Are we in the electric Vehicle Revolution?

miked826 said:
I'm gonna guess the 93 mile range they mention is at walking speed with no rider sitting on it?

They need to make the top tube identical to the down tube with an option to easily wire both batteries in series or parallel.
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My guess is probably on the lowest power setting, running about 8 mph. Stromer's are pedlec bikes so a lot of that 93 miles is human assist.
 
biknut said:
My guess is probably on the lowest power setting, running about 8 mph. Stromer's are pedlec bikes so a lot of that 93 miles is human assist.
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I'm too old and or lazy to even consider pedaling unless my batteries burst into a ball of flames. My pedals are simply footrests unless I see a cop then they come to life. laff
 
Viva La Revolution

Yesterday the first dedicated eBike shop in history opened in Dallas, and I was there.

 
wheelbender6 said:
We have an e-bike store in Houston that has been open a while. They sell the Pedego, Prodeco and others. No kits though.
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I don't think this guy is planning to sell kits either. I was a little disappointed they don't seem to be oriented toward performance parts. Just complete bikes.
 
There's a bike shop here that sells and services some eBikes but I got sticker shock at the prices of the used ones he was selling. When I pick up random used parts from his bins for projects he asks if its for an electric, I would if I could afford it.

I actually would like to make another electric trail bike with workable pedals because it would allow a smaller capacity battery pack than my 6Kw crf50 style motard, which I considered refitting with dirt knobbies and upgrading the batteries for that task. In my town I gotta ride quite a ways up steep hills just to get to the Marin mountain bike trails, and by the time I get there, half of my capacity is spent. I enjoy the bike more with the motard alloys with street tires because I get to enjoy the whole ride without holding back, and always come back exhilarated because of the massive torque and crisp performance which definitely test the tiny tires on the squirrely grom dirbike chassis. It's a great trainer bike for a powerful motorcycle because you gotta ride it with the right weight transfer stance and position at all times to make it grip the way you want it to through corners.

I oughtta start a battery company just to get access to the power density I need to make some range on this thing without mortgaging my future.
 
biknut said:
Viva La Revolution

Yesterday the first dedicated eBike shop in history opened in Dallas, and I was there.

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Don't go gettin' no crazy ideas about opening up your own Stealth Bomber / Fighter store in Big D. It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself that it would be a good thing. LOL
 
I'm pretty sure all of you are now seeing more and more talk about new electric cars coming out. It seems like everyone is getting in on the action now. Lately I keep seeing news about new electric cars GM is planning. just a minute ago on TV I saw news about a new electric Rolls Royce model they're planning.

It's looking like the revolution is going to sweep the industry a lot faster than anyone thinks. I predict in 10 years half of all new car sales will be electrics.
 
Easy Rider said:
dnut

I have to disagree with the "you can not build a reliable eBike for under $1500. I know I have with my beach cruiser and DH bike.
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I'm pretty sure they're just talking about dedicated factory built bikes, not home built. In a case like that you have to include stuff like insurance, taxes, employee benefits, transportation costs, distribution, dealer markup, and I'm sure a hundred other things.
 
biknut said:
This looks pretty good. I bet more eBikes are already being sold in the u.s. than china girls.

E-bikes finding traction in U.S. market

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/nort...bikes-finding-traction-us-market#.U01u6E0U_VI
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The article seems to be saying that the price is going up.

And, more importantly, consumers who buy e-bikes are willing to pay between $2,000 and $3,000 for them thanks to dramatically improved batteries, motors and more modern designs.

But Pizzi noted that in 2012 the average price point was about $2,100. That's increased to about $2,500

And the price can only go up, predicted, Zach Krapfl, a consultant at GSD Global. "This $1,500 thing is not going to happen," said Krapfl, noting that the cost of commodities like lithium, rare-earth materials and aluminum are going up.
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This is surprising to me. I would expect that prices to fall as they become more popular. Also, I have to say that for those prices you can get a pretty nice used motorcycle. I think there is still a good argument to be made that you get more bang for your buck with a China girl or better combustion engine. Also, it seems like most of the money is in the batteries alone. Is theft a huge problem? I would recommend locking up your batteries or taking them with you!!
 
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Tyler6357 said:
The article seems to be saying that the price is going up.



This is surprising to me. I would expect that prices to fall as they become more popular. Also, I have to say that for those prices you can get a pretty nice used motorcycle. I think there is still a good argument to be made that you get more bang for your buck with a China girl or better combustion engine. Also, it seems like most of the money is in the batteries alone. Is theft a huge problem? I would recommend locking up your batteries or taking them with you!!
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I've always heard that in times of economic stress quality sells. A lot of these new 3 and 4 thousand dollar eBikes are getting to be very high quality, and with better battery's. eBikes are becoming an attractive alternative for people with short inner city commutes.

eBikes have certain advantages over gas bikes, and motorcycles. No insurance, no license, and silent running. They can be stored inside apartments, and also taken on commuter trains. That's not an option for gas bikes. Plus they're allowed on bike paths, and lanes. An eBicycle isn't as intimidating as a motorcycle, for new riders, and older riders.

China girls otoh aren't really that much of a bargain when you consider like quality. A well built china girl will be upwards of $1000+, not considering cost of time and labor to build it. At some point you have to face the fact that no matter how well you built one, the motor is always going to be a vibrating, noisy, and stinky piece of crap. Vibration will take it toll in due time, and high maintenance is the norm.

