Comments on: Practical electric vehicles

By: Graham Bell

Graham Bell — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:09:05 +0000

Everyone:
Excellent topic and comments [shall save this one on hard-drive ]

By: dany le roux

dany le roux — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:15:49 +0000

Bilb,

Your last comment defines regenerative braking.The usual limit to the amount of regenerative braking is the maximum allowable charging current for the battery as well as the capability of the motor( now acting as a generator) to supply this current.

Coming down the hill using RB helps supply the juice to go up the next one without resorting to excessive speed to conserve the potential energy provided by the height of the first hill.

By: BilB

BilB — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:04:15 +0000

After thought. The higher powered motor provides a greater dynamic breaking effect so the controller can more actively manage downhill runs.

By: BilB

BilB — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:02:03 +0000

Thanks Robert,

In our electronic age (it would be ridiculous to say that we are not in one) there is no need to limit the performance of these scooters by power. Very especially the speed of an electric scooter can be set within the control. It would be far better to have scooters powered at 1500 watts but speed set for 32kph. That offers a higher certainty of people keeping to the speed limit then having underpowered scooters that encourage people to speed downhill to have the power to get up the other side. This whole thing requires a campaign to set it right.

By: Robert Merkel

Robert Merkel — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:28:35 +0000

Bill: they’re all either 250, 350, or 500 watt, apparently, and there’s hundreds of different brands. Giant (big worldwide bicycle company) and Yamaha are the only name-brand makers I can see.

Again, part of the problem is the stupid regulations we have in Oz restricting these things to 200 watts - though I have a sneaking suspicion that many of the ones on Bbay are just advertised as 200 watt jobbies and are actually considerably more powerful. But the trouble with the Ebay is that it’s a bit of a lucky dip what you end up with.

I can see these things being tremendously popular with teenagers once word gets out.

By: BilB

BilB — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:22:27 +0000

Robert I don’t believe that that would be only 250 watts. I bought a 190 watt scooter for my daughter and it was totally gutless, it did not weigh a lot, and I doubt that it would have made 12kph. If you get close to another one see if you can pick out a make and model.

By: Robert Merkel

Robert Merkel — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:11:45 +0000

BilB: It’s probably a 250 watt jobby. Seriously, you should have a look at Weinert’s excellent summaries I linked to in the original story.

As to where I find the time, a combination of being rather good with Google, being in Beijing, and some of it was from my own past research when I was looking into transport options for myself,

By: I'm just a scared and lonely rider, but I gotta know how it feels

I'm just a scared and lonely rider, but I gotta know how it feels — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:11:15 +0000

Yeah, Anthony that’d work okay.

Sadly gone are the days when a lass could keep steady by jamming her fingers between my six-pack abs.

You there in the back row! Stop sniggering!

By: j_p_z

j_p_z — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:06:19 +0000

I still say a rickshaw pulled by a robot is the only way to go. Or, failing that, a pedicab driven by one’s wily houseboy. Traveling without keeping both hands free for one’s martini and one’s cigar, is hardly traveling at all. If one is to go to all the fuss and bother of this pedaling and steering business, why then, one may as well just stay at home, and translate Rilke.

By: anthony

anthony — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:57:17 +0000

BHOAPLC
There are always the love handles. Advisable to remove them before walking into a licenced establishment or club.

By: Robert Merkel

Robert Merkel — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:54:48 +0000

Dany, only the Vectrix does regenerative braking, as far as I know.

The general conclusion seems to be that it’s not worth the hassle on e-bikes and scooters.

By: anthony

anthony — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:52:20 +0000

They’ve been around in Japan for about a decade. Despite Shimano, Japanese bikes have always been strictly basket-in-the-front functional (and drolly get called mamachari, meaning mother’s chariot. As a few here have suggested they’re pedal assist - just to get you to where you want to go with a similar effort to walking rather that pop the feet up on the handlebars. It’s a combo of lots of hills, lots of elderly people, and people not wanting to get their suits sweaty. The battery comes out and gets charged overnight.

Check ‘em out Offtime for Racing!
I’d stil go for the killacycle though

By: Enzo the Stylish Wag in Roma in 1961

Enzo the Stylish Wag in Roma in 1961 — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:46:42 +0000

Eh paisano, why you not-a get-a you-self a nice-a Vespa, eh? Much-a cleaner lines-a, much-a better a-style, than-a these a-stinky Chinese a-bikes-a. You go see my friend Pietro, he hook-a you up with-a nice one, give-a you good price.

Eh, here-a comes my old friend Pier Paolo Pasolini, in his convertible! That’s-a beautiful car, yes? Yes? I see you later, my friend. Don’t forget what I told you. You go and see Pietro, eh? Ciao!

Ay, Pier Paolo! Over here!

By: Liam, Shadow Minister Assisting the Deputy Opposition Leader of the Pack

Liam, Shadow Minister Assisting the Deputy Opposition Leader of the Pack — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:37:52 +0000

Heh. I wondered about those pegs, it must be uncomfortable up there for the pillion passenger.
The Clarissa and Jennifer solution to carrying stuff on a bike might be worth considering for battery power, and who wouldn’t like to look like Steve McQueen?
Better that than Prince in Purple Rain.

By: Broken hero on a last chance power drive

Broken hero on a last chance power drive — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:05:51 +0000

But Liam, with those passenger-handles on the back, what’s Wendy going to strap across your engines?

By: Liam, in a Phaëton Frenzy

Liam, in a Phaëton Frenzy — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:53:14 +0000

Damn straight Peterc. If you can’t get yourself killed on it, it’s not worth travelling on, I say.
Dear Santa…

By: Peterc

Peterc — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:19:49 +0000

Hmmn. Killacycle looks a tad overpowerd: [link]

These electric do dads actually get in the way of conventional bikes as they travel slower. Some are wider too - more like scooters - so they take up more room. I think they are better on the roads.

The reason so few people cycle around town is mainly safety related - more dedicated bike paths of high quality and utility would address this.

By: Bonito Club

Bonito Club — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:12:50 +0000

If you’re worried about bike punctures in Vic you can join the RACV Bike Assist. For $22 you get 8 service calls a year and a free taxi ride if they can’t fix your bike on the spot.

By: dany le roux

dany le roux — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:36:43 +0000

There is no mention in the post or any of the links concerning regenerative braking which would be of use for extending a bike’s range in stop-start heavy traffic conditions and on hilly terrain.
Are they all designed so that conventional friction brakes are exclusely used so as to not require the new owner to learn a different riding technique?
If you are paying many thousands of $s one would surely expect the design of regenerative braking to be included as it seems to be in latter day electric car designs.

By: Richard Green

Richard Green — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:43:36 +0000

There is definate hope for these in Australia, especially considering there are massive amounts of them flying around Newcastle. A given day on the street and you’ll see at least 20 or so.

Of course, Newcastle would be a natural starting point, it has more cyclists to begin with because its flat, less congested and more money conscious, but maybe they can spread out from there.