Best Electric Bikes: 2014-04-06

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

What is the deal on electric bikes?

David L

What is the deal on the bikes with an electric motor?

Can they be set up with some basket(s) so you can go to the grocery store?

What is the cost on these? Do I need a special license for these in California?

How far can these go on a single charge? How long do they take to charge up? Do you use just a regular outlet?

I work at home so I need something ONLY for doing basic errands around my neighborhood.

What are some other options? (Other than a car.)

Answer
This is probably more than you're looking for, but you might check it out:

http://www.vectrix.com/

There's a lot of information here as well:

http://www.electric-bikes.com/

If you're going to be carrying a lot of stuff, it might be better to get a "neighborhood electric vehicle":

http://www.nevportal.com/

Hope this helps!

electric bike kits?

vinny

Answer
Electric bikes usually have a limited range power limits and/or limited speed. Most cyclist find that they are not a great deal of help and after a relatively short distance they will actually slow them down.

There are many different versions of electric bike.most fall into these categories.

Friction drive.. They have a roller of some type that runs onto the tyre.

Hub motors electric motor built into either the front or rear wheel.

Chain or belt drives. Either feed into the crank system or drive one of the wheels separately.

To find a kit do a general search on electric bike kits.

Here is a few that I know of. (I'm biased toward the last group there are a bit more efficient)

http://www.cyclone-tw.com/index.html
http://www.cyclone-usa.com/
http://www.elationebikes.com.au/prod01.htm
http://www.epacpower.com.au/images/wh_spr.jpg

Electric motors?

BlackOpSou

Hello.

I want to build an electric motorcycle by modifying a road bike to use a pair of deep-cycle automotive batteries, or perhaps capacitors or something else entirely. This vehicle is to be built on the cheap, but I want it to have high (40-60 mph top speed) performance, fair acceleration, and good range. I intend to accomplish the latter by regenerative braking, which as I understand it, would be fairly easy to do by reversing the polarity (maybe not the right word) of a DC motor through switches.

Questions-
-Where can I find such a motor? Can I pull one out of junked appliances? If so, which ones?
-What's the best way to store power? If I do use two batteries, should they be in series or parallel? What about capacitors?
-What's the best way to regulate power draw?
-How can I be most efficient with the power I gain by regenerative braking?

If possible, please provide links, or, preferably, a circuit diagram. I'm not really happy with the diagram I made.

~BlackOpSourcee

Answer
I'll tell you what, I built an electric bike with a Rigid powerdrill, the motors are pretty strong, more torque than anything else on the market (powerdrill wise), and so long as you don't lug them below 1/2 max RPM for too long (pick your gear ratios wisely) they hold up well.

Any idea about R Martin Electric Bikes?

nitima_soo

I am planning to buy an electric vehicle; can you name any good suppliers in Austin, Texas area? I have heard much about R Martin Electric bikes, any idea how is it?
www.rmartinbikes.com

Answer
I'll look at the website. I've never heard of them. I have a Giant Lite electric bike that I like but like so many electric bikes, I think they stopped marketing them in the US. They are the most popular bike in Japan. Very dependable.

(Later) OK, I see that R Martin is the distributor, not the manufacturer. The bikes they have seem to be OK because their drive systems are connected through the bike's crankshaft rather than attached through a separate chain drive to the rear wheel. You need to decide if you want pedal assist which does not have a throttle and does not go unless you pedal, or whether you want one with a throttle, which you don't necessarily have to pedal.

Electric motors?

BlackOpSou

Any idea about R Martin Electric Bikes?

nitima_soo

I am planning to buy an electric vehicle; can you name any good suppliers in Austin, Texas area? I have heard much about R Martin Electric bikes, any idea how is it?
www.rmartinbikes.com

What size dirt bike is good for me im 5,10 250 pounds?

Mark M

Looking for a trail bike not new to motorcycles but never rode a dirtbike

Answer
first off, I am 6'3" ~260 lbs and have been riding motorcycles for roughly 45 years, dirt mostly...

if you are looking for a less expensive trail bike, find a good used XR400 ('99-2004), 500 (82-85), 600 (mid 80s-mid 90s) that is in decent running shape.... don't worry so much about the normal wear parts like tires, chain, sprockets, brakes as those can all be upgraded and are readily available still. these bikes are bullet proof air cooled 4 stroke with all the latest (for their era) performance equipment with plenty of torque ... but they are very heavy (280-300 lbs). I owned probably 10 of these from '82 up thru the late '90s, they will not let you down and are great trail bike for a heavier rider.

other alternates would be a DRZ400 or KLX400 but might be a little more pricey (not much though).

others that are going to be a pretty good jump in price would be moving to a CRF450X or WR400 / 450 but these are newer models. also you might even look into the XR650 too.

then moving on up higher in price but well worth it are the KTM EXC (prior to 2007) models or the XC-W (2007 and later) models in either a 400 / 450cc or 520 / 525 / 530 but these all have the latest high performance aftermarket parts on the bike coming from the factory.

if you are looking for a good trails bike, stay away from the MX bikes as these were designed for high rpm track riding and will easily overheat at lower rpm on the trails, also have very small capacity oil and will be higher maintenance in the long run... this would be any of the bikes like CRF, YZF, KXF, RMZ, KTM SX... not to mention these are not designed for torque in pulling hills unless you have it rev'd up ...

if you want to go with a 2 stroke, something in the 250cc range like a CR, YZ, KX, RM and then merely play a little with sprocket gear ratios and the addition of a 9-14 oz flywheel weight to give you more rotational mass to increase the torque and make it not as peaky (tones the 2 stroke power band down)... also look at the KDX 200 /220 which is set up for enduro that already has the gearing & added weight from the factory (these are just a bit too short front to back for my height but alot of fun to ride).

another very good option is the CRF230 which is based on the XR line engine with an electric start but is limited in suspension & brake performance parts but it's a great little bike. I ride my daughters probably more than my KTM 525 EXC just due to it being a bit shorter seat height and makes it easier to get off and on when I am working cattle or running fence lines...

anyway, that should give you a pretty wide range of things to start looking for that would suite your size pretty well. find one that fits your price range and you will be set...

