Hey newguy here from Canada, got a few ideas want advice

[mattsbike]

So I am going to enviromental way, got rid of the vehicle.

Bought an old cheap mountain bike, its alright for now.

I got warned about riding it on the sidewalk, so I am riding it on the street now.

It seems dangerous and it very well is. Cars are driving half in my lane and half in the other while passing me. Almost get hit many times by transit busses. So I just drive in the left part of the lane now unless the lane is more the 9' (bylaw).

Anyway, it got me thinking. Originally got into the 50cc/80cc gasoline engine kits, but then the noise is whats turning me off that product. Getting into the electrics is going to be my method. Its a pricey adventure but I am willing to do it.

I want to build my own tricycle or even a quadracycle. Have it setup for manual pedalling on one wheel and electric assist on the other (rear). The one thing that turns me off the electrics are the range and the price.

What are some other methods people are doing to extend the range of electric bicycles. I want a setup of 100 kilometers (60 miles). Perhaps have a 2nd bank of batteries that are recharged by the movements of a wheel (alternator style)

[chvid]

Two packs in parallel, joined through a diode (which prevents one pack from charging another). Better battery chemistry (lithium). More pedalling. More aero. Better tires. These will all help to increase your range. My range is current around ninety miles with a full fairing on a recumbent, with two packs (720 watt hours of energy in total).

[chvid]

Regen controllers will also save energy but can be more complex, depending on your battery setup. I don't use regen.

[Tuned]

Sounds like you're in Vancouver, been there, done that. Use the bike paths. They're longer but way safer. Annoying I know, but the bus drivers have no respect for human life and will buzz you to encourage you to stay off the thoroughfares. In two years I was hit 6 times, mostly by young female asian drivers* who neither signal nor shoulder-check as they turn right. Stay out of blind spots! (* No prejudice intended, just overwhelming statistics)

Anyways, as a fellow Canadian I figure I'd piggy back my questions on here since I suspect we'll have similar needs. First the technical:

I'm looking into outfitting an older bike (Miyata 1000 - 700cm hybrid) with a 700-800W 48V FWD motor, and my top concern is brakes. Assuming it has a motor braking system that charges the batteries (right?), will I still need a disc brake system as well? Or will the motor + calipers do the trick with good pads? I intend to just buy the motor and have a shop put my rims onto it. I've got 23mm rims with 28mm IRC Metro's and I absolutely love them. Shame to swap out the Sachs Maillard hub, but hey.

Next, is it possible to use my existing levers (Shimano RSX w/integrated shifters) for the motor brake? I'm handy enough with bikes to set up both calipers to one lever, motor brake to the other. I also know how to take a dive if it takes some getting used to

And lastly, any private vendors out there that would be willing to ship via Greyhound bus? They don't cross the border, instead I'll have the package sent to a bus depot in upstate NY, I live 45 minutes drive away, works great, they even call me when it arrives. Sometimes my memory gets a little fuzzy at customs

Thanks for your help!

[chvid]

A bike with regen will save on your brake pad wear, and return maybe 2-3% energy back to your battery, as you brake. I have a non-regen controller setup with a Nine Continent front hub motor setup on a Devinci Vancouver with disk brakes. The "usual" braking is not affected by the hub motor. You should check out your paln with www.ebikes.ca, in Vancouver. They will help you to get a great setup. The disk brakes are really nice in wet conditions, and you should be able to hit hear 30mph on 700c with a Nine Continent setup at 30 volts. The brakes will help you ride with confidence.

[Sangesf]

Two packs in parallel, joined through a diode (which prevents one pack from charging another). Better battery chemistry (lithium). More pedalling. More aero. Better tires. These will all help to increase your range. My range is current around ninety miles with a full fairing on a recumbent, with two packs (720 watt hours of energy in total).

Please explain that you pedal most of the time..
90miles on 720wh is 8wh/mile. And explain that you spent ALOT of money for that setup.

