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Electric bicycles in AZ

Discussion in 'Local Prius Club Main Forum' started by jstack, Apr 11, 2008.

  1. jstack

    jstack New Member

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    Did you hear about the new very affordable eletric bicycles in Phoenix ?

    It was covered on TV3 yesterday. I bought 2 a few weekws ago and really am impressed. This link to the TV3 video gives the contact telephone and location at the end. $300-400 each, 602-252-4881 or 2
    Centarl and Lincoln SW corner.


    -- "Jim & Elaine Stack" <[email protected]> wrote:

    [​IMG]
    April 11, 2008
    [​IMG]
    Jim Stack says,
    Here's a link to the video that was broadcast this evening at 5:25 on TV3.

    [​IMG]
    If you like this video please return to http://www.azfamily.com/video/
    to see more!


    [​IMG]
     
  2. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

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    looks pretty cool, thanks!
    Rob
     
  3. kabin

    kabin Member

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    I rode a couple, odd color schemes, peddles are almost worthless, weak brakes, but all in all it gets the job done for a real bargain. No warranties, they do all servicing and provide parts. Not as pretty as some but then other electric bikes (optibike) are priced up to $12000. This should be a growing industry.

    They have several different 36 volt battery models available (36v = three 12v batteries). Other battery configurations are sold out and will be arriving in a few months including a high torque 48v version (four 12v batteries) and a "dual mode" 36v battery getting twice the range (6 batteries). The 12v batteries appear to be motorcycle sized.
     
  4. mingoglia

    mingoglia Member

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    Wow, 30 mile range? That's huge. I'm exactly 20 miles from my office. I live in Gilbert and commute to my office by Tempe Town Lake. I could ride that... plug it in, then ride it home. I better getting going now though because it will be over 100 before we know it. :(
     
  5. jstack

    jstack New Member

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    It's also very easy to peddle. I don't even turn it on a lot of times just to get more exersice. When you do peddle and it's on it jumps to 20 mph so I'd rather peddle witrh it off, or if I turn it on I use the twist speed control and like to do 10-15 mph si I don't fly to fast and maybe move faster than normal and run in front of a car or something.

    It's fun ! Oh,it does cost about 5 cents to recharge. vs $3 a gallon for oil. Gee let me see how that adds up. .....he he he LOL
     
  6. kabin

    kabin Member

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    The new shipment came in. Prices up as one would expect. The 2008's are nicer looking, more subdued color schemes, yellow seats are gone, they have alarm/locking system, and 3 speed gears with either manual or automatic shiftiong. Rode a few, feels pretty much the same. From the test drive in the parking lot I couldn't tell if the gears made a difference in top speed.
     
  7. KayakerNC

    KayakerNC Member

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  8. kabin

    kabin Member

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    I bought a silver black 36v. Just a heads up, he only takes cash for payment. Those pictures on craigslist look like bikes from the previous shipment although they're still very similar. I think another 2008 change is LED headlights.
     
  9. Froley1

    Froley1 New Member

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    For those interested there is a place called New York City electric Bicycles in Manhatten, that has been selling electric bikes for years--all different varieties, from various producers... they ship and have several interesting types such as the folding electric displayed in the attached link....i found them when i was researching prior to purchasing my segway.
    just for your information
    Froley
    eZee Quando electric folding bike
     
  10. jstack

    jstack New Member

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    the new E-bikes are in and I checked them out , I just had to get one and test it for long term. Very nice with 12 changes I can see. He will also order 10 with lithium battereis. It's $300 extra but the batteries will last 10 times longer and are 1/3 the weight.

    Here's some of what I found so far. Remember CASH only, no warrenty but great prices and they can do repairs or battery replacements.

    I finally got down to Phoenix Produce to check out the new E-bikes. I
    bought a blue 36v E-bike so I can check more details. There are about
    12 improvements.
    1- alarm system, w/ electric brake and 2 remotes.
    2-higher seat posts, very handy for better peddle position.
    3-cover on the basket, things could bounce out on the old basket.
    4- LED head light.
    5- Drum bakes frot and back, it used to have a center pull bicycle
    front brake. The new one is better.
    6-Peddle assist controlled by throttle position, it used to just go
    fast no matter what as soon as you strated to peddle.
    7-New type of sealed lead acid battery, supposed to be better. (some
    have reported 30 mile trips with no peddling, it used to be 20-22
    miles or so. replace ments are still about $30 a battery, 3 in 36
    volt and 4 batteries in the 48 volt models.
    8-quiter tuen signal, (also use duct tape if you want it quiter).
    9- The charger now has a fan to keep cool.
    10- stronger thicker RIMs front and back.
    11 - a new 3 speed button on right next to throttle. I will have to
    test and see exactly what this does.(more coming as I test)
    12- A new model name on the bikes, it was fujitron, now AOWA ???

    > The best news is Sam is going to order 10 bikes with the lithium
    > battery option. Sure it's $300 more but they will last 10 times
    > longer and are 1/3 the weight 10 lbs vs 30 lbs. IE 300 charges at
    > full voltage vs 3,000 charge cycles. I promised him I would buy one
    > as soon as they come in.
     