Suzuki drz400 dual purpose dirt bike using it for jumps?

Rynj

Is this bike too heavy for jumps? approx weight 350lbs bike plus 170 lbs rider , when I took a jump at 35km /p hour the nose end went down first hard landing for me , I know your suppose to land gradually back end to front , what can I do to this bike to lighten the weight or improve my jumping , besides speeding up and getting a smaller bike

Answer
It's too heavy, plus the suspension on the thing is pretty soft for it's weight. Only way to loose weight is to get rid of the headlight, battery, and electric starter.

It sounds like your suspension is really soft. I suggest you stiffen the compression and make the rebound faster. On most 4 strokes, the compression adjustment screw is on the top of each fork, and the rebound is on the bottom. It just takes a flat head screwdriver.

electric bikes?

free_mark5

Anyone have a electric bike, i want one that looks like a mt. bike, and can also be used without the power on.

Answer
you have several options.

Giant will be coming out with a new model this spring, check out your Giant Ebike Dealer, or
Bird Ebike in Colorado if you don't have one.

Next is the Bionx ebike add on kit, can be added to most bikes.

Also Crystalyte hub motors can be added to most Mountain bikes.

Buy from a good dealer, locally if you can.

we have several ebikes including Giant bionx, Crystalyte and others.

Your best choice will depend on quite a few factors. but first make sure where they are legal in your locality. State of NY doesn't like them.

Legal electric assist Ebikes are generally considered bicycles if they comply with the federal law HR727- Max 750watts, pedals that work, maximum 3 wheels, maximum 20mph under power. but there are exceptions so check locally.

Check http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/power-assist/
for more details

what is meaning of " pedal-assisted electric bike "?

Mos Ja

Answer
pedal assisted means there is a battery that makes riding the bike lighter/easier (especially uphill or against the wind). But.. the battery won't work when you are not using the pedals.. it's not like an electric motor that rides the bike for you.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Looking for information on Voy electric bikes?

Karen J

Any info on parts, etc. would be appreciated.

Answer
I dunno if brand name is Voy, but here in Tucson there is "Ajo bikes" (a store) that carries an electric bicycle with the motor in the hub of the front wheel! a cable runs out from the axle, to the control in the handgrip, and to the battery on the rear luggage type rack.
I am thinking about buying just the front wheel assembly ($100 range) and install on my present bike.
I think the complete bike all set up is like $400 range.
1301 e ajo way, tucson, az. 85713
i hope its legal to give out their address.
Very trim design without all the gear clutter, but you can pedal the 10-speed (15? maybe) rear wheel.
i'd give you more info but this question closes in a few hours.

how to build a electric bike using my old MTB mountain bike ?

Michael

loading: 100 kgs, speed: 70kph, and want to climbing. please tell me any ideas, thanks!

Answer
hi, i recommend buy a electric bike conversion kits to convert it . But please note some notes,
1. Does the motor fit for your bike ? I mean that you need to measure your bike drop out , and confirm it with the seller .
2. Confirm the right wheel size with your seller . You can confirm your bike wheel size according to your bike tires , such 26 x .... , 700c x ... It means your bike is 26inch, or your bike wheel is 700c .
3. The speed 70kph is very fast, so you need to make sure that your bike frame is good enough .
I recommend that the 1500w hub motor for your bike . Its speed is about 70kph with 26inch wheel, and the controller max current is about 40 amp .

electric bike???

Q. does an electric bike or motor cycle (please tell me about both) require license to drive on the roads????

Answer
Electric assist only:

Since the passing of HR727, a federal law from 2003, most states have adopted the following:

If a bicycle of 2 or 3 wheels has a small electric helper motor of less than 750 watts ( 1 horsepower) , has working pedals and the motor cuts out at 20mph or less, then it is considered a bicycle, not a motor vehicle.

Most states (other than Hawaii, and New York) honor this, but check your state to be sure.

Some states are even more liberal and allow 1000 watts. Some states add a weight limitation of 100 pounds (Texas). some will add a minimum age, or mandatory helmets.

But the basics are in the first paragraph here and require no license.

electric bike kits?

vinny

Did not break in batteries properly on electric bike?

jetman22

It's working fine but I didn't let it completely drain on the first 3 charges like I was suppose to. This is a new curry ezip eco ride bike. Is it too late to do the proper break in? Did I shorten the life of the battery?I let the battery drain about half way before recharging on the first 3 times.

Answer
i have the Currie conversion kit on a regular bike and as far as i know all you have to do its not to let it drain completely but only let it go down to about half and then recharge right away . i have seen some people complaining about having drained the battery completely and then the battery dying right away after the first use , so many people are saying than it is not recommendable to drain the battery at all as they suggest in the instructions .. anyways mine is working fine so far i did tried to do the break in and all but after the first time i just decided to just starting charging it after half and not less as others were suggesting ...

btw you need to make sure the battery does not stay for very long on the charger ( just the 6 to 8 hours suggested ) because that's its actually one of the things which reduces the capacity of the battery to half and the charger can be damaged that way as well ( if you ever see a charger going green right away that means damaged charger and you need to get a replacement fast because being half empty its not good for your battery ) . .

Does the alarm system ruin battery of bike?

Jignesh

I purchased a new Hero Ignitor three months back. I also got installed an anti-theft alarm system on it. I went on a long tour and the bike was idle for *one month* at home. After coming back, I found that the battery of the bike looked drained. I drove the bike for 4 days, hoping the battery to be recharged- but no improvement at all. Might the battery have been failed?
I doubt did the alarm system drain the battery? I am not sure about the truth. Should I remove the alarm system now? I will appreciate any guidance on it. Thanks.

Answer
3rd vote for a trickle charger. If alarm installed correctly it would not run the battery down. Motorcycle and scooter batteries are delicate compared to automotive batteries. Trickle chargers are cheap and can prolong the life of the battery for a year longer or more.

electric bike kits?

vinny

Electric Bike?

