Electric Bikes - Some feedback please

Hello I have been studying this electric bike idea for some time now. I am interested in putting one together for myself. Here are some of my ideas and if anybody can help me with suggestions your input would be appreciated.

I would like to electrify a recumbent bike. Rans Stratus LE. I would like to use a rear gearless hub motor. I am thinking on using the Wilderness 600 watt unit. I like the Crystalite 408 but it is only 400 watts. I actually like the Bionx better. They have just come out with their 500 watt motor. The problem with the Bionx is the battery. I want to use a lot more amps than they are.

I have decided to hang on each side of the seat a 15 amp LiPo battery. That would give me good range and keep the weight close to the ground. So that presents a question. The Wilderness kit comes with a 20 amp controller. Would a 20 amp controller work with a battery pack of 30 amps. I would use a Crystalite 35 amp controller if it would work with the Wilderness hub motor.

Using this Long Wheel Base Recumbent with a fairing is there any guess as to the range I might get at 20 MPH? I weigh 205 LBS.

Anyway that is my design idea. If anybody can make suggestions to improve on the idea I am open to new ideas. The only thing that is set for sure is the Recumbent idea.

Thanks

The answer to the controller/amp question is yes. What matters is the potential amp output of the battery, not its capacity. As long as your batteries were capable of meeting the needs of your motor and controller it would work fine. The bigger controller is only going to drain your batteries at a greater rate, and provide increased performance.

As for the range, I can't say, really. 30 amps would carry you quite a distance though, i've used a 37v/10.5ah li-mn pack before with an upright bike, end result of about 55km operating distance without my assistance at all. You would be going places, thats for sure.

Oh, here's something strikingly similar to what you're mentioning. Sorry, it just reminded me of this.

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

Thanks for the quick reply. I just went to a KM to miles converter. 55 KM is 34 miles. Thats good. Maybe I only need 2 10 amp batteries. Save some weight an money.

Well, its subjective to use as well. Are you going to be facing a lot of hills?

Right now I am living in Houston not many hills. Within 2 years I am moving to Colorado, just 10 miles from the foot hills. I plan on riding a lot around the Boulder area. Very hilly.

Yup. That sounds better. Thanks.

Been using a 400 watt WE front hubmotor for a little over a month now on my Tour Easy. It's a pedal first bargain model currently with 36 v. sla, but with pedaling, it gets me up some short (1/4 mile) 4 - 5% hills at 20 mph with pedaling. Can't speak to distance, as it has been too cold and snowy to go more than 15 - 20 miles. Guess I need a meter to figure how much capacity I've used. Another purchase! How can there be a recession when I'm working so hard to prevent it?

friendly reminder: amps and amp hours are very different concepts. Amps refers to a measure of how fast the electric current flows, and amp hours is used to measure a battery's total capacity.