Mabman-

Opti claims to meet the federal power limit in three ways:
1. Power at the wheel is 1hp or less.
2. One can run eco mode and NO pedal assist.
3. Stay in a lower gear.

As to the 2000 mpg claim. I did a calc. see below. I used 35mi/charge, Opti used 50 mi/charge.

Regards,
Dan

MPG Estimates for an Optibike

Constants:
Gasoline : $3.50/gal
BTU 125000 BTU/gal
Electricity : $.15/kWh
BTU 3412 BTU/kWh
Opti Battery $1500 for 1000 cycles
Opti range 35 mi/cycle, fast mode, 25 mph ave
Opti Capacity 0.72 kWh/cycle

Opti efficiency : 35 mi/cycle * 1/0.72 kWh/cycle = 48.61 mi/kWh

Energy Model : MPG per ideal electric-gasoline equivalent.

Energy Conversion: 125000 BTU/gal * 1/ 3412 BTU/kWh = 36.63 kWh/gal

Calculate: 36.63 kWh/gal * 48.61 mi/kWh = 1781 MPG

(Ideal equivalent electrical driven miles from energy of 1 gallon of gas)

Economic Model : MPG per cost of electricity

Economic Conversion: $3.5/gal * 1/$0.15/kWh = 23.33 kWh/gal

Calculate: 23.33kWh/gal * 48.61 mi/kWh = 1134 MPG

(Cost equivalent for electrical driven miles from cost of 1 gallon of gas)

Economic Model : MPG per cost of electricity and battery

Battery costs: $1500/1000 cycle = $1.50/cycle
Electricity costs: $0.15/kWh * 0.72 kWh/cycle = $0.11/cycle

Total Electrical Costs : $1.50/cycle + $0.11/cycle = $1.61/cycle

Economic Conversion: $3.5/gal * 1/$1.61/cycle * 0.72kWh/cycle = 1.57 kWh/gal

Calculate: 1.57kWh/gal * 48.61 mi/kWh = 76.1 MPG

(Cost equivalent for electrical driven miles from cost of 1 gallon of gas and battery charge)




Low-speed electric bicycle. Electric bicycles are bikes with operable pedals and an
attached battery-powered electric motor. Federal law defines a low-speed electric bicycle
as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor with a
power output of less than 750 watts, with a maximum speed, when powered by the motor,
of less than 20 mph (15 U.S.C. 2085). Low-speed bicycles do not meet federal definitions
for motor-vehicles and are subject to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
regulations. [/QUOTE]

[/QUOTE]And CA. Law:

406. (a) A "motorized bicycle" or "moped" is any two-wheeled or
three-wheeled device having fully operative pedals for propulsion by
human power, or having no pedals if powered solely by electrical
energy, and an automatic transmission and a motor which produces less
than 2 gross brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the
device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level
ground.
(b) A "motorized bicycle" is also a device that has fully
operative pedals for propulsion by human power and has an electric
motor that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts.
(2) Is incapable of propelling the device at a speed of more than
20 miles per hour on ground level.
(3) Is incapable of further increasing the speed of the device
when human power is used to propel the motorized bicycle faster than
20 miles per hour.
(4) Every manufacturer of motorized bicycles, as defined in this
subdivision, shall provide a disclosure to buyers that advises buyers
that their existing insurance policies may not provide coverage for
these bicycles and that they should contact their insurance company
or insurance agent to determine if coverage is provided.
(c) The disclosure required under paragraph (4) of subdivision (b)
shall meet both of the following requirements:
(1) The disclosure shall be printed in not less than 14-point
boldface type on a single sheet of paper that contains no information
other than the disclosure.
(2) The disclosure shall include the following language in capital
letters:
"YOUR INSURANCE POLICIES MAY NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR ACCIDENTS
INVOLVING THE USE OF THIS BICYCLE. TO DETERMINE IF COVERAGE IS
PROVIDED YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY OR AGENT."[/QUOTE]


States either follow Fed regs, other states or set their own path for their own regs, but any bikes that are brought in to this country for sale legally should meet those requirements, as well as those that produce them in the US. Not much to be done here other than lobby to modify the regulations in to a more realistic environment for not only electric bikes but all Low Speed Vehicles. But that will take a concerted effort unless someone comes up with a million $'s to throw around like Segway did.