Q. Hey I'm going to be moving a ways away from my kung fu school. So I will have to bike there but we are talking like 30 miles away at least. So my question is if anyone knows what that bike adapter kit is where it lets you switch between pedaling and driving?

Answer
there are allot of electric bikes and kits out there, but the problem is weight, performance, and distance per charge, remember, if you use those batteries for 10-20 Miles they are bone dry, and you have to pedal with an additional 80 pounds of weight, so you think, i ll add more batteries, but then you add more weight, then you need a bigger motor, so on and so forth, to have a more efficient setup you would need lighter batteries that last longer, lithium ion, or nickle metal hybrid, but they are very pricey, and you would need allot of them.

electric biking is not yet a transportation alternative, unless your going very short distance.

but if you wait, I'm currently working on a revolutionary concept for power assisted bicycles that will be available on the market for the summer of 2007 and will give you a 250 mile autonomy, and will only add 9.2lbs.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Why have ebikes, electric mopeds and electric scooters largely disappeared from North American cities?

sally

Who is "killing" the Electric Bike (aka Electric Scooter) in US and Canada? Many retail shops have closed, from Boston to Vancouver. North American manufacturers (Nova Cruz, Wavecrest, Bionx, Egovehicles) have gone under or are selling much less than they did before.

In comparison, in most of Asia, sales of ebikes are surging? Is it the economy collapse? Is it government? Is it the big auto companies? Is it battery companies? Is it some other factor?

Answer
All these smaller vehicles are disappearing mainly because of our affluence. As all the household get affluent they do not want smaller bikes and cars and go for bigger ones. Also it creates a fashion and so the not so affluent also aim to buy it. In due course there is no takers and they die a natural death.
Take the case of China where a decade ago there were thousands of cycles in the main cities and now they are all replaced with bikes and cars. So is the case of India. Once it was having a lot of 100 cc bikes but now it is n the decline. So it is the life style and not the government or oil companies who are responsible for it.

Who is the BEST Electric Bike Supplier?

We are a professional Bike Shop with locations in California, New York, total: 13 chain stores and partners. We require e-bikes Electric Bikes, both Mountain and City E-bike versions with both 24V 10Ah or 36V 10Ah Li-ion battery packs Only, they also must feature a locking device, and the electric bikes must also be high quality products, must be a professional supplier for replacement parts as-well.
We require the best specifications higher mileage electric bikes at least 45km on pure electric mode and 65km pedaling assist mode.
then what currently is being sold in the market.

Please do not contact us with your Wal-Mart quality products, we want high quality goods only please. We seek Shimano parts, Aluminum alloy parts also.

thank you

Answer
I would suggest MR CANADA IMPORTS - www.mrcanadaimports.com, they are a distributor and wholesaler of brand name model electric e-bikes, Mountain Electric Cycle, Folding Electric Bike, and city e-bike versions, including a popular model for use is the stb-mountain bike "Series E03, E01, F02 older clients" < very good seller for us.

No matter if your located in USA or CANADA or UK, i would contact these guys, these models are unlike regular store brand electric bikes, as you will see when you see them, they feature 36V 10Ah Li-ion battery as you requested and much more.. The Emode time is the best on the market, highest electric mileage then any other model currently sold.

These have helped our sales for this coming season since we have sold-out
all our first stock via pre-orders. If i was you i would order some samples now, display in your store and base your orders on the demand of that model.

good luck on your ventures..
you might want to provide free replacement tires with each purchase to obtain those sales, this is what we offer with the puncture resistant K-shield tires in 3 of our stores, and the response has been very good :)
the wait time including delivery for us was an average of 45 days for 460 units.

contact: Jon Steveson, jon.steveson@mrcanadaimportsDOTcom

if you require good service, these are the guys to contact, and come Christmas you'll really enjoy their services and free gifts :) please tell jon, you spoke with me about their products, and your a close business partner of mine. He will do the rest. good luck again, RIDE HARD!!! WELL NOT REALLY ITS ELECTRIC! lol

Electric bike battery life?

vasu

For how many days electric bike batteries can work normally. What are the maintenance costs for that. In India is it registration for that.

Answer
It's not clear what you mean. There are 2 things:
1. How long the battery will run before recharging depends on its size, age & condition and how it is driven - the maker usually gives a figure for the bike's range (distance per charge), but this is an average based on a factory test. If the weather is very cold, if you drive faster or uphill, or with a heavy load, the distance will be shorter. If you drive more slowly, on level roads or downhill and are a small, light person the range will be more.
2. The lifetime of a battery depends on its type (lead-acid, lithium etc.) and how often it is charged/discharged. If a battery is stored in very hot conditions it will not last as long. Again the maker will advise the average lifetime.

Maintenance cost depends on a number of things:
1. If you charge the battery from mains electricity, the cost of charging. the easiest way to find this is to charge the battery ovenight and check your electricity meter, then you can calculate the cost.
If you have a solar panel or wind generator, the charging can be free but these chargers will cost you a lot of money to buy.
2. There will be other maintenance costs like servicing, new tyres and spare parts when the new ones wear out, you will only know these costs when you have used the bike for a long time, perhaps years.

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
You will have to pedal extra hard to keep the bike going and to charge the battery. It could be done, but it would be easier and more efficient to pedal a regular (lighter) bike.

Maybe you could use a large solar panel to power the bike

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Is this a great buy? (electric scooter)?

Matthew

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-scooters-pocket-bikes-NEW-Electric-Scooter-E-Bike-E-Bike-NO-GAS-W0QQAdIdZ295660277

Im thinking of buying and I want to know if it is a great buy and if it would be good for grocery shopping and going to school?

Answer
Maybe in Canada - going 18 to 22 mph is good speed - but you'll not be able to take it on the street - you'd have to ride on the sidewalks! If you want to go that slow - get an electric bike - they've got kits now - under 400.00? I don't know - its a personal choice.

If anyone knows anything about electric scooters can u HELP me?

