In australia electric bicycles can be at maximum 200w (or so i have heard).

Would 200w be enough power to make it worthwhile? Could it help me up a steep hill with 30kg's of groceries? (i can make it up the hill without the groceries)

Thanks if you can help

Just a side thought. If it is legal to sell a bike that is over 200 watts it had better be legal to operate it. Is there an electric bike dealer you could ask?

200w, uphill with 30kg of groceries? Unlikely.

Another shortcoming of LAWS relating to technology - 200W geared through the chain set or 200W in the hub? The former is probably enough "assist" with modest rider and 30kg groceries. The later, probably not much help on hills and you could very well end up working harder because of the heavier components. A do-it-yourself person should be able to fudge components enough to run higher wattage without detection. Trouble is, businesses can't afford the risk of selling merchandise that doesn't meet LAW so it's gonna be harder to find eBikes in the more useful power ranges.

How much do you weigh, plus the bike with batteries? I suspect 30kg (15lbs?) is just a fraction of the total weight your bike needs to carry.

Gotta get political and make 'em change some laws to reflect the lessons learned by this infant industry to date...

In Australia, from what I've read, over 200W is illegal for on-road usage as a bicycle. (registered mo-peds probably different.)

www.cyclone-tw.com has a under 200 watts (180 i think) geared motor that will work well on fairly steep hills and at higher speeds, because it can use the 7 or 8 rear gears on a typical bike, to get more torque or more speed when appropriate.

Non-multispeed-geared motors are pretty weak at such a low power level.

I can't imagine it would be worth the extra weight. I have a couple of recumbents with the Electroportal 500 watt motor in line. It works well but anything less wouldn't be worth the money or the weight if you have hills. Though in China the hub motors are small and are used in the flat part of the country a lot.

In australia electric bicycles can be at maximum 200w (or so i have heard).

Would 200w be enough power to make it worthwhile? Could it help me up a steep hill with 30kg's of groceries? (i can make it up the hill without the groceries)

Thanks if you can help


Short answer - no. I really don't think it would be worth the bother. Seriously - in the remote chance that you do get stopped, how will authorities 'test' your power output? I personally would go for something more powerful.

The way i look at it is - If I want something worthwile to ride on the road i.e - get me up steep hills....it needs to be at least 500w. I have totally thumbed my nose at the NSW law and opted for a 3000w rear hub motor, on a prupose built dual suspension chromolly frame - it actually looks fairly normal and tame, much like your average dually mountain bike....it just goes way faster. Hills are a joke to this thing:thumb:

You like me know the laws are a joke here (im in Sydney) my daily commuter is an electric Go-Ped scooter, which is also illegal, but in my many months of riding around the city - have never been stopped once......i think police have bigger things on their minds.(touch wood lol)

I wish you luck in your e-bike endevours :))

Mark.