Electric Scooter Bicycles

[Fibb222]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 23 2007, 05:56 PM) [snapback]411228[/snapback]</div>

You should've dropped by EPIC Vancouver last weekend for the sustainability expo. They had electric scooters and bikes on display.[/b]

I heard about it afterwards. One of the companies I might buy from (e-ride) was there with their motorino units. Pretty nice scooters. They offered me the expo price ($150 off). I wish they had a store in Victoria. It's not easy getting one back on the ferry.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mirza @ Mar 23 2007, 05:12 PM) [snapback]411218[/snapback]</div>

Would you consider an electric bicycle?
[/b]

I hadn't really but maybe I should. I like these scooters cause they are still legally a bike but they are more like a motorcycle. I don't mind the idea of getting a little exercise though. I thought it would be nice to be able to take my wife for little trips - as the scooters actually seat two and aren't really all that much more expensive.

I wonder how much I'd have to peddle one on my 40 km commute. Maybe also nothing.

[daniel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fibb222 @ Mar 24 2007, 12:29 AM) [snapback]411405[/snapback]</div>

I heard about it afterwards. One of the companies I might buy from (e-ride) was there [...]. I like these scooters cause they are still legally a bike but they are more like a motorcycle. ...
[/b]

Note that their most expensive model, the Motorino BTr, has a range of 24 miles, at a top speed of 19 mph, based on a 176-lb load. With a passenger, the speed and range will be reduced.

This is slower than a NEV.

[Mirza]

Hi Fibb,

I've spent quite a bit of time researching electric bikes (so that I could get one to replace my Ford Th!nk electric bike). The system I ended up picking was an ecospeed 750W kit... with batteries and accessories from www.electric-bikes.com (Brian Howell - who basically did everything for me). I got a used Sun bicycles EZ-1 SX recumbent - which was upgraded with some new stuff like a fairing and whatnot. Becareful though - I ended up spending at least $2k more than I had wanted to (original budget for the bike was about $1k lol) - for all sorts of accessories and a superhuman electric kit. The guy sells at least 4 different kits... 2 ecospeeds, some hub motor kits, and an electrodrive kit - any can be made w/ any combo of batteries to get the performance/range you want. The one I'm getting has a range of ~40 miles without pedalling.

An ecospeed 36V Li-polymer (or ion - forgot which) 750W will go to a stop speed of 35-45 mph (w/o pedalling) on a Sun EZ recumbent w/ a range of ~40 mi also w/o pedalling. The same battery for an electro drive I think will go somewhere from like 25-28 mph. An ecospeed 600W is a bit faster than the electro drive given the same battery setup.

Hub motors aren't geared - your options there are thus far less selective - and even though they can be a lot cheaper initially - for your kinda range - and with no gearing - you may need double the batteries and whatnot - and don't really end up saving by going this route. (now if you had said 20 km or something - now that's a different story).

You can check out ecospeek kits at www.ecospeed.net, and also click on the betterbikes tab on www.electric-bikes.com.

(not associated with them - I promise! I'm just a huge fan of electric bikes!)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Mar 24 2007, 11:05 AM) [snapback]411467[/snapback]</div>

Note that their most expensive model, the Motorino BTr, has a range of 24 miles, at a top speed of 19 mph, based on a 176-lb load. With a passenger, the speed and range will be reduced.

This is slower than a NEV.
[/b]

For about the same price as that Motorino - you can get a recumbent bike w/ an electro drive kit that would go at least 22 mph (higher for 36V - like 25 or something) - and be easier to maintain, far lighter, faster, and perhaps just as good if not longer a range.

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Fibb,

Just saw where you said you wanted to take your wife with you. There are also tandem recumbent bikes:

http://www.electric-bikes.com/betterbikes/styles.html

http://www.sunbicycles.com/sun/recumbents/...em/ezTandem.htm

(Sun is one of the preferred beginners' recumbent bikes)

With a tandem, it seems the price really goes up for the bike itself.

http://www.blackbirdbikes.com/pricelist.htm

I am not familiar about adding a kit to a tandem, but I am sure Brian Howell of electric-bikes and Brent Bolton of ecospeed would know.

[Mirza]

A few more options (w/ considering that you've got your wife along for the ride):

A "Sport Utility Bike" from xtracycle in combination with a system made specifically for the SUB:
http://www.xtracycle.com/sub.php
http://cleverchimp.com/products/stokemonkey/

http://www.tandemclub.org/

And www.electric-bikes.com has a TON of info on different bikes, electric motorcycles/scooters etc etc... though some of the database links are unfortunately outdated.