JLLLLL

Hi, I'm from Canada, Alberta, Calgary and was wondering if there are any places that sell electric scooters near my area or ship to my area. What bikes are legal to ride on the sidewalks or streets of calgary? Is this a good model 600 Watt Comp Electric Scooter

Answer
You will find that in most places it is not legal to ride motorized vehicles on sidewalks. This would include an electric motorized vehicle.

The real question is weather it is enforced and how safe is it to do so? Is it being inconsiderate of pedestrians trying to use the sidewalk? Someday we may finally realize that there are lots of ways of traveling and not just walking or riding a car.

While there may not be so many places that you might get one from a shop nearby, you should easily be able to shop and get one on the web. This is a site below for an example.

upgrading an electric scooter any advice?

darkstar11

I drive a 500 watt TaoTao ATE 501 and it only has a top speed of 20 to 21 miles per hour and only drives 10 miles per charge(I think) Is there any upgrade parts I can get for this scooter so that it can drive 30 maybe 35 miles per hour and get better battery life? I'm tired of being on a street legal scooter/moped and not being able to keep up with average city traffic flow. I hate being tailgated because I'm driving slower. I think it runs on 48 volt batteries and uses three of them. Not sure about the control box because its kinda hard to get to.

Answer
First you have to realize that those 500 watt electric scooters are really just heavy cheap electric assisted bikes. The TaoTao ATE 501 weighs about 200 lbs and that's why it's so slow. If you want any reasonable performance, you use the fold out pedals at least for acceleration, it also recharges the batteries slightly.

I suspect you have a 36 volt system with three 12 v lead acid batteries wired in series. It would be a good idea to have each of those batteries checked out separately. Lead acid batteries can be tricky and it only takes one to be in poor shape for the whole bike to suffer.

The most obvious upgrade you could do is wire in another three lead acid batteries in parallel. Nothing else would need changing but you would have to find a location to put the batteries.

The next possible upgrade is to replace the batteries with expensive lithium ion or lithium polymer batteries which are convenient because they are available in similar voltage levels. Their charging procedures are similar but not identical so you may be able to get away with not changing any of the charging mechanisms. The biggest problem with this is the cost.

A larger motor probably won't do you much good and may require custom fabrication of the motor mounts but you may be able to find a more powerful motor in the same form factor. In general, most electric motors can be operated at higher voltages with the only consequence being overheating of the motor and wires, the wires can be increased to thicker wires and you could try to get more cooling to the motor but this would really only allow you to have short bursts with the possibility of burning something out. Of course doing so means changing the battery layout and adding more batteries.

The best solution would be to upgrade to a proper light weight electric assisted bike but they run about $2,000 or more, roughly double what the scooters cost. Maybe find a used bike and put in a 500 watt conversion kit... At least with the bikes, everyone expects you to be slow.

The 500 watt scooters are not what I would call street legal, just exempt from regulations. It takes a 150 cc scooter to be freeway legal and a 250 cc scooter to actually be safe at freeway speeds and any scooter with more than 50 cc's must be licensed and registered as a motor vehicle. Those I would call street legal once licensed. You might be better off with a 50 cc gasoline scooter, those are usually exempt from regulation too. The old smoky two cylinder ones had a lot of power, about double what the new four cylinder ones have but even the new 4 cylinder ones would be four times the power of the 500 watt electric scooter. If you want to be environmentally friendly, make ethanol from rotten fruits that you get from the grocers for free.

Are electric dirt bikes safe for 10 year olds?

Aaron

i want to know if electric dirt bikes are safe for 10 year old boys

Answer
Yes, they are very safe they have a top speed of 10-15 mph and they are very low to the ground and you can out run one easily. They are very good training bikes to get them ready for the bigger ones. But i would suggest them to a 10 year old.

Looking to buy a Honda CRF230F Dirt Bike?

Dave

I am looking at buying a Honda CRF230F. Does anyone have any experience with this bike. I want a bike that is a good on trails and at the dunes. Please Help? I am a beginning rider, i am 17, weigh 150 and I am 6 ft tall. Is this the kind of bike i am looking for?

Answer
I had a 2005 for about a year or so. It is a fun bike to play on and it has plenty power for a novice. The only real down sides are that the bike is a little heavy compared to a CRF250, it may feel a little bit cramped at your height but no big deal there, the suspension is fine for casual riding but can't handle motocross size jumps, and it is electric start only, no kick starter. For the money you really can't beat this bike. The CRF250 would obviously be a better bike, but that's why it's twice as much money also. If you haven't already sat on one try that first, but be sure to put your feet up on the pegs not on the floor. It is the bar to peg distance that is somewhat limited. You can always add taller bars to help the ergos.

What size dirt bike is good for me im 5,10 250 pounds?

Mark M

Looking for a trail bike not new to motorcycles but never rode a dirtbike

Electric scooter or electric bike?

David

I would like to have an electric scooter or an electric bike. The scooters I like are the Ezip 500, and the Ezip 750. They both can go about 17mph with my weight. The ezip 500 only has an 8 mile range. The Ezip 750 has a 12 mile range but is more expensive. I am trying to decide if I might like an electric bike better(I'm a guy so i don't know if that might look wierd). It goes the same speed as the scooters and has a 15 mile range. I only will go on short 5 mile rides. I love how the scooters ride but the bike goes farther. Also I havn't ever riden an electric bike. I don't know any1 that has one. Which one would be easier to maintain. Are there any other electric vehicles UNDER 400$. Are there any other brands. What is best for me???

Answer
These guys specialise in electric bikes
http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com/

If you can I would go for one that uses a hub motor they last much longer, currie have a bad reputation as they use a cog system which wears out pretty quickly, currie are the cheapest for a reason.
The cheapest place I have seen hub motor kits is ebay $200-400 a retail one is more like 800-1000.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313&_nkw=electric+bicycle+kit&_sacat=See-All-Categories

At the extreme end of the market there is this for $2600
http://www.greenspeed.us/e_%2B_plus_electric_bicycle.htm
For that you get speeds of 30 mph unassisted and a range of about 30miles

Can anybody tell me how is the performance of electric bikes & cars .How much economical differece?