An eBike otoh is silent, vibration free, and virtually maintenance free, and should last a lifetime, with low maintenance, and occasional battery replacement every 3 or 4 years. In the long run an eBike will be a better value than a china girl.

I know a lot of people will try to take issue with this, but I have experience with both, and there's really no comparison. I'm actually being kind to china girls.
 
Having just ventured into the Ebike thing I say I have to agree. I am Still very much an IC person and was pretty much skeptical that an ebike was nothing more than a novelty. But with the tech these days they are a real viable means of transport. A basic unit can built for the cost of a China girl(maybe less) . If assembled from decent enough components and used properly in regards to the battery and control system a 100% reliability is the norm. A bike can be built from mild to wild. With in parameters of the existing system additional performance is as simple as adding voltage and or capacity. Much simpler to add an additional cell to a battery pack that to go through the normal hop up procedures associated with an IC engine with less than assured results in both performance and reliability. I have 4 IC MBs, a 150cc hotted up scooter, and a M/C, but there is something about the Ebike that is in a world/class of its own. Im hooked! Now to build a high perf version!
 
cannonball2 said:
Having just ventured into the Ebike thing I say I have to agree. I am Still very much an IC person and was pretty much skeptical that an ebike was nothing more than a novelty. But with the tech these days they are a real viable means of transport. A basic unit can built for the cost of a China girl(maybe less) . If assembled from decent enough components and used properly in regards to the battery and control system a 100% reliability is the norm. A bike can be built from mild to wild. With in parameters of the existing system additional performance is as simple as adding voltage and or capacity. Much simpler to add an additional cell to a battery pack that to go through the normal hop up procedures associated with an IC engine with less than assured results in both performance and reliability. I have 4 IC MBs, a 150cc hotted up scooter, and a M/C, but there is something about the Ebike that is in a world/class of its own. Im hooked! Now to build a high perf version!
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I'm not surprised that an experienced rider has come to this conclusion, you sound just like me. People like us alone are enough to assure the success of eBikes future, but what's going to blow this movement sky high is the attraction eBikes will have on non riders, and people with low mechanical skill. 100% reliability is a revolutionary concept in the biking world all by itself. Super reliability will allow people that traditionally would never have considered a motorized bike of any type as daily transportation. The fact that most eBikes aren't very fast is actually an attraction to these new riders. It just seems like a better bicycle, and everyone can ride a bicycle.

Even $4000 is not very much for reliable transportation that will last for years with practically zero operation costs.

Another big attraction I can see coming is, now people drive their cars to commuter train stations, and leave it parked in the lot all day, and return after work to drive home. When they get off the train they either have to walk, or ride a bus to their work place. With an eBike they'll be able to ride it to the train, take it on the train to downtown or wherever, and then ride it to work, or just ride from their home to work. That's just one example of the brave new world.
 
In the future I envision one car of the commuter train stripped of all seats and fitted with bicycle racks instead. Sorta like a luggage car, but diferent.
 
GearNut said:
In the future I envision one car of the commuter train stripped of all seats and fitted with bicycle racks instead. Sorta like a luggage car, but diferent.
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Quite possible. My friends that take their bicycles on the train now, tell me that sometimes the train is too crowded for their bikes. When there's enough demand for a dedicated car it will cost very little to designate a bike car.
 
Sorry guys, I 'm just not convinced at all. With all due respect. I can build a pretty reliable china girl bike for under $400. For $4000, I can build 10! For that much money I can find far better transportation than a slow performing and limited range crappy e-bike. And, I'm being very kind to e-bikes. I think it's kinda funny that such a big selling point for you guys is taking your bikes on a public train. I mean, if you have to take your transportation on public transportation to get where you want to go something seems wrong to me. Seriously, do you ever think to yourselves: Wow, I paid $3000-$4000 for motorized transportation, why am I riding a train? Call me crazy, but to me, this kinda defeats to purpose of spending money on a bike in the first place. I guess since you don't have the range or power you have to pay for public transportation on top of the $4000 for your reliable "will last a lifetime" (trust me, it won't last a lifetime) e-bike. Also, for those who object to the smell and noise of a china girl, perhaps they should reconsider riding on a stinky noisy train or on or next to roads with buses, trucks, and automobiles on them burning 8 times the amount of pollution that a small 2 stroke engine does. I guess city folk are funny about stuff like that.

But I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, I have absolutely nothing against e-bikes or the people who like them. I hope the market thrives. I hope the people who buy them and use them get more than they expected out of them. I'm sure they are very useful and versatile for people who live in crowded cities. For me, motor bicycling is just a hobby and not my primary form of transportation. I use my motorbike for fun rides during the weekends and as temporary transportation when I'm traveling in my RV (depending on which state I'm traveling in) as well as for simple trips to the store, etc.. I don't mind the small amount of maintenance I must devote to it. I might even build an e-bike in the future, but the price will have to come down more than it is now to make it interesting enough for me to become motivated enough to do it.
 
There's a few flaws in that counter, but suffice to say my confusion is why is it so often an "either/or" sort of thing? Much like stating "I don't need a screwdriver, I've a hammer" it overlooks the truth that there's more then one tool in the box, that sometimes some of them may be better for some jobs then others, that some may be better off with a different tool entirely.

..but, there's little point in conversion attempts - lines are drawn & beliefs are held, never more fast then by a purest. Either one is willing to try something, or they aren't and they'll find any rationality to affirm the stance.

Ride what you will & to each their own I figure - I'd not be so quick to disparage another for the joy they find, for every reason why not there's a why ;)
 
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