What is the difference between a "bicycle working prototype" and a "bicycle market prototype"?

best electric bicycle on the market image

fsacuiu

For the same bicycle product/concept there are many production phases to be accomplished until a market product get alife. During these phases different prototypes are built if required.

Answer
There can be a lot of difference. A working prototype is often cobbled together by a mechanic. A market prototype is more refined , and is an element in test marketing.
I have had experience with building prototype bicycles, and I have a few photos to share:

This is Type 3, which has a fairing made of Kevlar (Dupont trademark aramid fiber) built in 1987:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/00000008-1.jpg

After testing it on people, other suggestions were taken into consideration. The next photo is of the Type 9, built in 1993, and made of fiberglass. The fairing is smaller because testing the larger fairing in Florida revealed that the riders got to hot, it blocked off air. Also, the newer fairing has a storage compartment big enough for 12 x 12ounce beverage cans. And the new design has the fairing mounted to the frame, not the handlebars, so it is much more stable. This bike cost $270.00 to build and sold (Dutch Auction) for $1,200.00.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/00000023-1.jpg

This photo is of the Type 7, which I did not sell. The fairing was designed by the same women who designed the Type 9:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/photo003.jpg

I skipped using the number eight, because , like a game of pool, I want the eightball to be last.

Since building these bikes , there has been a lot of electric bikes going into production in China, some 16 million per year. So I would like to cut my losses by bringing in bikes from China. Maybe I will continue to build my own on a one-time, custom basis, but the consumer is only concerned about cost.

Can the pedaling energy charge the battery of an electric bike?

Drowzzy

Can the mechanical energy of pedaling be stored as electrical energy to be utilized later to run the bicycle automatically? I'm not talking about pure electric bikes that need regular charging, and not even about those that you pedal for a while as the bike stands still and then run it on electric power. I mean can you ride a bike and store the mechanical energy simultaneously? Will it be efficient? If so, then are such e-bikes available in the market, and what are they called so that I may Google for them?

Here's the scenario: I need a bicycle for regular commute, may be even for covering long distances. It's not feasible for a layman to pedal continuously for more than 5 to 10 miles. So I'm looking for a bike that you pedal for sometime, and when you're exhausted, you simply flick a button to make it run on electrical power which has been converted and stored from the mechanical energy of pedaling the bike; and then pedal again and auto-ride again and so forth. Will something like that be technically efficient, since you're moving the bike while pedaling as well as storing your spare energy?

Hope I haven't confused you. Thanks :)

Answer
There is already such a motor on the market. The name escapes me right now but it is a hub built into the rear wheel and it costs about $2000... not the Erbike hub motor... I think it is Electricrider or something like that.

To your request, yes, it is possible and a project I am working on right now. No, I can't and won't divulge details but CAN tell you that you'll see it relatively soon and it WILL be expensive- more expensive than a small motorcycle at this point.

By the way... I typically commute 24 miles (one way) to work on a bicycle, no problem. 5-10 mile commute is simple for most committed riders.

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