Anyone else have an electric bike? - Page 2

LCF · 03-14-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I find it ironic.
People are raving about Green Green Save the Planet. Stop using cars, start using bikes because they are environment friendly beasts. Then, all of sudden, I learn about a new beat. An electrical bike. A vehicle that requires electricity to charge it, thus adding to CO2 or whatever when charging up the battery and completely defeating the idea of environment friendly bike. Humans are just ...as George Carlin said

P.S. HarryT, please do not take it personally, the rant is not directed at you, just my thoughts about human nature...

Could you find some data about the CO2 polution / 100 km for el. bikes? That would be interesting to see.

HarryT · 03-14-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I find it ironic.
People are raving about Green Green Save the Planet. Stop using cars, start using bikes because they are environment friendly beasts. Then, all of sudden, I learn about a new beat. An electrical bike. A vehicle that requires electricity to charge it, thus adding to CO2 or whatever when charging up the battery and completely defeating the idea of environment friendly bike. Humans are just ...as George Carlin said

But you're slightly missing the point, astra. If I use my bike instead of my car for local journeys, I am reducing my CO2 emissions. Electricity is a lot "cleaner" than internal combustion engines. And because I'm a lazy person, there's no way that I'd use an "unpowered" bike for journeys of any length.

Sweetpea · 03-14-2010, 12:03 PM

I'd love to have a bike which can charge itself... So, if you have the wind in the back, you can charge your battery for when you have the wind in front... Sadly, those bikes aren't around yet.

And I'd love to finish our biking trip (who has some extra holiday days for sale?)

Barcey · 03-14-2010, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

But you're slightly missing the point, astra. If I use my bike instead of my car for local journeys, I am reducing my CO2 emissions. Electricity is a lot "cleaner" than internal combustion engines. And because I'm a lazy person, there's no way that I'd use an "unpowered" bike for journeys of any length.

My problem with biking to work is that we don't have showers at the office and I hate arriving at work all sweaty. Do you find that it assists enough that you don't break out in a sweat?

My ideal transportation is a rickshaw powered by random Victoria Secret models but I'm going to have to compromise. I've thought about the electric bikes but haven't looked at them yet.

HarryT · 03-14-2010, 01:08 PM

If you're seriously lazy you can use it as a pure electric vehicle and not pedal at all, but the range goes down massively if you do that. A good compromise is to pedal to get up to speed and then use the motor to maintain that speed.

kindlekitten · 03-14-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barcey

My ideal transportation is a rickshaw powered by random Victoria Secret models but I'm going to have to compromise. I've thought about the electric bikes but haven't looked at them yet.

but wouldn't that get you sweaty?

joobies · 03-14-2010, 03:11 PM

The electric bike sounds like a great deal of fun. Good for you, HarryT!
I purchased a recumbant trike two years ago.... quite enjoyable as different muscles are used to peddle. I have wished I got the one with the electric option a few times.
Enjoy your new transportation.

kennyc · 03-14-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

This is the one that I've bought, Kenny:

Thanks for that Harry!

Ha! Found it!

Hebb E-Bikes

Called the "Lexus of electric bikes" by some, the Hebb is a full-featured bike fit for commuting and neighborhood errands. Features not generally found on other bikes include fenders, center kick stand, sturdy (50-lb. capacity) luggage rack, chain guard, and integrated LED head- and tail-lights..

That's no "cheap electric bike"

Here's a link to a site that sells a variety of e-bikes (don't confuse that with e-books or e-readers)

http://www.electric-bikes.com/bikes/bikes.html#electrec

HarryT · 03-14-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joobies

I purchased a recumbant trike two years ago.... quite enjoyable as different muscles are used to peddle.

Don't you worry about being run over in one of those? They are so "low down" that you're not very visible to traffic!

astra · 03-14-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCF

Could you find some data about the CO2 polution / 100 km for el. bikes? That would be interesting to see.

Would be very interesting.
Charging my netbook - 15W. I am sure bike's battery is a lot bigger than netbook's one.

HarryT · 03-14-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Would be very interesting.
Charging my netbook - 15W. I am sure bike's battery is a lot bigger than netbook's one.

An electric bike typically uses 100-150W of electrical energy when operating - so roughly the same as an incandescent lightbulb. Mine has a 500Ah battery pack.

GraceKrispy · 03-14-2010, 04:01 PM

I think itʻs a very interesting concept. At first, I thought it sounded kind of ridiculous. But now I can see what the benefits would be and how it could be eco-friendly. If I had decent (meaning, existent) shoulders (on the road, of course) between here and work and I could get my husband to drive the kids to school, Iʻd consider one....

olis · 03-14-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I'd love to have a bike which can charge itself... So, if you have the wind in the back, you can charge your battery for when you have the wind in front... Sadly, those bikes aren't around yet.

And I'd love to finish our biking trip (who has some extra holiday days for sale?)

You might try an electric Hybrid bicycle like this one:

http://sanyo.com/news/2010/03/02-1.html

Basically it recharges the battery during decelerations, downhill riding and even while pedaling on flat ground.

thinkpad · 03-14-2010, 04:30 PM

I've also thought of getting one. The one that has caught my interest is called Tailwind from Schwinnbikes:
http://www.schwinnelectricbikes.com/Bikes/Tailwind.aspx

This one has the advantage of a LiPo-battery that's fully charged in 30 minutes. You just detach it from the bike and take it with you, plugging it in through a regular socket.

cmforums · 03-14-2010, 04:32 PM

I had one but it was way to heavy that i had to keep the power on all the time and when the battery run out it was way to heavy to peddle

.

03-14-2010, 04:30 PM	#29
thinkpad David Posts: 1,808 Karma: 8916183 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Norway Device: Kindle, E.Edge (sold), Irex Iliad (retired)	I've also thought of getting one. The one that has caught my interest is called Tailwind from Schwinnbikes: http://www.schwinnelectricbikes.com/Bikes/Tailwind.aspx This one has the advantage of a LiPo-battery that's fully charged in 30 minutes. You just detach it from the bike and take it with you, plugging it in through a regular socket. Last edited by thinkpad; 03-14-2010 at 04:38 PM.

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03-14-2010, 12:03 PM	#18
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I'd love to have a bike which can charge itself... So, if you have the wind in the back, you can charge your battery for when you have the wind in front... Sadly, those bikes aren't around yet. And I'd love to finish our biking trip (who has some extra holiday days for sale?)

03-14-2010, 01:08 PM	#20
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If you're seriously lazy you can use it as a pure electric vehicle and not pedal at all, but the range goes down massively if you do that. A good compromise is to pedal to get up to speed and then use the motor to maintain that speed.

03-14-2010, 03:11 PM	#22
joobies Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 1856 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midwest USA Device: Kindle 1, Sony PRS-505	The electric bike sounds like a great deal of fun. Good for you, HarryT! I purchased a recumbant trike two years ago.... quite enjoyable as different muscles are used to peddle. I have wished I got the one with the electric option a few times. Enjoy your new transportation.

03-14-2010, 04:01 PM	#27
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	I think itʻs a very interesting concept. At first, I thought it sounded kind of ridiculous. But now I can see what the benefits would be and how it could be eco-friendly. If I had decent (meaning, existent) shoulders (on the road, of course) between here and work and I could get my husband to drive the kids to school, Iʻd consider one....

03-14-2010, 04:32 PM	#30
cmforums Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: none	I had one but it was way to heavy that i had to keep the power on all the time and when the battery run out it was way to heavy to peddle .