Lead acid batteries are much higher capacity than 360Wh though, 1.2KWh is really the starting point and less than £100. Who cares about weight when you've got a motor?
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Good electric bike models/retailers?
- Thread starter Energize
- Start date
Lead acid batteries are much higher capacity than 360Wh though, 1.2KWh is really the starting point and less than £100. Who cares about weight when you've got a motor?
after reading your build thread im seriously considering this but at £300 for a battery how long is it going to last
am i right thinking that all i need is a battery , controller , hub motor and thumb throttle to get started ? then to gear the bike highly so i can keep up with the motor when at speed ?
and is diy a much better option than kits ? the kits ive seen (such as the onle you linked above) just never seem to have enough information
am i right thinking that all i need is a battery , controller , hub motor and thumb throttle to get started ? then to gear the bike highly so i can keep up with the motor when at speed ?
and is diy a much better option than kits ? the kits ive seen (such as the onle you linked above) just never seem to have enough information
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
They rate them for cycles - most lifepo4 batteries are rated at 2000 cycles, so assuming 4 rides a week for 46 weeks of the year that's 10 years of usage - knock a few years off for general aging and 6/7 years is entirely possible - there are people on Endless Sphere approaching that with batteries that haven't been abused.
A 1200wh lead acid battery is 32kg - the legal weight limit for an ebike is 40kg. Do you really want to mount a 32kg battery to an 8kg bike? Where would you mount it? I notice a 5kg battery mounted on my bike - one with a 32kg battery would be unridable. And you'd only get 600wh usable on an ebike with a lead acid batt. A 600wh lifepo4 battery would be 6.2kg in comparison. My lipo pack is 750wh and weighs just under 5kg. Lead acid batteries also only have a cycle life of around 800 compared to 2000 for lifepo4 and lead acid batts are also terrible in cold weather.
Lead acid batteries have no place on ebikes. You only see lead acid batt's on cheap nasty chinese scooters.
As far as building your own with 18650's - what are you going to do about making sure the cells stay balanced?
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Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
You think that's expensive......................
http://www.electricbike.com/m55/
I like the bomber as well:-
http://www.stealthelectricbikesunitedkingdom.com/bomber.html
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Build your own:-
It'll be cheaper, you can start with a better base bike and it will do exactly what you want and avoid the compromises.
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/9442-new-build.html
What a thread!
How long did it take you to do?
Soldato
I've got my old insight battery in the garage, should probably try converting my bike.
It's got 20 sticks of 6 D NiMh cell batteries. 12V per stick and 6.5Ah. 3 per bike would be good and probably weighs around 4-5Kg, maybe up it to 6 sticks and they support a peak of 100A, lots of power!
It's got 20 sticks of 6 D NiMh cell batteries. 12V per stick and 6.5Ah. 3 per bike would be good and probably weighs around 4-5Kg, maybe up it to 6 sticks and they support a peak of 100A, lots of power!
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
Once all the stuff arrived, about 3 evenings.
I've been fine tuning it all the time though as you'll see from the thread - new battery pack, new motor, hydraulic brakes etc.
The lead acid battery I use for lighting at the stables in winter is 1.2KWh and weighs just under 19kg, 32kg is what you would expect for a 2.5KWh battery.
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
Link please.
Soldato
Spend the money on the lightest bike you can get imho. Batteries and motors are heavy and you have to move that weight around when not on power assist.
Also the fitter you get the less hills bother you anyway.
Also the fitter you get the less hills bother you anyway.
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
I've never ridden my bike with no power assist, even though I always pedal at a moderate effort. Rather than peddal and go slow and with no assist, I prefer to pedal, use the assist and go faster
Just don't go further than the range of your batteries.
If you are going to go further, take a normal bike
Soldato
Does it do regenerative braking?
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
No, it's a geared motor - i.e. it freewheels when power isn't applied.
Only direct drive motors can do regen and they are a pig to pedal without power (and they weight a ton).
First person to ask "does it charge up whilst you pedal" gets a kick in the knackers and a quick lesson in Physics!
Man of Honour
Also the older you get those hills get longer and steeper.
I'm a fit bloke for my age but arthritis is taking it's toll and maybe if I can get through the next 5 years cycling I may get some assistance when I reach 60 (maybe before that).
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
Yeah, I've got arthritis in both ankles and knackered ligaments in one knee - I love mountain biking but I really pay for it the week after.
Soldato
I've never ridden my bike with no power assist, even though I always pedal at a moderate effort.
If you are going to go further, take a normal bike
Or just take the normal bike. Assist or not they're still heavy (and ugly - I haven't seen a good looking electric bike yet)
Just attack them harder. I've been overtaken on dedicated mountain bike trails by men in their 70's.
Bummer.
Good reason for having an electric bike then. No way I'd want to take one mountain biking, even my All-mountain full suspension job weighs too much for my liking but it does have five inches of travel front and rear. Travel that I'm too old and too chicken**** to take advantage of. Much prefer a lightweight XC job.Just take a look at some battery shops.
http://www.leisurebatteryshop.co.uk/Elecsol-110Ah-Battery-Five-Year-Warranty
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
Did you see my bike in one of my prev posts? What about this one?
But anyway - who cares about looks? It's about being a form of transport - not bike porn. For that I have my full sus mtb. For my commuting bike as long as it performs it's function then it's all good. And by the time you've put a rack on it, a couple of pannier bags and full mudguard the looks of many bikes are already ruined anyway.
As far as using a normal bike - no way could I get to work as fast as my ebike with almost zero sweat - in the summer I ride in in my work clothes
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Man of Honour
Probably by 70 year old blokes who haven't got arthritis in their spine, hips and knees.
I'm doing pretty well for a bloke my age and even with those problems can run a 5K in under 19 minutes.