Electric Bikes - regenerative mode exercise

Hi - first post ... I just purchased a used (3 month) Recumbentusa trike with a Bionx 350 motor. I am loving it so far and am interested in the idea of using it as a winter exercise machine. I have read somewhere that by running in regenerative mode for load, this can be done. Assuming of course the rear wheel is off the floor - haven't figured that one out yet, but, what I really want to know is would this not eventually overcharge the battery?

any advice would be much appreciated.

bernard

Yes, you would probably end up overcharging the battery unless you were using up the energy you put in. (like by going for a ride later).

With the right voltage converter, you would be able to run a computer off your battery for a little while to use up the stored energy. :) That's assuming you don't just want to go for a ride outside to discharge the battery.

trucks at a coal mine use a heat grid to burn off the excess electricity created by the wheel motors.

A small heater would be a good and fast way to bring the battery down a little. but I wouldn't use it to drain your battery, you'll get maximum battery life if you keep it near it's optimum voltage. Much like car batteries last a long time because they are never really worked that hard,

well, I wouldn't have thought about it were it not that on the BIONX site it does say "Can be used as an interior and exterior workout machine." ... the interior being the operative word here. I live in Montreal and so am stuck indoors for a good part of the winter.. like 5 months !.. so discharging by riding is not an option. I would like to replace my SCHWINN Spin exercise bike with the trike this winter to build up my 'bent' cycling legs.

Bernard

so,I talked to a Bionx rep and here is the scoop. Yes, it can be done but one would have to start with a flat battery and when full discharge by, for instance letting it run on throttle... anyways there is a more serious issue. I put the back wheel up on blocks and tried it and although assist level one is reasonably smooth the other levels are way to 'notchy' to seriously consider as a winter exercise machine. I have bought an Elite Fluid exercise machine to use with the regular wheel on my RecumbentUSA trike. So far so good but the test will be over time. Will let you know.

Bernard

I have been using the BionX as an exerciser and have found another issue. Even when in bicycle mode and not generate mode, it generates electricity, hmmm, who would have thought that? Now to discharge the battery....

So with the little resistance in bicycle mode and gearing at 52 in front and 11 in rear, its not a bad exercise bike.