40 mi electric bike

bandito · #1 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 08:31 AM

Finally an electric bike with a good range 40 mi and has a lithium ion battery. This is the 1st one Ive seen under a grand. This is the bike Id get if electric was necessary. Amazon.com: EG KYOTO 26" Electric Moutain Bike Electric Bicycle - Men's Black Aluminum Frame and a 24V Lithium Battery: Sports & Outdoors

deacon · #2 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 10:25 AM

I'll believe it, if I see real world results somewhere. It's like the 45mph out of the box china kit hype we see here. I will only believe it, if some member here tells me "Yeah I have done that." Even then I would want to know how much they paid him.

The write up says it has a 10ah lithium battery setup. Ten ah batteries have very little reserve. My guess is that if it was tested for range, it was on flat ground and pedaling 90% with assist 10% of the time or less. That just isn't real world.

starrunner · #3 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 12:22 PM

I agree with deacon, you really have to be wary on mileage claims like this. I don't see any possible way you could get 40 miles range on 10aH unless you pedaled 90% of the time and were on mostly level ground. If this seller had any reviews, I'm sure this would be verified but they have none. They only have 5 feedback and 20% of it is negative which is not good. You'd be just as well of getting a Currie for under $400. Or buy two of them.

deacon · #4 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 01:02 PM

If you take a Currie and increase the battery pack and convert it to a more generic setup and even upgrade the motor a bit, you would still have less money in it.

I have always thought that if you bought a currie and resold the battery pack on ebay and the motor as well you would come pretty darn close to being able to pay for the upgrades. Those battery packs are way over priced. I think the Currie from walmart with a 600watt motor and a 20ah generic battery system would be a decent ebike. That is based on what I hear not personal experience.

I ride a bike with a homemade rhino drive and a 24v 12ah battery system and can get about 6mile on a charge if I ride it normally. I can probably stretch that a couple of more if I pedaled a lot more.

jdcburg · #5 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 05:07 PM

The longest I have done is 15 miles (out and return) with my 350 watt homebuilt with 24 volt 12 ah SLA. That was averaging about 11 mph with moderate pedalling. Some flat ground and some hills, a total of about 450 vertical feet between highest and lowest points. Some up and down hills in the middle that don't add into the total vertical, however. I didn't have my digital voltmeter at the time, but recharge took about 90-100 minutes at 5 amps, so I'm guessing it was about 8ah. A 10 ah lithium ion battery weighs less than a comparable sla, NiCd or NiMH, but that (relatively) small weight difference won't make up that kind of range difference. I agree with the others - flat ground, hard skinny tires and a lot of pedaling to go 40 miles on a 10 ah 24 volt battery - jd

bandito · #6 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 12:00 AM

Hmmmm ok well at least the prices on the lithium ion batteries are falling. My ideal electric bike would be able to go 50 miles on a charge with no pedaling and cost under a grand and maybe even a few hundred cheaper.

starrunner · #7 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandito

Hmmmm ok well at least the prices on the lithium ion batteries are falling. My ideal electric bike would be able to go 50 miles on a charge with no pedaling and cost under a grand and maybe even a few hundred cheaper.

Now you're talkin'. I guess we shouldn't even be talking about bikes at all. It's the batteries that are the issue and pretty much the only issue. There's plenty of great bikes out there and there's a lot of choices on good motors too and advancing at a steady pace. The chinese seem to do a much better job on electric motors than they do on internal combustion. What mystifies me is why Briggs and Stratton ceased production of the Etek motor. It was probably the most advanced motor ever made and experimenters around the world were making good use of it in countless vehicles.

bandito · #8 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 07:31 AM

check this out a dynamo hub thats made in germany Bicycle Lights and Generators or Amazon.com: SRAM i-Light Dynamo 730 Front QR 36H Hub 3.0W: Sports & Outdoors

deacon · #9 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 08:10 AM

To paraphrase a famous ex president, "It's the power supply stupid." When they fix the batteries, it's electric all the way. Of course the cars we dodge will be electric as well.

starrunner · #10 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandito

check this out a dynamo hub thats made in germany Bicycle Lights and Generators or Amazon.com: SRAM i-Light Dynamo 730 Front QR 36H Hub 3.0W: Sports & Outdoors

Dynamos and generators are useful and have been around forever but there's always the question of whether or not they'll handle the increased speeds of motorized bicycles since most of them are actually made for non-motorized bikes.