Electric Bikes - Solar powered electric bicycle question?

Where did you get on to the idea of using a gas generator to charge e-bike batteries while riding a bicycle? That's one of the silliest ideas I've heard!

I mean, you could always run a generator to power an electric motor (which is what diesel trains do) but the easiest thing to do if you want a gas powered bike is probably to just run a gas motor without a generator or electric motor. You lose a lot of energy converting to and from battery-stored energy, and you lose some energy converting from mechanical energy (motion of gas engine) to electric current and back to motion again with electric motor/generator.

Is it really a bicycle if it has a motor?

lets see..dictionary.com

bi·cy·cle
"a vehicle with two wheels in tandem, usually propelled by pedals connected to the rear wheel by a chain, and having handlebars for steering and a saddlelike seat."

and

"A vehicle consisting of a light frame mounted on two wire-spoked wheels one behind the other and having a seat, handlebars for steering, brakes, and two pedals or a small motor by which it is driven."

Is there any solar powered bicycle out yet on the market? Can solar powered bicycles today or in the future travel the distance between 50 to 200 miles or more on a single charge in one sunny day? This is my first time buying a solar powered electric bicycle.

Thanks,

Zap used to sell their bikes and kits with either of a plug in the wall charger or a solar charge. The solar charger comprised a set of panels that unfolded and you set out for charging the batter.

Is it really a bicycle if it has a motor?

Ebikes and pedalics are power assist devices, which have limitted power output to legally comply with objective of being electric assist rather than electric principles. They have been legislated into the unmotorized bicycle definition.

You couldn't even do it with a Honda 1000 Watt generator (29 lbs weight). THe closest you could get would be to find an AC charger that could use the full 7.5 AMps the generator puts out and charge the batteries while riding. The Soneil 10 Amp charger is somethig like $300 if I recall correctly, together with the generator you're taking $1,000.00. THen a Bob trailer to put it on of course. THe DC charger on the generator would not work becuase it only puts out 12 V DC, and you cannot easily find a DC converter that will take 12 Volts and convert it to 36 volts and give you the amps your hub motor would require.

Regards, Tom

There is someone on the west coast that actually used a trailered gas powered generator to power his ebike for lengthy trips, so feasibilty has been demonstrated.

There is someone on the west coast that actually used a trailered gas powered generator to power his ebike for lengthy trips, so feasibilty has been demonstrated.

It is obvious that it can be done; I wonder if it is worth doing. Any idea how much fuel he used?

Where did you get on to the idea of using a gas generator to charge e-bike batteries while riding a bicycle? That's one of the silliest ideas I've heard!

I mean, you could always run a generator to power an electric motor (which is what diesel trains do) but the easiest thing to do if you want a gas powered bike is probably to just run a gas motor without a generator or electric motor. You lose a lot of energy converting to and from battery-stored energy, and you lose some energy converting from mechanical energy (motion of gas engine) to electric current and back to motion again with electric motor/generator.

Ummm...

I guess I shouldn't have taken for granted "where I got the idea" would be obvious:

To illustrate the impractibility and scope of the project by way of an *analogy*. I suppose why the guy in UK did it was perhaps he had an eBike already, wanted to pedal assist still, didn't want to buy a scooter, etc. etc. Of course any time you convert energy some of it is lost to the heat that is generated. It's not clear whether such an idea would be impracticle however unless you crunch some numbers. E.G. compare a 50 C.C. gas scooter over the same route with the same weight as opposed to the guy with his bike, trailer, and generator who is also providing pedal assist, without which there is little doubt the scooter would show greater efficiency. Hopefully the fellow in the UK used a gen set with the "Eco throttle" feature that matches engine RPM's to load and could make 2 litres of gas last 8 hours in a 50cc displacement engine.