ROCKY

is there as compared to petrol bikes & cars

Answer
"Performance" has several factors. We generally think of this on the basis of an IC engine. As a result we tend to think of acceleration, handling and fuel economy. With battery electric vehicles there is also a reference to the vehicle range on a charge. While "range anxiety" is not usually a consideration in an ICE vehicle I do recall a time in the Australian outback where I would have given almost anything for a petrol station.

Generally it takes longer for electrons to flow into a battery than for gasoline to fill a gas tank. Electrons will flow into an ultracapacitor far more quickly and development of ultracapacitors that can hold sufficient charge will resolve the issue. Alternatively if they can be made cheaply enough they could be included with batteries and will extend the life of batteries and enable the vehicle to be quickly charged with energy (from ultracapacitors at "fueling" stations. Presently the best that an electric vehicle can offer is less concentration on fueling. You fuel at home. It takes seconds to start and stop a charge. The rest of the time you can be doing other things. Alternatively you must make special trips to fueling stations where someone must pay attention to the fueling process.

Batteries in an BEV (battery electric vehicle) are typically low in the vehicle. This improves handling as it lowers the center of gravity. Acceleration in electric vehicles is better than ICE vehicles due to full torque starting from 0 RPM in electric motors.1

Under present economic conditions an electric vehicle can save its owner approximately $1000 to $1400 per year in fueling costs in addition to the increase in performance.2 The vehicle except for batteries has a projected life many times that of ICE vehicles, possibly as much as 80 years as compared to the life expectancy of an ICE vehicle of about 10 years. Present batteries have a life expectancy of between 5 to 10 years and may represent 1/2 the investment in the vehicle. Ultra capacitors would have an expected life that exceeds the rest of the vehicle. There is some question about whether the electric vehicle will depreciate very rapidly with little residual value or if the addition of newer battery packs or even ultracapacitors would be like adding an addition to real estate and possibly restore or even exceed the original value of the vehicle. It may be possible that the vehicles will appreciate rather than depreciate like a very few of the classic ICE vehicles. 3

Any ideas on making it to swim practice?

Calcium-po

Hello! Ok, so I have swim practice 30 min after school gets out at a location that is 5 miles away. It is a 15 min car ride at least. The problem is that I have no way to get to practice on one of the two days. I have a ride for the second day, but when that ride doesn't go to practice, I can't go. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how I could get to practice? I live in a town with no busses and no subways and I dominos very few people on the team. I thought I had time to get to know people before asking for a ride, but I don't. Please, any suggestions would be great! I don't know what to do!

Answer
Don't just get a bike, get an electric bike.you can ride it to practice while avoiding traffic and still have enough energy too practice.there are a lot of cheap ebike conversion kits on ebay.the china ones are cheap ads work great.

electric pocket bikes!!?

Tanner C

I Want a Electric pocket bike for my birthday and i cant decide which one to get!! I have seen the Xp-700 rice pocket bike and the minimoto maxii 400.Which one is better? If there are faster ones than those please tell me!!
ok never mind!! I am loking at gas ones now and i want one that goes around 30 mph. It needs to have a speedometer and lights and stuff. Needs 20 be between 100$ and 350$ Thanks!!!

Answer
I got an X1 Ninja 49cc pocket bike and my brother got a Giovanni pocket bike. Mine fit great and was big enough to be comfortable and not feel like you're riding a rollerskate, but had poor acceleration because of the clutch. His, on the other hand, had great speed, but was so tiny that the smallest bump made the name "krotch rocket" live up to its potential. Ended up buying my brothers, and with some modifications put the racing motor in mine.
BEST pocket bike ever. Worked well even offroad, and went about 45 tops. If you are looking for the bike like the one I made, you need to be good at modifying things. If not, and you want the fastest, most powerful, the 110cc pocket bikes are FAST, up to 75mph.
I would choose the ninja X series (x1, x2, x7, ect(the one that looks like an actual street bike)) style pocket bikes and simply upgrade the clutch. Not that hard to do, and would leave you with a sturdy, fast, strong bike.

electric bikes?

the king

what are the laws regarding electric bikesincuding eastcleveland euclid

Answer
Depends what kind of bikes you're talking about.

Electric bicycles have the same laws as regular bicycles.

For electric scooters and mopeds, it depends on your local laws. In California, if you have a stand-up scooter that doesn't go faster than 20 mph, anyone can ride it and you just need a helmet. The same is true for a sit-down moped with pedals that only goes 20 mph. If you have a moped without pedals and/or can go faster than 20 mph, you need a Class M motorcycle license. But that's just California.

Moped laws by state: http://moped2.org/mstates.htm

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Battery wont power lights when at idle yamaha tt600.?

ChappieBAZ

Hey i have been doing up this tt600 i bought for a good learner road bike (250s are gutless) and its so close to done. it looks spectacular and could probably pull a trailer. but the battery wont work. the lights and everything all work fine its just at idle everything dims down and the battery wont power them up like its supposed to. i have spent days looking for wiring diagrams or answers to it online and also out there looking for loose wires and seeing where they all go but i just cant get it.

anyone know a solution? because it wont pass road worthy if everything dims down at idle. thanks

Answer
Put your idle speed up a little.
Lights etc aren't powered by the battery when the engine is running, the alternator does that.

where can we get smart Li-Ion battery packd with power switch for our HID bike light?

sakura ish

Answer
I'd stick with the OEM replacement battery. Although maybe you could remove the old battery and read the battery labels carefully. It might be a standardized battery from the digi camera or video camera market.

How can i build an electric generator from scratch?

ace_anth

I have a disused bike and i wanted to turn it into a electric generator. But how would I do this. I don't want to spend much money, that is why I would like to know how to build the generator from scratch. I know hoe the basic mechanics of a generator works. But this is not enough. I would like a tutorial with pictures and diagrams to help me, but i can't find any that are good enough.

plz help
thnx
xD
its a bicycle and i want to BUILD a electric generator to power from pedalling my bike (stationary)

Answer
A generator is just a permanent magnet rotating inside a coil of copper wire.

