Growing pain for e-bikes.
03-15-24, 08:11 AM
#151
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 605
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 386 Post(s)
Liked 294 Times
in
190 Posts
Take your pick - sailboats or gliders. For years, manufacturers have offered a small motor for their otherwise un-powered vehicles. As far as I know, everybody considers this an upgrade because it lets you do more.
E-bikes aren't like that at all. No parallel. E-bikers want a cargo ship or a speedboat disguised as a sailboat. They want a Cessna or a cargo plane disguised as a glider.
E-bikes aren't like that at all. No parallel. E-bikers want a cargo ship or a speedboat disguised as a sailboat. They want a Cessna or a cargo plane disguised as a glider.
03-15-24, 09:59 AM
#152
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,303
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 890 Post(s)
Liked 845 Times
in
639 Posts
Our paths have a set width and you can't ride off the path easily. Even if you slow down, if some dog jets across in front of you, regardless of you having moved as far left as you can, or a kid runs in front of you or (as recently happened to me) some idiot standing off path steps right in front of you without looking, there isn't much you can do. My job as a cyclist is to obey the law. I am NOT responsible for making sure others pay attention. As a result I will not endanger myself further to avoid a collision with someone who is not behaving in a safe manner. I won't ride off the path, I will no longer lay down my. bike and risk injury, etc. I've had it with people who think cyclists have to watch out for them but they don't have to be at all aware of their surroundings or behavior. Last week some idiot was jogging in the oncoming lane to me in the correct lane while looking at his phone. I stopped and sat there and sure enough he ran right into my trike. Ripped his pant leg. He was very upset and I just kept repeating "try watching where you are going". I'm so over it.
03-16-24, 03:34 AM
#153
Junior Member
Take your pick - sailboats or gliders. For years, manufacturers have offered a small motor for their otherwise un-powered vehicles. As far as I know, everybody considers this an upgrade because it lets you do more.
E-bikes aren't like that at all. No parallel. E-bikers want a cargo ship or a speedboat disguised as a sailboat. They want a Cessna or a cargo plane disguised as a glider.
E-bikes aren't like that at all. No parallel. E-bikers want a cargo ship or a speedboat disguised as a sailboat. They want a Cessna or a cargo plane disguised as a glider.
I ebike and I sail, and I find a lot of similarities in the two activities.
Both are vehicles which are inherently far more efficient than the fully motorized alternatives. Because of the engineering necessity to conserve a more limited power source.
This efficiency gives pleasure. In both cases you are mostly just gliding along -- so much more pleasurable than using a fully motorized transport device.
Both are incredibly efficient. I get around 100km out of my ebike on less than 750 watt-hours of power -- that's orders of magnitude better than a motorbike, not to mention a car.
Both can be used with little or no motor power for hours on end in good conditions, just gliding along. Then the motor is always there when it's really needed.
I don't know what you're on about with the cargo stuff. My sailboat is 31 95/100 registered tonnes and can carry a bunch of people and stuff when needed. I've crossed oceans with it and lived autonomously with 5 on board for months. My e-bike is a cargo bike which can carry all kinds of stuff. This doesn't detract at all from the nature of it.
Last edited by Dockhead; 03-16-24 at 03:38 AM.
Likes For Dockhead:
03-16-24, 03:43 AM
#154
Junior Member
I've seen it more & more, pedestrians not paying attention to where they are going, focused on their device while walking, not looking before crossing the street..
We all know that plenty of drivers do the same.
Main issue is ebikes make it easier for riders to ride at higher speeds, new or experienced riders alike,
until a rider is familiar with the performance of the ebike, able to respond to situations with minimal incidents,
there are going to be injuries & casualties.
Whether society prioritize legislation to limit PEVs on public roads/trails or educate the masses of importance of following the existing rules of the roads/trails; that's up to each of us to make priorities known to the legislators.
We all know that plenty of drivers do the same.
Main issue is ebikes make it easier for riders to ride at higher speeds, new or experienced riders alike,
until a rider is familiar with the performance of the ebike, able to respond to situations with minimal incidents,
there are going to be injuries & casualties.
Whether society prioritize legislation to limit PEVs on public roads/trails or educate the masses of importance of following the existing rules of the roads/trails; that's up to each of us to make priorities known to the legislators.
In Europe, you can only use pedelecs with assist limited to 25km/h (about 15 mph) on bike paths and other places where there are pedestrians. E-bikes with throttles are forbidden, and "speed pedelecs" (assistance over 25km/h) must stay on the road with the cars, and in some countries require a license. This is very sensible. It is a great, great advantage for us not to have to ride with the cars. Successful mixing with pedestrian traffic requires speed limits. And probably training and education.
Likes For Dockhead:
03-16-24, 03:50 AM
#155
Junior Member
On the topic of ascending death rates among NYC riders:
It's likely that at least some riders don't fully understand how much of an effect the increases in weight, acceleration, and top speed of e-bikes can have on controlling the bikes. Add the density and unpredictability of New York City traffic, and the changing rates of accidents (and deaths) are unsurprising.
It's likely that at least some riders don't fully understand how much of an effect the increases in weight, acceleration, and top speed of e-bikes can have on controlling the bikes. Add the density and unpredictability of New York City traffic, and the changing rates of accidents (and deaths) are unsurprising.
