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Anyone built an ebike?
Bluemoon - 16/9/11 at 02:06 PM

Looking for thoughts Ideas on building an E bike using conversion kit anyone had a go at this?

[Edited on 16/9/11 by Bluemoon]

spiderman - 16/9/11 at 02:43 PM

"conversion kit"?
What do you want to convert, into what?

Fatgadget - 16/9/11 at 02:47 PM

I got a 10 year old Powabyke. 36V 15Ah lion batteries (salvaged outa duff laptop batteries!)The motor is a brushed 250W (legal!) It's got a range of about 20 Km. Check out endless sphere

Bluemoon - 16/9/11 at 03:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by spiderman
"conversion kit"?
What do you want to convert, into what?


Push bike. e-bike read electric cycle

spiderman - 16/9/11 at 03:14 PM

Sorry no experiance of such thing at the moment, too many other projects on the go.
I do really want a ZERO MX bike though. Just wish I had the funds.

big_wasa - 16/9/11 at 07:28 PM

I like the idea but the price divided by the life span would buy lots of petrol/per year

Simon - 16/9/11 at 08:04 PM

You can get 1000 watt hub motors, so two of them = about 2.5 bhp. Should be good for about 60mph

ATB

Simon

mangogrooveworkshop - 16/9/11 at 08:33 PM

http://www.ebikescotland.com/page17.htm They are in the next town.



http://www.alienbikes.co.uk/page15.htm

[Edited on 16-9-11 by mangogrooveworkshop]

Ninehigh - 16/9/11 at 08:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Bluemoon
quote:
Originally posted by spiderman
"conversion kit"?
What do you want to convert, into what?


Push bike. e-bike read electric cycle


I was thinking like e-mail...

Sounds interesting, I guess you could do the really basic bit by having a motor pressing against the tyre and a push switch on the handlebars

matt_gsxr - 16/9/11 at 08:37 PM

guy at work has a 1kW hub motor (on the front) and a massive pile of batteries so probably over juices it.

Claims he can do 40mph. He's a big bloke and it accelerates like mad and he doesn't seem to pedal at all so I don't doubt it.
I haven't gone down that route because the reason that I cycle is to burn calories.

Technically I suspect his bike is illegal and a bit dangerous, but its kind of cool.

I can get the details if you want, he's a proper enthusiast.

big_wasa - 16/9/11 at 08:40 PM

doing some reading and 15mph is the legal limit.

russbost - 16/9/11 at 09:30 PM

I think there is a bit of a weird technical glitch here in that anything outside of manufacturers approved conversions seem to be outside of any obvious jurisdiction - arguably - basically I suspect it's a case of the "authorities" not wanting to get involved in individual cases (ok, PROVE it's less than 250w max), hence if it's electric & not doing 0 - 30 in 3 secs & speeds of 40 + then they take no notice - I read recently there has not been a single prosecution brought about in the UK - this may, of course be hearsay! ...................

Ninehigh - 16/9/11 at 09:39 PM

I do remember someone being clocked for speeding, not sure if he got a ticket or just a "slow down please" but he was pedalling at about 35mph.. Iirc you can get a ticket for speeding in/on any vehicle

Bluemoon - 19/9/11 at 07:56 AM

Thanks guys,

Thinking of keeping it simple, if you have to commute into Oxford (10miles) you may see the attraction (no parking, traffic is really bad, bit on the long side for a normal daily cycle, public transport is not better mostly bus, taking nearly as long as cycling.. etc. ).. Anyway looks like it has to be limited to 15mph with electric assist and 250Watt average power (but the "peak" could be much larger); also looks like there have been few prosecutions about the illegal ones.

Cheers

Dan

Ninehigh - 19/9/11 at 02:47 PM

So how do them shopmobility scooters fall within legal limits? They're more of a danger to paying road users than a 20mph bike

Simon - 21/9/11 at 06:16 PM

A ten mile commute is perfectly feasible and should (once you're fit) take well under an hour (prob more like 40 mins, and I doubt a car would be much more than 20 mins quicker). It might be wise to ask work to install some showers though

ATB

Simon