Hybrid Electric Bicycles

[I want my PHEV]

Originally Posted by McDonald

I don't know, I think people should get that exercise that Americans hate, even if it takes a little bit of training to manage the hills, and leave the batteries in their TV remotes. Electric bike? Meh.

I'd rather get my exercise doing something fun, not riding a bike.

[jdenenberg]

Originally Posted by tochatihu

Does this ebike (or any other) allow regenerative braking? Putting some of that kinetic energy back into the battery would be very desireable if it can be accomplished without too much electronics.

DAS,
My son built and tested a "Hybid" bike (with regen braking) in his senior year of HS. Read his report on it at:

http://doctord.webhop.net/Scott/Hybr...ler_report.htm

JeffD

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by I want my PHEV

I'd rather get my exercise doing something fun, not riding a bike.

Bite your tongue! Cycling IS fun! Maybe not as stimulating for some as other forms of exercise, but cross-training has its benefits.

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by MikeSF

...However at over $2k for a bike? I'll drive to work

A two thousand dollar bike is too expensive, but a thirty thousand dollar car isn't? Hmm..

[vuapplepudding]

Originally Posted by MikeSF

Problem that if you're using a bike for work or something else most likely you're not ever going to "train" to get up those hills because you have to get to work, not show up as a sweaty exhausted mess. If anything this will help you train more so, because you can start slow with how much effort you put into a hill, where as you can't adjust the height/steepness of the hill.

However at over $2k for a bike? I'll drive to work

MikeSF,

Great comments.

I used to never like biking to school or work because I get too sweaty. Now with my electric bike, I can still get a mild workout and leave my car at home. The other option is to take my car and get no exercise.

Some exercise is better than none. I use no gas to get to work now. School is 60 miles away, so no luck yet. WHERE IS MY PLUG IN 2010 PRIUS?

FYI, I made my electric bike using a New $199 conversion kit 24 volts from Wilderness Energy. I later converted it to 36 volts. Used a 26" standard mountain bike. Front forks must be a certain dimension for the kit to work. I had to pull mine apart a little for the hub to fit.
Wildernessenergy - Electric Bicycles and Electric Bike Conversion Kits
Now I only see the 36 volt model and no pricing info without calling. Not sure if this is cool. (I mean, are the prices changing that fast?) Try EBAY too.

The sealed lead acid batteries are heavy and if it is on the rear bike rack it makes the bike a little top heavy.
LiON is the way to go, but they are expensive.

$199 and I was very happy. My brother like mine so much he converted his too.

[I want my PHEV]

Originally Posted by hyo silver

Bite your tongue! Cycling IS fun! Maybe not as stimulating for some as other forms of exercise, but cross-training has its benefits.

No, thanks. I already ate.

It's not as much fun as walking, Tai Chi, yoga, downhill skiing, heck, unicycling is more fun than biking. I wouldn't have time or energy to do any of those things if I had to slog around on a bike to go everywhere.

I did try out an ebike a few months ago. It might be okay if I had to have a bike. That one was under $1000.

[sproven]

An electric bike's got to be greener than a car so each to their own. Personally I can ride far further than the batteries on an electric bike could ever carry me.

(e.g. last weekend I rode 370 miles over the weekend, tonight I went to a friends for a party, did a 33 mile round trip, hardly feels like I went out).

I don't suggest your average joe should be able to ride 370 miles but a short trip to get some groceries, buy a newspaper, should be for the bike. Even cars like the Prius get poor fuel economy on those kinds of trips.

[efusco]

Guess what?!
At hybridfest there was a dealer selling some hybrid electric bikes name e-scooter or e-bike...similar but slightly different models from one another.... and we bought one!!

They were on sale for a hybridfest only price of $500 off the usual...making the e-scooter that we got $900 and the e-bike (slightly slower top speed, not as strong of welds so only capable of carrying 200lbs instead of 225 like our scooter) was $800. They use a 48v pb acid battery that's supposed to let you go 20-30 miles on a charge whether you pedal or not. By pedaling you recharge the battery a bit and there is regen.

We don't get it shipped until Aug. or Sept...but we got a test ride on one and I'll post some pix to this thread (which I had NOT read before tonight). We're really excited. There are so many times where one of us needs to make a short trip for a jug of milk or to get something at the post office or whatever and you hate to fire up the car for a short drive like that. This'll give us a chance for a little exercise without sweating up a storm. Top speed is about 20mph...not too bad really.

I'm super excited about this, our second "EV" (the other being our golf cart at the lake house).

[9G-man]

A couple weeks ago I got a deal on a bike with the Bionx system installed, off Craigs list.
The guy selling the bike 'inherited' it from his deceased friend who had too many DWI's ( hence the reason he had an electric bike, and ....his eventual demise.)
Anyway,
The kid neglected to get the key for the battery case, nor the battery charger, so the bike was of no use to him. He just wanted to make a buck. He knew the retail value of the Bionx system and bike was about $1400.00 . He had it for sale at $700.00

Being familiar with system, I asked all the right questions and when it became clear he had no key, charger, nor could show the system even worked, I offered him $200.00 for whole thing.
Reluctantly, he SOLD!!!!!!!. What a deal.
I had a locksmith make a key for $15 bucks and bought a charger $60.
Took the fully functional system off the bike (didn't like the style) and will soon put it on something more to my liking. ( I love my Cannondale too much to mess with it.)
It's one of the only e-bike conversion systems with true regenerative modes and braking. Now I will soon have two hybrids.

[I want my PHEV]

Originally Posted by efusco

Guess what?!
At hybridfest there was a dealer selling some hybrid electric bikes name e-scooter or e-bike...similar but slightly different models from one another.... and we bought one!!

Let us know how that works out! That $800 e-bike is the one I test rode a while back.