Google how to make a generator. I'm sure that you could find a website that will step you through the process.

But your local bicycle shop will sell you a factory made generator that will strap onto your bicycle. Buying one already made in a factory in China will probably cost just as much as you making one yourself from scratch.

Super pocket bike made legal in PA...can it be done if i get a good bike?

tsiege

If the bike has headlights, high beams and low beams and turn signals and a horn it should be able to be registered as a LSV low speed vehicle.

it can be registered for street use in many states. Most of our customers who have wanted to register these bikes for street use have been able to do so. You may need to add a license plate holder and/or rear-view mirrors, or other minor modifications. These items are inexpensive, can be found at most local scooter or motorcycle shops, and are easily attached via simple modifications.

All vehicle(s) come with a factory standard Certificate of Origin (Manufacturer Statement of Origin/MSO) which may be used for registration. We also include an official MSO for registration, with no extra charge for this service.

^^From what the site says ..the bigger super bike that i am getting, not to be confused with the smaller 50 cc models should be able to be street legal.

These are the rules in Florida...but i am in PA hopefully it is the same.

0. Have a motorcycle licence ( for a 110cc it is classified as a motorcycle)- you could try to say to say its 50cc then you dont need one but the certificate will probably say its 110cc.. You will not be required to bring the bike in to the DMV or ever do a riding test for anyone.
1. Headlights, taillights, sideview mirrors, signals, licence plate holder
2. Helmet- if you plan on not buying insurance ( you will defenetally not want to pay the price of the bike each month just on insurance r u nuts!!)
If you dont use helmet, you must have insurance. Cops can pull u over if you ride on streets where there will defenetally be cops, local neihborhood driving you can do without helmet with no cops near.)
3. Bring your factory standard Certificate of Origin (Manufacturer Statement of Origin/MSO) it is the important paperwork the bike comes with
4. Bring your ID
5. Bring $ it will cost $30.00 to put a Licence plate on it which includes the years stickers ( you will have to pay extra each year for new stickers)
6. Bring another $29.75 to get the bike registered
7, Bring some more money of 7% extra of the original purchase price. ( so if bike was bought for $500.00 you will have to pay extra $35.00 at the DMV.)

FOLLOWING THESE STEPS WILL GUARANTEE YOU TO LEGALLY RIDE ON ANY of the X series Mid Bikes( with minor modifications) on PUBLIC ROAD ( except highway)

so a total of about at least $100.00 of registration fees, not including your modification fees is all thats required to ride the bike legally.

BTW: it may sound like im answering my own question but im not about to drop 700 bucks on a super bike and not be able to ride it.

thanks.

Additional Details
these are the demensions. and specs

Drivetrain
Engine: 4 Stroke 110cc Single Cylinder, Air Cooled
Fuel : 91+ Unleaded Gasoline (no oil mixing required)
Starter: Electric Key Start w/ Backup Kick Start (MANUAL)
Maximum Speed: up to 70+ mph
Ignition: CDI, Ultra High Discharge Coil
Transmission: 4-Speed Manual w/ Hand Clutch or Automatic
Maximum Power: 15.5 hp
Brakes: Hydraulic Cross-Drilled Disc Brakes
Exhaust: Factory Tuned Dual Exhaust w/ Twin Silencers

Dimensions
Length: 58"
Width: 25"
Height: 33"
Ground Clearance: 5.5"
Dry Weight: 140 lbs.
Weight Capacity: 325 lbs.
Fuel Tank Capacity: 2.25 Liters
Cruising Range: 50 miles per tank
Tires: Pneumatic Racing Semi-Slick Tires

Answer
Maybe.
In searching through Penndot's info, it looks like you might.
You will not spend $700, it will be more. You must at least change the tires.
It will be classed as a motorcycle. It must pass a motorcycle safety inspection. You must be insured and licensed to operate a motorcycle.
I'm sure the insurance will be an issue.

I still don't understand why people insist on running these toys on the street. You will do all that's needed to ride a motorcycle, pay extra to modify a new machine, and still not really have anything worth riding.
Why not buy a real motorcycle instead?
Easier. No extra mods. Repair support. Etc.

Dual exhaust on a single?

Monday, April 7, 2014

Electric Bike?

Building an electric bike hybrid?

Tom I

I am looking for some sources that would help me in my quest to build an electric bike hybrid. I know there a lots of kits out there that seem for the most part "bolt-up" but those are a bit expensive and i feel like i would enjoy more of a challenge from building from scratch. I have fair knowledge of electronics and i am mechanically inclined. I am assuming i would need the basics, motor, controller, battery. I do not quite understand the concept of having multiple shifters that i have seen with most of these kits and why the are needed for the motor to function, i thought it was a push button type thing haha. I am also just having a hard time finding these items separately sold. I have done a bit of research on multiple forums. It seems there is a vast variety of different options. I just really want something that i can take to the local park, maybe cruise on the sidewalk for a bit then hit into the trails with a bit of help. I am 6'4" 250 pounds so i am looking for,from what i have read, a 1000W motor or more? I do not currently have a bike to customize, i was looking to buy either a used one or a fairly cheap new one. Any information or links that you guys could help me out with will be much appreciated. Thank you!

Answer
a . you are not going to build it yourself
it's too much to say here, and ... well it just won;t happen

b. i don;t recommend electric bikes
they are either short range or slow or heavy or expensive

wle

Who is the best name brand electric bike supplier that can ship anywhere in the world?

I have a chain of 20 bike shops and I'm looking for a very good, reliable electric bike supplier.

Answer
You can also try http://www.wholesaledeals.co.uk if you are looking for wholesale deals to resell on eBay UK and Amazon UK. They basically research for you which current wholesale offers are selling successfully and at good margins on eBay and Amazon, and you can join their service to find out where you can buy those deals today.

Since you are looking for electric bike,

try this page: http://www.wholesaledeals.co.uk/search-suppliers/electric_bike-suppliers.html

Hope this helps.

