what to compare an ebike with

[deacon]

Maybe it would be helpful to decide exactly what it is we should compare to an Ebike . In my case I compare it to the poor guy struggling to get up the big hill on Eastchester Drive. I can go right up it on an ebike with very little pedal assist while he is choking on his lunch. The guys on a motorcycle or in a car can pass me like I'm backing up. The guys on a moped can pass me, but they don't leave me in the dust.

For me, because of my health, I'm dangerous in a car or on a motorcycle. I never felt quite safe on the gas bike (similar to a moped) because of the speed thing. I have even come to enjoy the forced slower pace. So for me, to keep even a semblance of independence, it was Ebike, pedal bike, or walk.

I build them myself, again for that illusion of independence. It is not a not prefect form of transportation, but then, it isn't a perfect world. In a perfect world we could just teleport (beam me up Scottie) ourselves to the store. So for now, I'll just have to deal with the shortcomings of the Ebike.

It's kind of like a China Girl is faster, and with more range than my bike. But a motorcycle is faster, and argueably with more range (repairs considered) than a car. A car is safer than a motorcycle, and you don't get rained an and it has a bigger trunk usu.ally A truck is better at some things than a car for some things.

So I guess we have just decide what it is we want and what it is we are willing to deal with. Just one man's opinion.

[thatsdax]

The only draw back to owning an Ebike setup is Range. Maybe speed. But.. 20-22 mph is pretty quick.. So.. Really.. Range .. But.. 15-20 miles or less a day is a perfect range for some, so even that is not a draw back for those where range of 15-20 miles is fine. Coould buy a second battery and double the range. .. So.. I guess.. For some.. The Ebikes are perfect in every way . 15-20 miles, plenty of torque, and fast as well.. Silent for sure !! Enjoy the ride..

[wheelbender6]

E-bikes compare to gas bikes pretty well in TX. A motor assisted bicycle is limited to streets of 30 mph speed limit or less. An electric bike is less likely to be noticed by lawmen on roads with higher speed limits then a louder gas assist bike.
It's hard to find enough 30mph roads to commute anywhere around here.

[wheelbender6]

I tend to think of "In what situation is an electric assisted bike better than a gas assisted bike or 50cc scooter?".
-In an area that you need to hop on the sidewalk to avoid big trucks (especially on curbed roads, where you can't simply veer off the pavement to make room
-If your route will shortened considerably by taking a multi-use path
-If you must assemble and store your bike indoors in living space
-If you have no place to keep fuel and oil (like most apartments)
-If you need to take your assisted bike with you on public transportation
-If you just really hate the smell of fuel and oil (a lot of girls do)
-If you like to peddle a lot. Internally geared ebike hubs freewheel
-If you want to learn some electric propulsion basics before purchasing
a hybrid car
-If you want to haul the bike inside the back of you suv, wagon or hatchback
-If you need to stow it in a lying down position
-If you want to be able to turn the bike upside down to work on a tire
-If you want to be able to hear your Bluetooth or Ipod while you ride
-If you do not want to store gasoline at home due safety issues (you have small kids)
-If you worry about kids burning there hands on your muffler

I could think of more, but I'm getting hungry.
I do not own an ebike, but will probably be getting one soon since I live in Texas, which provided all of the above ideas for me.

[CopperChopper]

I like e-bikes a lot. Why? No gas, pollution, noise, etc. No insurance, registration, license, etc. No fire hazard.

As far as speed goes, I live 4.1 miles from my work. By car it takes me 24 minutes in morning traffic. By e-bike it takes me 19 minutes because I can take back-allies and zoom through parking lots, without waiting for lights etc. I can take the cycling path part of the way since e-bikes are allowed on it. Plus, I don't have to worry about paying for parking or the time wasted driving four stories into a parking garage and waiting for an elevator to bring me to street level, etc. I just cancelled my 220 dollar per month parking space for the next 7 months.

On my 48V 15AH, I can easily go 40 miles on one charge at a quick 20 mph.

To me, the e-bike is the perfect vehicle for city commuting. Plus, you can build them to be fast enough to compare with a 50 cc motorized bike in terms of top end and acceleration.

The only downside, the initial cost is high in terms of all the electronics and battery.

[wheelbender6]

CopperChopper-What kind of e-kit do you have? Speed and range cost more money, but it sounds like you have both.

[CopperChopper]

I have a Nine Continent front hub, which has performed flawlessly. I use a high quality Ping 48v 15ah Lifepo4 with a 20 amp Crystalyte controller. I am running a 18t in the back and a 44t chainring on a Nexus 3 internally geared hub. I do a fair bit of pedal assist so I get great range - it would be a fair bit less without pedal assist. I typically use about 9-10 watt hours per km in my city which is pretty much flat to mildly rolling, so a range of about 70 km is possible on one charge. Though I never venture that far so I have never hit low voltage cut-off.

I have a cycle analyst to limit speed to 32 kph or 20 mph I find this fast enough on my Cruiser. It would likely go 30 mph on the flats without the limiter but I have yet to try. In top gear on the Nexus, it is no problem to pedal assist at 20 mph and the low gear is low enough to help up hills. The Cruiser I converted in an Electra Indy (red with creme tires). Sorry, can't post a pic yet until I have more posts.

The battery was 600 bucks (shipped) from Li Ping.

I am putting together a Stretch Chopper with long forks, all in Chrome. I wanted to try a 50cc motor but I am now having my doubts because I found out the cops here will likely stop me and charge me with driving an uninsured, unregistered motorcycle. I will build the bike one way or the other but may resort to an Ezee kit with 48v 10ah Ping, which should only add about a total of 22 pounds to the bike. The Ezee kit is well engineered and super light.

The battery technology keeps getting better: smaller, lighter, packing more power. I expect there to come a day when most land vehicles are being powered by stored electricity.

[wheelbender6]

Whatever kit I end up getting, I will likely use a Ping battery pack as you did.
SLA batteries are economical but will not provide enough range for my needs.
My commute to the train station is currently 20 miles round trip and I plan on doing some pedaling. My commute may get longer when I buy a house. I can't charge my battery pack at the train station, but I could take my batteries and charger on the train with me to the office to charge them there if needed.
I will still keep my gas assisted bike because I just enjoy the tinkering and tuning.

[deacon]

A lot does depend on the terrain for sure. I ride to the mall on a more or less level road except for one big hill. My range cut half on a course with two large hills. Batteries are the issue with me. I know they say my fiction drive is inefficient but I really to like the darn thing.

I am going to try building a battery pack but don't have any idea how that will go.

ps my wife stopped complaining about the bike after I went Electric. Before it was the gas smell, the smoke from the exhaust or the noise. It was always something. Good natured but it was there. now she just oh yeah when I say I'm going to ride.


I don't have a speedometer but I think the bike does around twenty top end on f flat road. Whatever it is it is more than enough for me.

[jdcburg]

Has anyone tried the Elite Power Solutions Thundersky batteries Elite Power Solutions ? $120 for 12v 20ah @ 6.6 lb ea, 2 of those would give me everything I need if they live up to billing - jd