[/QUOTE]You might be right. I based my claim on a discussion with a the owner of a local gas engine bicycle assist shop.[/QUOTE]

And he was correct in his view for gas engine bicycles which are limited to 49cc and 30 mph federally and under many states including CO.
[/QUOTE]Motorscooter and motorbicycle. A motorscooter and motorbicycle are defined as
every motor vehicle designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the
ground, a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters, and an automatic
transmission which produces a maximum design speed of not more than
30 miles per hour (mph) on a flat surface.[/QUOTE]

And CA as referenced above 406 (a).


[/QUOTE]That's not quite right. 2.125 Ah per mile works out to 85 Wh/mile (since the bike has a 40V battery) or, equivalently, (1/0.085) mile/kWh. If we agree that 1 gallon of gas = 82.049kWh, my mileage equivalence is (82/0.085) = 970 mpg.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I went to bed last night knowing my math was off, but still I doubt the 400, unless way more pedaling is done than motor, has the battery to pull off 100 miles unless they carry more than one which raises weight level and compromises handling. The mpg is secondary really because there are alternative ways to gain energy for electric and ICE motors that are environmentally non invasive, like wind, solar, hydro and bio fuels. Getting the best mpg or ah out of either is certainly the main goal though for ultimate sustainability.

[/QUOTE]I believe the folks at Optibike pulled a fast one when they issued a press release that talks about selling the only 2000mpg hybrid vehicle in the US, and then discussed the best selling 800Li. They were referring to different bikes - the 400 model should get the claimed 2000mpg, whie the 800Li is their best selling model.[/QUOTE]

That is not clear on their website, as I said they are pushing the performance aspect. More power to them and their product does have good performance, but just don't guild the lily.


[/QUOTE]You can go faster with a 72 volt Crystalyte 5xxx, but you'll have a much heavier bike with a 23 pound wheel that is far less efficient at low speeds. If that's what you want, I'm happy for you. Really. No other option I know of has anything close to the acceleration of my Optibike, the overall efficiency, the great handling, etc. I asked Jeremy how far up Pike's peak his best bike would make it. How far will yours?[/QUOTE]

How about we skip Pikes Peak, it has been done already, how about the Triple Bypass? Or a motor assist RAAM?

[/QUOTE]Seriously, I'd like to know what bike you would put up against an Optibike that will get similar performance. It is hard to find peers if you limit yourself to one dimension of performance, but if you consider cruising, hill climbing, acceleration and handling together it is hard to find anything remotely comparable.[/QUOTE]

Let's just assume that there is. Keep in mind that your bike gains that overall performance through the use of your gearing system that is not automatic as per your states and most others regs, see bold(s) above. Is that a good reg? I don't think so but there it sets and will stay that way until it changes.

[/QUOTE]I live near enough the factory to have visited them several times and met many of the characters who work there. The company is run by a mechanical engineer whose focus is on the drivetrain and mechanics of the bikes. Marketing, user interface, and growth have clearly been neglected, but they really do build a great product and support their customers.[/QUOTE]

No doubt they have a good team of folks on this that are interested in the big picture, getting folks out of gas guzzlers for shorter trips for one. And on to bicycles for another. For the greater good though they should be setting a better example in regards to current regs or have a strong lobbying effort going on to make the regs different.

[/QUOTE]I agree with the general tone of your criticism and have written to the company expressing my opinion in no uncertain terms.[/QUOTE]

As I said before, not picking on Optibike as it is on the right track. The legal aspect of motor assist biking interests me because it is the key to its success I feel along with those pertaining to LSV's in general. The current laws are in line with reality up to a point but there are some mods needed that would bring companies like Optibike in to compliance. It won't get done flaunting the existing ones however. Thanks for the interaction on this as it helps me to better understand the situation myself.

Sorry about the quote thing, hopefully tis not too hard to read. And this is a solution to your LED issue? http://www.ebikes.ca/drainbrain.shtml[/QUOTE]