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.

Awesome! I've been wanting such a bike for a long time. It's finally here! Excellent!

The article states "The electronic controller on the OHM can also use human pedal power (or momentum from a hill) to charge the battery. This was particularly useful on a steep downhill because the regeneration can slow the bike without applying the disc brakes. ... That will improve in future versions, he says."

The review compares the regenerative breaking to the Prius and states if you used it long enough it could fully charge the battery. It was implied that it would be a stretch to do so, but that it was possible.

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.

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

Why use a bike? Running is better exercise. Maybe you can carry heavy rocks while you are doing it.

We each have our own abilities. Some are strong, some are frail, some old, some young. If an electric boost allows a rider to get out and enjoy the countryside, then I'm all for it.

Tom

I'm in the military and get a regular workout. Two exercise sessions is OK but you can actually over do it and start to tear your body down if you aren't careful.

The electric assist would definitely be appreciated to make the 22 miles I would have to ride one way go a little faster.

If you can go twice as far on the same amount of energy then what is wrong with that?

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

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/Hybrid/Weller_report.htm

JeffD

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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