Electric bicycles

I'm surprised more people don't use electric bicycles for short
journeys to work.They appear much less polluting than cars/motorbikes
and are much easier to park.They start at about £500,so they're cheap
enough to use as an addition/alternative to ones car.

On 13/02/2012 18:27, Mr. Bean wrote:
I'm surprised more people don't use electric bicycles for short
journeys to work.They appear much less polluting than cars/motorbikes
and are much easier to park.They start at about £500,so they're cheap
enough to use as an addition/alternative to ones car.

Well here's an idea for a carbon neutral powered cycle which as far as
I know is still waiting someone to develop and make a fortune for
themselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljaD7WLM1sQ

The initial charge could be from wind or water, or even a home exercise
bike with a PTO shaft...

j

"Mr. Bean" wrote in message
...
I'm surprised more people don't use electric bicycles for short
journeys to work.They appear much less polluting than cars/motorbikes
and are much easier to park.They start at about £500,so they're cheap
enough to use as an addition/alternative to ones car.

It depends a bit what kind of machine you mean. If you expect the
electricity to provide ALL the power you might be in for a slight surprise
since most electric bicycles on sale in the UK provide assistance based on
how much effort you are putting into pedaling. There are however electric
mopeds.

The real problem is the batteries and there are 3 issues:

1) Range
2) Failure/life (few last more than a couple of year apparently)
3) Replacement cost (high!)

On 13/02/2012 18:27, Mr. Bean wrote:
I'm surprised more people don't use electric bicycles for short
journeys to work.They appear much less polluting than cars/motorbikes
and are much easier to park.

How are they easier to park (securely) ?

They start at about £500,so they're cheap
enough to use as an addition/alternative to ones car.

But more expensive than a scooter.

"Mr. Bean" wrote in message
...
I'm surprised more people don't use electric bicycles for short
journeys to work.They appear much less polluting than cars/motorbikes
and are much easier to park.They start at about £500,so they're cheap
enough to use as an addition/alternative to ones car.


Maybe you have to have a motorcycle
licence to ride one. I know that some US states
require you to have class M motorcycle
endorsement on your driving licence.

Maybe Britain has similar laws.

On Feb 13, 8:46*pm, "Graham Harrison"
wrote:
"Mr. Bean" wrote in message

...

I'm surprised more people don't use electric bicycles for short
journeys to work.They appear much less polluting than cars/motorbikes
and are much easier to park.They start at about £500,so they're cheap
enough to use as an addition/alternative to ones car.

It depends a bit what kind of machine you mean. * If you expect the
electricity to provide ALL the power you might be in for a slight surprise
since most electric bicycles on sale in the UK provide assistance based on
how much effort you are putting into pedaling.

Wrong. There are two modes available on some models, assisted
pedalling or electric only..

It would be feasible to charge an electric bike with a moderate sized
solar array and it only costs about four pence or less to recharge
from the mains.

* There are however electric
mopeds.

The real problem is the batteries and there are 3 issues:

1) Range
2) Failure/life (few last more than a couple of year apparently)
3) Replacement cost (high!)

This is likely to improve with time and the lithium batteries are
recyclable. Battery life depends on the number of recharges, which can
be more than two years depending on use. With two 3kg batteries my
bike can do 40 miles round trip without pedalling.

Doug.

On Feb 13, 10:28*pm, "Chilly8" wrote:
"Mr. Bean" wrote in message

...

I'm surprised more people don't use electric bicycles for short
journeys to work.They appear much less polluting than cars/motorbikes
and are much easier to park.They start at about £500,so they're cheap
enough to use as an addition/alternative to ones car.

Maybe you have to have a motorcycle
licence to ride one. I know that some US states
require you to have class M motorcycle
endorsement on your driving licence.

Maybe Britain has similar laws.

No a licence is not required in Britain if the bike speed is
electronically limited to 15mph..

Doug.

Doug wrote:

It would be feasible to charge an electric bike with a moderate sized
solar array and it only costs about four pence or less to recharge
from the mains.
....
Battery life depends on the number of recharges, which can
be more than two years depending on use. With two 3kg batteries my
bike can do 40 miles round trip without pedalling.

Yes, but ... each battery costs £300, and may be good for, say, 300
charge cycles, so that's £1 per charge cycle per battery. You get about
20 miles per battery per charge, so that adds another 5p per mile in
battery costs alone. That makes the electrical power cost really about
5.5p per mile.

Compare that with a car. Litre of fuel £1.40. Ten miles per litre. Fuel
cost per car 14p per mile. Two passengers plus driver, cost per mile per
occupant 4.7p per mile, ie cheaper than bike.

No contest.

Norman Wells wrote:
Doug wrote:

It would be feasible to charge an electric bike with a moderate sized
solar array and it only costs about four pence or less to recharge
from the mains.
...
Battery life depends on the number of recharges, which can
be more than two years depending on use. With two 3kg batteries my
bike can do 40 miles round trip without pedalling.

Yes, but ... each battery costs £300, and may be good for, say, 300
charge cycles, so that's £1 per charge cycle per battery. You get
about 20 miles per battery per charge, so that adds another 5p per
mile in battery costs alone. That makes the electrical power cost
really about 5.5p per mile.

Compare that with a car. Litre of fuel £1.40. Ten miles per litre.
Fuel cost per car 14p per mile. Two passengers plus driver, cost per
mile per occupant 4.7p per mile, ie cheaper than bike.

No contest.

we have been through this before.

Doug wrote:

On Feb 13, 8:46 pm, "Graham Harrison"
wrote:
"Mr. Bean" wrote in message

...

I'm surprised more people don't use electric bicycles for short
journeys to work.They appear much less polluting than cars/motorbikes
and are much easier to park.They start at about £500,so they're cheap
enough to use as an addition/alternative to ones car.

It depends a bit what kind of machine you mean. If you expect the
electricity to provide ALL the power you might be in for a slight surprise
since most electric bicycles on sale in the UK provide assistance based on
how much effort you are putting into pedaling.

Wrong. There are two modes available on some models, assisted
pedalling or electric only..

It would be feasible to charge an electric bike with a moderate sized
solar array and it only costs about four pence or less to recharge
from the mains.

and how much would that cost/hassel to set up?

There are however electric
mopeds.

The real problem is the batteries and there are 3 issues:

1) Range
2) Failure/life (few last more than a couple of year apparently)
3) Replacement cost (high!)

This is likely to improve with time and the lithium batteries are
recyclable. Battery life depends on the number of recharges, which can
be more than two years depending on use. With two 3kg batteries my
bike can do 40 miles round trip without pedalling.

they will improve but this is now.

for a daily commute the realistic range is probably okay most do under
10 miles a day.

the issue is going be it's going to be charged up every day and clock up
a few 1000 miles a year, that will reduce the battery life somewhat and
they aren't cheap.

plus for a given price point the bike is worse, you'll get a much nicer
normal bike, one that will stop better and last much longer.

Doug.

Roger