My new Electric Bike Kit (250 watt geared electric hub motor)

I made this short video about the electric bike kit from Clean Republic.
http://www.electric-bike-kit.com/hill-topper.aspx
It was only $400 and a $30 shipping fee for the SLA (Sealed Lead Acid battery version).Sorry that I am so tired when I made the video a few minutes ago.
When I described the wheel not being on the rim I meant the tire instead.
When I am exhausted I sometimes say the wrong words and for me it's been a very long day.
Anyway the finished kit seems to work well but the instructions should have been vastly more concise,descriptive with illustrations (My criticism here about the poor instructions included with the kit),Edit- I noticed that Clean Republic has a wheel installation video here on youtube.I recommend viewing it if you get this inexpensive kit (helps a lot).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCXKpK-nHo8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMboVWRv2W8
I put on the wheel backwards at first (facepalm) and then later noticed an arrow on the hub of the motor indicating the proper direction in which the wheel will turn when powered (it also fit much better in the fork too which I noticed).Had I done this my install would have only taken me under a half an hour.Oops well It was corrected.
Why an electric bike well see the staggering high efficiency as compared to other personal vehicles.Basically most of the mass being transported by a personal sedan car is the huge wasteful weight of the vehicle as compared to the single passenger (most often).The bicycle is of course one of the most efficient means of personal transportation and the electric bike is pretty much the same as well.Both are also vastly more efficient than even riding a public bus by far.There is of course a large limitation of speed and range but quite adequate of inter urban commuting needs or short trips.Americans (U.S) use automobiles,SUV's,trucks in a very wasteful way and lack of exercise (sedentary lifestyle) shortens a individuals lifetime in addition to making that individual have possible obesity problems.I like the concept of the marriage of exercising and getting something accomplished (getting from point A to Point B or physical work) at the same time.
Most people don't like to commute by bicycling because either it's too hard or they don't want to show up at work in sweaty clothes or become exhausted.
It doesn't have to be that way (hint the electric bike or electrical assisted bike).
This of course is only a desired means of transportation for short commutes.
Here is a great informative paper with excellent charts on this at MIT.
http://www.pietzo.com/storage/downloads/Pietzo_LCAwhitepaper.pdf
and here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_bike#Environmental_effects
Gas powered low speed scooters are likely very efficient too although if I were to guess the electric bike would probably be somewhere about 3 times as efficient as the scooter.A great advantage is that if the electric bikes battery is drained (or the electric motor fails) one can still pedal and not be stranded unlike other vehicles.There are more expensive and better or more powerful electric bike kits out there and by federal law one is limited to no more than 750 watts total or a speed above 20 mph by electric power.Later on I may purchase a 2nd say 500 watt kit for my rear wheel ( and likely better batteries).
To make it up a hill on electric power only requires something like 750 watts for a 20% grade and even then it might just barely make it up a city street hill..What I've learned are that geared electric hub motors provide more torque but only last say 2 years whereas direct drive electric hub motors are rated at lasting 5 years or better but don't freewheel like the geared versions.Anyway I am a novice at this so it's not an impressive kit that I've purchased rather an inexpensive one that's easy to install and use.
It does work well for power assist up hills and can go fairly fast on a level or near level street.How reliable is this kit well I'll wait and see as this is the first day that I've used it.Just on the first day riding I had quite a few people ask me about my modified bike and they were impressed (had never seen one before). Apparently from what I've read China has well over 100 million e bike riders and they are also highly popular in other Asian countries too.

If you're looking for an impressive street legal or not already built electric bike and want to spend more money from what I've seen
http://www.hi-powercycles.com/
seems to have the best bang per buck quality latest tech electric bikes out there.It looks like quality all the way especially looking at the components they use.They have a few videos up on you tube about their very impressive line of electric bikes.I would like to get a street legal electric bike from them someday.
Also here is an interesting and informative website as well (there are many more)..
http://www.electric-bikes.com/

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Electric Bike Kit
• Clean Republic
• Biking
• Bicycle
• Cycling

[m9078jk3]

O.K. I tested this kit with a cheap bike computer.With this SLA battery version kit and riding inefficiently (powered both on level as well as up hills) at 36 degree F temps outside the motor ran pretty well until about 5 miles total and was losing power until about 5 and a half miles.So that's a indication of range with the 24 volt 8 amp SLA battery with this kit.It might do a little less if I was riding in an area with steeper hills though.Not bad at all.