The OP seems to want long range without pedaling and cheap.

[Sangesf]

OP, having a second wheel as a generator will waste more energy in the drag caused by it, then you would get from the generation of power.

Look at, at least $1200 for an add on setup to get you 60 miles, not to mention the cost of the bicycle.

[15rms]

Sounds like you could use the new bionx 48 volt system. It is claimed to go 65 miles on level 1. A little pricey however top of the line.

[chvid]

Sorry, I get 90 miles out of 2 packs 720 watt hours per pack, averaging 13-15 watt hours per mile, depending on how I'm feeling. Thats 1440 watt hours in total. I am a reasonably good "regular pedaller". Very much e-assist. Most of the money was spent on batteries (around 1100). The motor was 250 and the controller was 35, with a fifteen dollar throttle. It's all about the batteries.

[Sangesf]

That's a much better average.. Heh

Believe it or not, I have 1296wh total in two batteries, but I run dual motor/battery setups..
Dual motor setups with a speed limiter of 20mph (32kh) gets me 90 miles.
If I run full speed (23.5mph avg), I get 80 miles..
If I run 18mph I get 100+ miles..
ALL of this NO pedaling!

[jethro56]

My wh/m varies so much. I think one should battery up to have 30 wh/m for normal use. I get many people asking me if I can charge the battery while riding. I say "Why would you want to?"

[Sangesf]

IF I had the MONEY, I would run a 36v 60ah setup (one battery / two motor) and be done with it.

[miro13car]

matsbike,
I am in Alberta, Calgary,
who warned you about riding on sidewalk.
I do miost of my riding on sidewalks, across parking lots, grass.
mAYBE 1km or even less out of my 6km everyday commute is on street.
I would have shortened my trip by 1km if I rode with cars but I why to risk, to get 5minutes earler to work?
People are so lazy to change line and one day something will happen.
Once maybe in 10 years somebody complained - don't ride on sidewalk, I answered sidewalk is the most safe place to ride, of course be resonable and SLWDOWN when close to pedestrians.
My car I drive maybe once in 3 weeks on average in summer .
It simply cost money to switch to commuting by bike.
Initially.
I got made in USA TForce bike which is legendary for durability and smoothness, E+ is close but less smooth, built very durable made in USA also.
My TF was 3500 dollars but I got 19,000km on it will last much much longer - that is quality.
On other end you have Chinese brands like from Canadian Tire and Wallmart bikes.
Go to ebikes.ca and read and see pictures of Chinese brand technology of 1970-ties.
ebikes.ca is in Vancouver , just Google it and go to Troubleshooting section.
MM

[mattsbike]

Ya hey, I am in Calgary too.

The police told me numerous times to not ride on the sidewalk. Daytime and night-time. All downtown, around city hall twice in the same location with different police officers and once on the red mile at night. So I just ride on the road 3/4 of the time. I get lots of honks, but its deadly and they say its safer then riding on the sidewalk. It does say to ride on the road in the City ByLawm, the pathways are probably my best bet for injury free riding.

Ok on another note.

Wow!!! 90 miles, thats incredible. Thats ideally what I want, but I'd settle for 60 miles (100km). I have a ton more of studying to do on this topic.
I would pedal assist, to help with battery life.

I am just starting to look into the aerodynamics, and looking at installing ultra-lightweight plastic polyethylene (the plastic for bottles) panels to make an aerodynamic cab. I have seen a few awesome ideas online. They are selling them for like $10k, but I know a little something about thermoplastics and forming. I am going to build my own simple trike or quad bicycle.

So I am looking at a grand or two just in parts?

[crackerdog]

Some places don't accept anything with more than 3 wheels as a bicycle and you have to jump through hoops. Go with 3 wheels to be safe on that. Check out Atomic Zombie if you are going to build your own. Recumbents are the best for distance because you can control wind resistance better.