Solar Panel wattage for my Electric Bike?

www.jkrish

Solar Panel wattage for my Electric Bike?
I am looking to purchase an Electric Bike for transport to work. I work on an Organic farm and need to save some energy up those hills.

I need help figuring out what size solar panels would be needed to charge the battery, and whether its plausible.

I'm looking at Ebay in Australia as I am immigrating down there. I prefer to afford the foldable/portable solar panel system: 80 watt, 120 watt, 160 watt, but IF necessary a bit more.

300w 3 PHASE 36v ELECTRIC REAR WHEEL
THREE 12v 17ah SLA BATTERIES (Total 36v)

or

Motor: 250 Watt brush-less DC hub
Batteries: 24V/10Ah pack, valve regulated

can anyone out there help explain to me how to figure this out?

thanks :)

Answer
http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/solar-power-that-works/

google " northern tool " i am sure they sell world wide.

they have solar kits ,

they sell are a decades old industrial supply company that sell all things at cheap prices.

how can i store or save the electric(from bike generator) to a battery or charger?

Yip Wai

sory, i cant speak english well...
how can i store or save the electric(from bike generator) to a battery or charger?

in solar power, it has solar charger controller, batteries and so on... so im using this concept in bike generator, so how can i store the electric to (something like) charger or batery?

Answer
A human-powered bicycle generator is not very difficult to hook to a battery if you don't mind how large the battery is. You want the battery to be able to absorb many more watts than the generator can produce. You want the battery voltage to be a few volts less than the generator produces when it is disconnected from the battery and being pedaled and measured at the 2 wires ( open circuit voltage output). For a typical bike generator, this voltage is usually 6 volts. If you use some other generator like a car alternator hooked to the bike, it may be more like 14 volts. Good choices for inexpensive batteries that are big enough would be a car or a motorcycle battery of either 6 volts for a bicycle generator or 12 volts for the larger alternator. Solar panels have a fancy charger circuit in front of their batteries because they are concerned about overcharging and burning up the batteries if you keep them charging in the sun for too many hours. With a bicycle, you will stop long before then because you will become tired. You could have a simple light come on to tell you to stop pedaling when the battery voltage got too high and the battery was full. A simple LED light circuit hooked between the positive and negative battery terminals will work. A red LED with a 7 volt Zener diode or a 14 volt Zener diode for the larger battery could be used as your full charge indicator. The light would come on when the battery voltage became higher than the Zener diode voltage. Make sure to put a resistor in line with the LED so the light does not run too bright, 100 Ohms is a good choice.

Electric Bike?

Where an i find an electric bicycle without speed limiter in uk?

Adrian J

Where in the uk can i find an electric bicycle that does not have
a speed limiter because all the bikes i have seen are restricted to
15mph but that is not quick enough for me

thanx 4 looking

Answer
You can go faster if you pedal.

Would this be legal on uk roads/paths?

Hey, im wondering if this electric bicycle would be legal on UK's roads and paths?
http://stealthelectricbikesunitedkingdom.com/the-bikes.html
Top speed: 30mph or 50mph depending on which bike

Answer
Both are illegal for use on public roads and paths. An electric bike must be limited to 15 mph under power, although there is nothing to stop you peddling it (or free wheeling down hill) faster if you can. It also can not exceed 200w, the one you have linked to is 750w.
You must also be over 14 years old to ride one.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Need advice on these electric scooters?

lil miss

The description from the guys selling them was that they were Phanthom IV and Sola models but I can't find a review online anywhere. He wants $400 dollars for both of them... we live about three 4-5 miles from work and we just want a way to commute back and forth in a cheap way. Are these good?

http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn292/mrs_strawn/?action=view&current=small_1927961214682457.jpg

Answer
Well the price is certainly good. As grizz mentioned the problem will be getting a replacement battery for the Phantom IV. The Sola shouldn't be a problem.

http://www.batteriesplus.com/products/78-0/6111-Scooter-Batteries--Electric/253517-Sola-Scooters/Night-Rider/1.aspx

Bear in mind that both of these scooters have a top speed of about 15 mph, so they're not exactly speedy. That's about as fast as you can go on a decent bicycle.

But again, the price is really good. The only issue is that the batteries will eventually need replacing, and you're probably up a creek when the Phantom battery dies. A bicycle or even electric bicycle wouldn't be a bad option either.

http://greenhome.huddler.com/wiki/electric-vehicles

Prius reviews? any generation.?

erika99

Hey everyone! I was just wondering if the prius is a reliable and satisfactory car. I like this car a lot because of its mpg and style. But i just want to know what others think. Interested to know about any generation of the prius. Thanks :)

Answer
I have two Prius and here's what I've found:

1. You can fit four full-sized adults in comfort or put a bicycle or two in the cargo area without removing the front wheels.

2. The lifetime average on my 2004 Prius is 58 mpg using regular gas according to the logbook I keep. (I don't have the numbers on the 2001 because my wife doesn't keep track.)

2004 Prius MPG from the logbook. (Complete years only):
2003-2004 -- 50.8 mpg 17,628 miles
2005 -- 52.6 mpg 14,688 miles
2006 -- 56.3 mpg 16,174 miles
2007 -- 57.3 mpg 18,384 miles
2008 -- 59.9 mpg 21,755 miles
2009 -- 61.4 mpg 16,177 miles
2010 -- 65.2 mpg 12,134 miles
2011 -- 66.9 mpg 11,272 miles

3. Both the 2001 and 2004 have been trouble-free and very reliable. The 2001 has 95,000 miles and the 2004 has 135,000 miles.

4. The Prius comes with vehicle stability control. This is a system that prevents doughnuts in slippery conditions if you are going anything like a reasonable speed for conditions. Note: This really works, the back end just does not swing out on ice covered streets.

5. The Prius comes with brake-override. This is a system that disengages acceleration when the brake pedal is pressed firmly (Non-hybrid Toyota's don't have this feature yet).

