

i creased u%ber o' 'ossil-'uel depe de t vehicles* they ot o ly add to !reater level o'

pollutio butare also leadi ! to depletio o' 'uel resource. "t is here that auto%obileco

%pa ies 'elt the eed to i ovate %otorized vehicle that &ill !et char!edthrou!

h electricity a d &ill ot be depe di ! o 'ossil 'uels.(his led to e+pa sio o' eco-

'rie dly i itiatives a d %a y auto%obile%a u'acturi ! co%pa ies i vested i

research a d develop%e t to bri ! 'orthelectric bikes that &ill help people save a 'e&

bucks by reduci ! co su%ptio o ' already spirali ! 'uel price* besides 'i!hti ! !lobal

&ar%i !. Most electric bikes are e%issio 'ree bikes a d this is

the BSP o' the co%pa yHs% a u'acturi ! the% i these days o' !lobal &ar%i !. "t

&ill ot add to urba

-0epart%e t o' Ma a!e%e t Studies* MS1"( 2o su%er A&are ess a d

Perceptio to&ards E-bikes

pollutio . (he o ly thi ! re>uired is to keep this bike char!ed &ith a

battery.Electri c bike %a u'acturi ! is co sidered as a !rass root %ove%e t a&ay

'ro%'ossil 'uels.0e'i itel y* electric bikes are ot the o ly a s&er to our e viro %e t

proble%* but it de'i itely &ill help us to treat e viro %e t better. (hese electric bikes &ill ot %ake

pollutio &orse a d that %akes e bikes e viro %e tal ly sa'e vehicle."t ca be char!ed

&ith the help o' i verter a d !e erator too. " o echar!e* these electric bikes ca !o

up to /.k% a d has o tail pipe e%issio s. "talso %akes o oise &hile u der

operatio . (he best part o' electric vehicles isthat they ca be ru &ith o re!istratio

a d lice se." the %a u'acture a d productio o' electric bikes* the %ai

co strai t is the battery i the bu%py roads. Batteries !et deteriorated at a 'ast rate

due toe+cessive curre t 'luctuatio . Batteries eed 're>ue t replace%e t

a d that isthe !reatest co cer 'or the %ost " dia co%pa ies &ho

%a u'acture theseelectric bikes. (he replace%e t cost o' the batteries hover arou d 1s.

/...* butother&ise the %ai te a ce cost o' electric bikes is al%ost

e!li!ible.(h ere is a !ro&i ! %arket pote tial o' electric bikes i " dia,

ho&ever* speed%i!ht ot be the attractive 'eature o' these e-bikes* they &ill cater

you to ru theshort dista ces %aybe ho%e to o''ice or ho%e to colle!e, but

these are sa'er vehicles &ith be e'it o' al%ost o pollutio . So i stead o' kicki ! a 1..

cc%otorbike* ?ust press the start butto o' electric bike a d vroo% your &ay'rie dly

o the roads."t is evide t that electric bikes ca reduce the air pollutio . But there are alsoso%e

e viro %e tal proble%s caused due to these electric bikes. 0isposal o'

40epart%e t o' Ma a!e%e t Studies* MS1"(

2o su%er A&are ess a d

Perceptio to&ards E-bikes

&or out batteries ca be a cause o' %a?or co cer 'or

e viro %e tali sts. "' thisca be addressed* electric bikes ca de'i itely reduce

e viro %e t pollutio .