[hyo silver]

Well, you blew the budget on that one, didn't you, Mirza? Please show us some pictures once you've got everything together. If we might borrow a little of your research, did you find any electric bicycles that use regenerative braking? I'm thinking this feature would give be a big...um...'boost' to the range.

Fibb, if your commute is only 20km each way, what is it about a pedal powered bike that doesn't work for you? Victoria has some beautiful off-street trails (I hesitate to call them 'bike paths', because they're really 'multi-use'), as I'm sure you know, but even if a 'Zap-Ped' is legal, I hunch it may not be well accepted by the cyclists. Especially if that slow top speed means you're in their way. Assuming your purchase fits in a Prius, I might be able to give you a hand getting it home.

[Mirza]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Mar 24 2007, 01:35 PM) [snapback]411506[/snapback]</div>

Well, you blew the budget on that one, didn't you, Mirza? [/b]

LOL! My imagination got carried away with this one! I went from wanting a simple add on hybrid or hub motor electric kit for my cheap mountain bike to a radically different recumbent setup w/ custom electric kit and accessories such as a tailsok!

Please show us some pictures once you've got everything together. [/b]

I've attached the 'before pics' below! I bought the bike used for $600 - I think new the bike model itself is around $700 - but with the fairing and fork/wheel size upgrade and whatnot - to get this setup brand new with those accessories probably would've been $1200 or so. I will be posting pics the moment I complete it! I get the batteries and most accessories in on Monday or Tuesday (assuming I'm home when the shipment arrives!). The motor comes in 2-3 weeks or something.

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If we might borrow a little of your research, did you find any electric bicycles that use regenerative braking?[/b]

By far the best kit w/ regeneration that you can add onto ANY kit (it's a hub kit) is the Bionx...

http://www.jvbike.com/eps_kit.htm
(a Canadian seller; and they sell complete bikes w/ the system installed and whatnot... website gives a lot of details about the kit)

and is available from the US from actually quite a few sellers including:
http://www.nycewheels.com/bionx-elec...ke-system.html

I'm thinking this feature would give be a big...um...'boost' to the range.
[/b]

If used properly, it WILL give a mild to moderate range boost. People actually like the regen more for the enhanced braking ability! I myself know how good regenerative braking is in ice - I live in the Appalachian region. I'm sure it's saved my Prius from a couple of wrecks vs using the mechanical brakes in icy conditions.


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And Fibb, I would suggest having/taking a charger to work - then absolutely no worries about range and you can have a lot more fun w/ the ride - no matter which vehicle you go with it.
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[Mirza]

I can also give an idea of how my bike will look like afterwards... the following are pics of Brian Howell's electric recumbent... now note this thing is SWEEEEEEEEET... it's a frikkin' 2 wheel drive power electric recumbent - the thing goes like 55 mph, w/ some 100+ mile range. It's got a hub motor in front for acceleration and an ecospeed kit in the rear for top speed... the thing is an absolute BEAST of a bike - and it weights less than 90 lb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



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PS
The yellow thing on the rear is a Tailsok... and they have a "firefly" light that makes the bike look like a firefly at night!

[daniel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mirza @ Mar 24 2007, 10:14 AM) [snapback]411495[/snapback]</div>

An ecospeed 36V Li-polymer (or ion - forgot which) 750W will go to a stop speed of 35-45 mph (w/o pedalling) on a Sun EZ recumbent w/ a range of ~40 mi also w/o pedalling.
[/b]

That's impressive! But I'd be scared to go anywhere near that fast on a bicycle. I had my road bike up to 30 mph once on a long downhill slope, and it scared the sh!t out of me! 20 mph was the fastest I felt safe, and I think my average fun-cruising speed was 15 mph.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fibb222 @ Mar 24 2007, 12:29 AM) [snapback]411405[/snapback]</div>

I heard about it afterwards. One of the companies I might buy from (e-ride) was there with their motorino units. Pretty nice scooters. They offered me the expo price ($150 off). I wish they had a store in Victoria. It's not easy getting one back on the ferry.

[/b]

Sure. Just ask for the specifics and know why each one is equipped as they are.

[Fibb222]

Thanks for all the advice and links everybody. Today I went down to GWEV in Victoria to look at what they have and now I'm not so sure that I want an electric scooter type bicycle. I might get a more traditional looking electric bicycle. They are cheaper and might allow me to get a bit of a workout. I can still sit back and let the bike do the work if I want to I can power the whole thing with pedal power or any combination of the two. Google GWEV and check out the Super 9. Dorky basket and all!