[m9078jk3]

O.K. another small criticism (not big) about this kit from Clean Republic .

The Red button on the handlebar comes off easy if bumped.I put some electrical tape over it around the Velcro throttle switch strap so it doesn't come off easy.This works well as a quick fix.Also I recommend using electrical tape around the wire going to the throttle switch so the switch doesn't move on the handlebar. This is the biggest problem with this kit and it's very minor.

[m9078jk3]

@m9078jk3 Well the 28 mph electric scooter would defeat the purpose of combining exercise and if one had problems with it and it couldn't be pedaled unlike your faster than 20 mph ( 30 mph) electric bike (Also it's much heavier too)t looks inexpensive though but one could just get a gas powered scooter instead.However if one could use that tax rebate it might be worthwhile as an additional supplemental electric vehicle.

[m9078jk3]

@scottwa By the way wouldn't it be cheaper/better to just get a street legal electric scooter like say at MC Electric Vehicles in Seattle.Their G1 model electric scooter is $2,599 and has a 3,000 watt brushless hub motor (40 AH batteries).It says no WA state sales tax and $7,500 Federal Tax Credit on select new electric vehicles (don't know if this applies to the electric scooters though).By the way I saw that they also sell electric bike conversion kits too.

[m9078jk3]

@scottwa Yeah probably here one wouldn't have problems (with a faster than 20 mph electric bike) .I do see all sorts of fools on bikes blowing through lights,stop signs,no helmets etc.Thanks again.

[scottwa]

@m9078jk3 You would need DOT approved tires, approved lighting etc... so yes, it's technically illegal, but if you aren't riding like an idiot (using proper lane position, signalling, not running lights etc...) then no one notices or cares. The biggest difference I've noticed is the massive reduction in overtakes when riding with traffic. On roads where I might experience dozens of overtakes in a mile, with the assist helping me keep up with traffic reduces it to just a couple.

[scottwa]

@m9078jk3 The numbers given are not actually accurate (but commonly used), but keep in mind it is also the speed at which a vehicle of over a ton is impacting a basically stationary pedestrian. Big difference between that and a vehicle moving the same direction at the same speed.... think of Nascar and bump to pass. If you do crash at the higher speeds, you will slide further, longer and into things harder... but the odds of being rear ended go way down.

[m9078jk3]

@scottwa Continued again.

Scott feel free to add more to this conversation if you wish.You have been graciously helpful and I appreciate the input from someone much more technically inclined.My bike by the way is not really ideal for city commuting (wrong type) however it was free.If I were to make a better e bike I would choose a very lightweight quality commuter style bike to modify and I might do so later on.

[m9078jk3]

@scottwa Continued -Going above the maximum allowed speed/wattage might not be noticed however it's classified as a motor vehicle in this case.One needs a drivers license (O.K. got that),vehicle registration (plates,tabs,VIN) none and in some states vehicle insurance.Here in WA state a under 30 mph gas powered scooter or moped doesn't need insurance (not mandatory).I suppose one could go to the trouble of getting a VIN if all the safety equipment was on the vehicle (turn indicators,brake lights)

[m9078jk3]

@scottwa Well I recently saw a study that said in a vehicle vs bicycle impact (or bicycle vs stationary) at 20 mph the rider had a 5% probability of dying but at 30mph the probability increased to 20% (for death).

At 40 mph it was drastically higher I can't remember something like a 80% chance of death.

I have seen a video on youtube of a electric bike owner being cited by several police officers for having a electric bike above the maximum wattage/speed.He was given 3 pricey tickets.