6. Brake assist. This is a system that compensates for people's tendency to press quickly but not hard enough on the brake pedal in an emergency situation. Brake-assist adds additional braking force when it detects an emergency stop. This and #4 and #5 can also be found on Mercedes, some BMWs, Porsche, and Corvettes--none of which are in the Prius' price range.

7. On the 2010 optionally you can get radar pre-collision, radar cruise control, lane keep, and self-parking.

8. The Prius is fun-to-drive. I still have a smile on my face when I start the morning commute.

9. The Prius is not expensive to maintain. The 2004 has cost 12 cents per mile for fuel, dealer maintenance, and tires. You could reduce this considerably if you are into DIY. The Prius is a pretty easy car to DIY.

10. Toyota has replaced many of the mechanical systems with more reliable electronic systems in the Prius. So you won't find any alternators, starter motors, belts (2004-2009 have one belt that runs the engine water pump--this is gone in the 2010), clutches or fluid couplings (the automatic transmission equivalent of a clutch). The automatic transmission, with it's hundreds of parts has been replace by a simple planetary gear system similar to a differential.

11. The air conditioner is a variable speed, electric scroll compressor. This allows it to run only as much and as hard as necessary so energy is saved. It also eliminates the power drag on the engine because the engine doesn't directly power the a/c.

Who is the BEST Electric Bike Supplier?

How much is the cheapest electric bike cost in Canada (Vancouver)?

John F

Should i buy one in Canada or overseas?

Answer
Canada. heapest. dollar in a garage sale. But in stores it's aout 5 dollars. ost expensive...100 and more.

Should I get this Bike?

I have been told not to get a new 2011 pit bike, just get a 2nd hand thumpstar or some thing. here is the bike.

125cc Pro-Dirt Bike - Latest 2011 Model

* 125cc Power - Wheelies in 2nd & 3rd !
* Manual Clutch - 1 Down 3 Up Gearbox
* Electric & Kick Start
* Sump Guard, K&N Style Air Filter, Wavy Discs etc...

All Pit / Dirt Bikes in stock & available now!
Description:

This dirt bike is like a normal pit bike but with advantage of larger front & rear wheels for added off-road traction!
With it's heavy duty suspension, triple clamp forks and powerful 125cc engine, this bike is a real animal!
Specification:

Engine: 125CC Single Cylinder, Air Cooled, 4 Stroke

Drive System: Manual clutch with chain tensioner & heavy duty chain

Gearbox: 4 speed, 1 down 3 up

Ignition: Electronic Key ignition

Starter: Electric and kick start

Brakes: Front and rear hydraulic wavy disc brakes

Wheels: Powder coated wheel rims

Tyres: 14 Inch front & 12 Inch rear off road tyres

Suspension: Heavy duty front & Rear suspension

Power: Wheelies in 2nd and 3rd gear!!

Features: K&N style air filter, Hi' Rise handlebars,
"Bear Trap " footpegs, Billet style fuel cap
Engine sump guard Etc...

Speed: Up to 55MPH

Exhaust: Chrome deep sound performance exhaust sounds awesome!

Seat Height / Max Rider Weight: 29 inches / 18 Stone

Fuel: Unleaded petrol

Dimensions:
Handlebar Height 41 inches (104 cm)
Handlebar Width 30 inches (76 cm)
Seat Height 30 inches (76 cm)
Overall Length 5 Feet (152 cm)

Accessories Incl: Tool Kit, Sticker kit (already applied) and Instructions

Colours: Red, Black or Green Plastics (as shown - like Kawasaki Green)

Answer
most pit bikes have 4 gears....

some of the descriptions on the power, exhaust, suspension, wheels are a bit weird.

like no manufacture would say the power is "Wheelies in 2nd and 3rd gear!!" unless there a joke.

but this does sound kinda legit but it does depend on the price$.

if it is under $1000 i would say that is okay. if its over that dont bother, go on ebay.

by the way pit bikes can get a bit boaring after a while. i suggest get a motocross bike.

BEST DIRT BIKE FOR A GIRL.. HELP!!!!?

starryblue

I WOULD LIKE TO START GETTING INTO DIRT BIKE RIDING.. MY BOYFRIEND HAS A STREET BIKE (2011 ZX-14) AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE RIDING ON THE BACK, BUT I FEEL A STREET BIKE IS A LITTLE TOO DANGEROUS FOR ME, AND MY DAD WOULD KILL ME IF I BROUGHT ONE HOME. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY DIRT BIKE RIDING INSTEAD. I HAVE BEEN ON ONE BEFORE BUT I OBVIOUSLY STILL CONSIDER MYSELF A NEWBIE RIDER. I AM 20 YEARS OLD, ABOUT 5'4 AND WEIGH 111 POUNDS. JUST WONDERING WHAT THE BEST DIRT BIKE FOR ME WOULD BE CONSIDERING MY RIDING EXPERIENCE AND WEIGHT/HEIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR HELPING OUT! MEANS A LOT!

Answer
My personal thought would be to go with a Yamaha TTR125le. My younger brother had that bike when he was about your size. It is very manageable with weight, and it has an electric start so you don't have to waist your time kicking all day. If you are looking for a little bigger big then i would go for a Honda crf 150F basically the same as the yamaha but is a little big and has a bit more power. but before buying any dirt bike, I would go to your local motorcycle dealer and sit on and test the weight of any bike before you buy it.
Happy Riding

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Thursday, April 10, 2014

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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

If anyone knows anything about electric scooters can u HELP me?

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What size dirt bike is good for me im 5,10 250 pounds?

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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

where can we get smart Li-Ion battery packd with power switch for our HID bike light?

Super pocket bike made legal in PA...can it be done if i get a good bike?

Monday, April 7, 2014

Building an electric bike hybrid?

Solar Panel wattage for my Electric Bike?

Electric Bike?

Would this be legal on uk roads/paths?

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Prius reviews? any generation.?

How much is the cheapest electric bike cost in Canada (Vancouver)?

BEST DIRT BIKE FOR A GIRL.. HELP!!!!?

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