  11. Fibb222

    Fibb222 New Member

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  12. kabin

    kabin Member

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    The 3 gears work pretty well when the batteries are more fully charged and you can feel a slight speed increase in 2nd or 3rd. When less fully charged, 2nd and 3rd gears go slightly slower than 1st gear. We're talking maybe a 1-2mph difference so not a big deal.

    Wonder if the lithium batteries can replace the regular batteries at a later point (i.e. a couple of hundred charges)?
     
  13. jstack

    jstack New Member

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    They now have the 2010 models in just in time for Holiday shopping.
    They have even more improvments. A 50-60 mile range model with 20 amp hour batteries vs standard 12 amp hour.
    A better seat with longer post for taller riders.
    The rear light is now a running light as well as turn signals and brake lights.
    Heavier front fork and shocks.
    A better LED head light with better focus.

    Items still on my wish list,
    -a 26 inch/700 cm tire so any location would have spares instead of odd 22 inch
    -lithium battery option.
    -different styling , more like a mens bike instead of gebder neutral scooter look. This would look more like a normal bicycle and stops by police thinking you a motor cycle would drop.
    -a 6 speed hub so you can keep up with electric and help range

    Prices are still the best in the USA. Reapirs also and even replacement battereies are lower than any nationwide.

    Check them out at Central and Lincoln in Downtown Phoenix at Phoenix Produce.
     
  14. kabin

    kabin Member

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    Yuck, those 22x2.125 tires/tubes are hard to come by! He's charging $5 for regular tubes and $10 for thorn resistant. My experience is pinching tubes over hard bumps.
     
  15. folkdancer

    folkdancer New Member

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    Sorry, I am late to this thread about inexpensive electric bikes in the Phoenix area.

    Channel 3 doesn't seem to have the videos available anymore, the phone number givin in the first post isn't answered, and Lincoln Road and Central Avenues don't meet in Phoenix so I am confused where this bike source is.

    Can someone provide a working phone (maybe when I called at 6 PM it was too late in the day) and an address for this outlet?

    Thank you,
     
  16. folkdancer

    folkdancer New Member

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    I saw the name Phoenix Produce from reading JStacks 7-11-2008 post, found their web site, and I will visit this business soon. Bikes look very interesting and seem to be what I want for communting 8 miles each way to work. And I can travel along the bike and canal paths most of the the way.

    I have been having fun researching the electric conversion kits and wonder if the HUB or the CHAIN drive kits are the best? Not sure if I have enough room in my tiny condo for a third bike but buying the ready made e-bike from Phoenix Produce would be the simplest way to go.

    Do I need the 48 volt motor to pull a trailer or would the 36 volt be sufficient?
     
  17. folkdancer

    folkdancer New Member

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    I guess this thread is dead but I will ask anyway.

    I visited Phoenix Produce at 522 South Central Avenue (a strange name for an importer of Chinese herbs and electric bikes) and looked over and test rode a 2009 model Aowa.

    I like them and they would get me to and from my job which is 8 miles away but the short test ride in the parking lot didn't help me with how the pedals and strange 3 speed transmission work.

    On a previous electric bike with only one very low chain pedal speed I could help the bike get started by pedaling but when going up a hill as the bike slowed say from 15 mph to 8 mph the one low pedal speed meant that I couldn't pedal fast enough to help the bike up the hill.

    Can I help the Aowa up hills by pedaling? It has a strange automatic 3 speed transmission. When the button is pushed to change "gears" are gears really being changed and would this gear changing from 1 to 2 to 3 also effect the pedal speed?

    There is only one sprocket on the rear hub and I couldn't see if there was more than one sprocket on the pedal axle.

    If I can get reassurance that I can pedal at 8 to 15 mph speeds, actually help the motor, and save battery power on hills I will be buying one of these bikes.
     
  18. kabin

    kabin Member

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    You can use pedals but they aren't real functional. For normal bikes, the rider's legs are almost fully extended when rotating the pedals. These bikes are tiny and pedaling feels different - less leg strength per stroke.

    The transmission is funky, it's an electric internal shift somehow related to the electric motor, there might be a couple mph difference between gears. I put a speedo on mine and the fastest I could go was about 19mph. Over time the batteries loose oomph and so too does max speed. Tires are metric, hard to find replacements. Might be good to have them install durable, thorn-proof inner tubes if you're using it for regular transportation. Otherwise I'm not sure I'd trust these things as a regular commuter to work.
     
  19. kabin

    kabin Member

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    The 48v has more torque and better for towing. I'd do the 48v for a trailer setup. Downside to the 48v is heavier, more expensive, and more batteries to change when they go bad.
     
  20. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    I'm still not convinced electric bicycles are a good idea. On paper, they sound alright, but the current battery technology is just too heavy. With regenerative braking and some kind of lightweight capacitor to store electricity, they'd be awesome. But as it is, part way up the first big hill, you're out of juice and carrying dead weight the rest of the way. For anything but puttering around town, a plain old pedal bike is way better.

    Muscles are the original batteries. You can go further and faster, and the range and power get better with use. The warranty sucks, but if you take good care of them, they'll last 100 years. Plugging in to recharge is kinda fun, too. :p