mrscooterboy

Thank you in advance for tolerating a newbie's questions concerning lifetime operating expenses. I'm considering adding some assist so I can commute to work (22 miles one way) in an hour or maybe a little more. I will pedal the whole way, this is true 'assist'. After having read through many of the threads here I still have some questions.

Suppose one were to buy a kit from Amped and install it on an existing bike. The rear hub is about $400. Add a good value battery pack (not cheap, just good value) and the installed price is about $800? more? less?

My understanding is that the real cost factor is not the cost of charging the batteries (insignificant) but the cost of replacing the batteries. Assuming that the electric motor provides half the power and pedaling provides the other half, how many lifetime miles could one expect from a battery of good value? (number of charges times miles per charge)

Also - what is a reasonable life expectancy for the hub? Can it be rebuilt or do you toss it and start over?

I know that these are not absolute figures and YMMV, just looking for a ballpark. If this is an old and well-worn subject can you direct me to old threads? Didn't have any good key words to search for.

Again, thanks for your help.

David

Duracutter

If you are happy with the performance of the bike and don't try to mod it, that's one important step in saving money. Trying to make it go faster is costly and in many cases a waste of money if you're trying to save money. I mod to have fun so it's a hobby, but if saving money is key then get a kit that is known to be reliable, get reliable batteries that will last years, so no worries there if you recharge them religiously and don't run them down on power. They'll last 3years or more. The hub, again, get a name brand and don't beat it at start up or dead starts. Pedal assist otherwise the torque can damage bike/motor easily.

Hope this helps.

mrscooterboy

It is helpful, thanks.

It isn't that I'm trying to save money as much as - it would take me 3 hours to ride 44 miles to work and back and I don't have that much time. If the electric assist can help me average close to 22 miles per hour, it would be an hour each way. I'm already driving 30 minutes each way so I would end up getting a pretty good workout for one additional hour as well as saving a few bucks.

turoczi

There is a guy that posts on the ampedbikes forum that travels 21 miles each way. He uses heavy SLA in a Pannier Pack so the weight is low. I think he is using 12AH batteries at a cost of about $100.

Another route is Ebay Lifepo4 which are dropping rapidly. If I were you I would buy a 48V 15AH Lifepo4 pack for the amped kit getting you around 25-26 mph and around 30ish miles. The packs are lightweight and you can charge at work right out of a backpack (thats what I do)

Their speed control and motor are rated for 60V+. I rode mine at 48V for 3 months on a lifepo4 pack then burned up the bms trying to connect it wrong with no fuse.

With Lifepo4 you will get upwards of 2,000 cycles. Even after 2,000 cycles it only drops to about 85% so for around $400 you can get a 3-4 year pack.