dekey
08-12-09, 03:48 PM
What are the important features to look for when purchasing an electric bicycle? What questions should I ask?
Electric Bikes - Features to look for
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Biont
08-12-09, 05:14 PM
How much power does it have?
Do you have a legal limitation for power in where you live and will you comply?
How much does it weight?
How much does it cost?
Which type of battery?
Which type of use? Pedal assist? Throttle? Both?
Somewhat related to the previous option: front or rear hub?
How silent is it?
Where the battery would go on the bike?
Do you need generation?
Do you need modular batteries (to add or substract according to your daily range and needs)?
What is the bike you want to convert to an e-bike?
I have studied the web for adding electric assistance to small wheeled folders for assistance and I have two winners:
Powerful & Performant: A Birdy with a 350 watt Bionx with batteries on a cloth bag on the expedition rack.
Light & Commuter : A brompton with a narrow Nano motor front hub (just 3.2 kilos)
Don't know for full size bikes but if cost is no problem Bionx PL350 is probably the best solution out there.
Do you have a legal limitation for power in where you live and will you comply?
How much does it weight?
How much does it cost?
Which type of battery?
Which type of use? Pedal assist? Throttle? Both?
Somewhat related to the previous option: front or rear hub?
How silent is it?
Where the battery would go on the bike?
Do you need generation?
Do you need modular batteries (to add or substract according to your daily range and needs)?
What is the bike you want to convert to an e-bike?
I have studied the web for adding electric assistance to small wheeled folders for assistance and I have two winners:
Powerful & Performant: A Birdy with a 350 watt Bionx with batteries on a cloth bag on the expedition rack.
Light & Commuter : A brompton with a narrow Nano motor front hub (just 3.2 kilos)
Don't know for full size bikes but if cost is no problem Bionx PL350 is probably the best solution out there.
crackerdog
08-13-09, 09:09 AM
Make sure the batteries are standard battery size, so you aren't stuck with an ebike that you can't find the batteries for when the company goes under. Only Bionx seems to have stayed around for any length of time. You wouldn't believe how many companies have special size batteries made and then they go belly-up and you can't replace the batteries. I steer people towards kits because you can move them to another bike later if you want, the batteries are whatever you want, and the parts are mostly replaceable by other companies.