I'm not sure I agree that more speed makes it more dangerous -- I would think that the better you can match the speed of car traffic, the safer. Especially on hills I would think ebikes should be safer than pushbikes. But best of all is to get out of traffic and onto bike paths, and bike highways (like they have in Scandinavia). Bike lanes in roads help somewhat, but this is a half-measure. To be really useful they need to be physically separated from the road with car traffic. In Europe more and more they put the bike lanes on sidewalks rather than in roadways.
Likes For Dockhead:
05-02-24, 06:20 AM
#156
Ride more, eat less
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Philla PA, Hoboken NJ, Brooklyn NY
Posts: 2,098
Bikes: Too many but never enough.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 726 Post(s)
Liked 759 Times
in
467 Posts
Theres a new trend making electric bike batteries safer: Potting battery & controller.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/02/there...tteries-safer/
https://electrek.co/2024/05/02/there...tteries-safer/
Likes For cat0020:
05-02-24, 02:11 PM
#157
Commuter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: SE Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 678
Bikes: Main Bikes: 2023 Trek Domane AL3, 2022 Aventon Level.2 eBike, 1972 Schwinn Varsity, 2024 Priority Apollo 11
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 307 Post(s)
Liked 417 Times
in
241 Posts
Theres a new trend making electric bike batteries safer: Potting battery & controller.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/02/there...tteries-safer/
https://electrek.co/2024/05/02/there...tteries-safer/
Controllers? Yes, it would make them more rugged and that potting compound would also dissipate heat. It also would make them not repairable, even by the manufacturer.
We'll see what happens!
Likes For Smaug1:
05-03-24, 09:27 AM
#158
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,303
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 890 Post(s)
Liked 845 Times
in
639 Posts
The theory is that by isolating the cells, thermal runaway is averted. As you say, we'll see. Luna has been doing that for about five years. I purchased one from their first batch and it's been perfect for my son's hardtail. They also used a very innovative way to mount the battery with strong magnets which also is perfect (even for off road).
Likes For 2old:
05-03-24, 07:13 PM
#159
Senior Member
__________________
- Jeneralist
- Jeneralist
Likes For jeneralist:
05-04-24, 05:01 AM
#160
55+ Club,...
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in New York, NY
Posts: 4,356
Bikes: 9+,...
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1133 Post(s)
Liked 862 Times
in
604 Posts
Here's a link to the same article, no paywall: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/n...smid=url-share
__________________
If it wasn't for you meddling kids,...
05-04-24, 07:06 AM
#161
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Chicago Suburbs
Posts: 1,417
Bikes: GT Transeo & a half dozen ebike conversions.
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 341 Post(s)
Liked 281 Times
in
197 Posts
I was skeptical about potting the cells, because of the vent issue, but I watched a Grin ebikes Video where the mad scientist in charge tried it, The cells still vented, and fhere was less fire. I'm convinced it works better than using air. He is a mad scientist, but pretty smart and making money too,
I believe that many of the batteries that catch on fire didn't even use air as a separator. They placed the cells next to each other, with only a thin layer pf PVC plastic as insulation. This was an accepted practice for stationary batteries but not so good for ebike packs. .
I believe that many of the batteries that catch on fire didn't even use air as a separator. They placed the cells next to each other, with only a thin layer pf PVC plastic as insulation. This was an accepted practice for stationary batteries but not so good for ebike packs. .
Likes For Doc_Wui:
05-06-24, 08:17 AM
#162
Ride more, eat less
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Philla PA, Hoboken NJ, Brooklyn NY
Posts: 2,098
Bikes: Too many but never enough.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 726 Post(s)
Liked 759 Times
in
467 Posts
Another article about battery potting:
New trend making electric bike batteries safer
https://electrek.co/2024/05/02/there...tteries-safer/
New trend making electric bike batteries safer
https://electrek.co/2024/05/02/there...tteries-safer/
05-06-24, 11:00 AM
#163
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,303
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 890 Post(s)
Liked 845 Times
in
639 Posts
I really like the adventure bike in that article even though it's $4K; fortunately my better half is friends with the owner's wife, so who knows?
05-13-24, 07:15 AM
#164
Ride more, eat less
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Philla PA, Hoboken NJ, Brooklyn NY
Posts: 2,098
Bikes: Too many but never enough.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 726 Post(s)
Liked 759 Times
in
467 Posts
China’s sweeping new e-bike battery rules could have a major impact in US
https://electrek.co/2024/05/13/china...-impact-in-us/
Link in article states:
Currently, the number of electric bicycles in China has exceeded 350 million. In 2023, enterprises above designated size nationwide will produce a total of 42.28 million electric bicycles. Among the new electric bicycle models released by major domestic electric bicycle brands, more than 20% are equipped with lithium-ion batteries.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/13/china...-impact-in-us/
Link in article states:
Currently, the number of electric bicycles in China has exceeded 350 million. In 2023, enterprises above designated size nationwide will produce a total of 42.28 million electric bicycles. Among the new electric bicycle models released by major domestic electric bicycle brands, more than 20% are equipped with lithium-ion batteries.
