Electric Recumbent Bike
#1
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Electric Recumbent Bike
Hi guys,
Me and a few colleagues in my apprenticeship have been challenged to design a military spec Recumbent Bike. As we have no personal experience of using, let alone designing these bikes, we wondered if anybody that has used them could lend some advice on the problems we might encounter. The basic plan is to have a short, pedal driven chain at the front that powers a generator, this would then be transferred by electric cable via a battery cell and finally on to an electric motor that would power the back wheel(s).
What potential problems do you feel we may encounter?
Thanks in advance,
Harry
Me and a few colleagues in my apprenticeship have been challenged to design a military spec Recumbent Bike. As we have no personal experience of using, let alone designing these bikes, we wondered if anybody that has used them could lend some advice on the problems we might encounter. The basic plan is to have a short, pedal driven chain at the front that powers a generator, this would then be transferred by electric cable via a battery cell and finally on to an electric motor that would power the back wheel(s).
What potential problems do you feel we may encounter?
Thanks in advance,
Harry
#2
rebmeM roineS
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You might try the Electric Bikes subforum.
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
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LBKA (formerly punkncat)
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I think you need to take a hard look at the efficiency of a motor pulling weight in conjunction with the output of a small generator being pedalled. You have a serious shortfall in that equation.
You will note that the majority of existing electric powered vehicles pulling weight require an outside power source and a storage battery to operate long. All types of passive charging systems (brakes, hubs, etc) only help lengthen your time out and most often in a very miniscule way, or only to power accessories without dragging off the main storage cell. If you can figure out a way to produce the power output you need with that small amount of input you will be rich beyond your wildest imaginations....or in a lot of concrete.
You will note that the majority of existing electric powered vehicles pulling weight require an outside power source and a storage battery to operate long. All types of passive charging systems (brakes, hubs, etc) only help lengthen your time out and most often in a very miniscule way, or only to power accessories without dragging off the main storage cell. If you can figure out a way to produce the power output you need with that small amount of input you will be rich beyond your wildest imaginations....or in a lot of concrete.
Last edited by Juan Foote; 12-01-14 at 06:11 PM.
#5
Senior Member
Yeah, my first thought was efficiency. Losing 20% in converting pedal energy to electricity is bad enough, but losing another 20% powering an electric drive unit makes the idea a non-starter in my book. Besides, for mil spec, you want bulletproof. You know, the opposite of double conversions?
#6
Portland Fred
Hi guys,
Me and a few colleagues in my apprenticeship have been challenged to design a military spec Recumbent Bike. As we have no personal experience of using, let alone designing these bikes, we wondered if anybody that has used them could lend some advice on the problems we might encounter. The basic plan is to have a short, pedal driven chain at the front that powers a generator, this would then be transferred by electric cable via a battery cell and finally on to an electric motor that would power the back wheel(s).
What potential problems do you feel we may encounter?
Thanks in advance,
Harry
Me and a few colleagues in my apprenticeship have been challenged to design a military spec Recumbent Bike. As we have no personal experience of using, let alone designing these bikes, we wondered if anybody that has used them could lend some advice on the problems we might encounter. The basic plan is to have a short, pedal driven chain at the front that powers a generator, this would then be transferred by electric cable via a battery cell and finally on to an electric motor that would power the back wheel(s).
What potential problems do you feel we may encounter?
Thanks in advance,
Harry
My gut reaction is that anything that's reasonably fast is going to weigh too much for the pedals to be valuable except on the easiest terrain.
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