Posts Tagged ‘Electric Bikes’
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
Ah, semantics! When someone tries to argue semantics with you,isn’t it always fun? It always makes for great conversation on a first date and it ensures that the other person will like you when you show them your superior grasp of meaning in casual dialogue.
Sometimes, however, semantics can be important. Like when you’re researching electric bike kits. When looking for information online, people use all sorts of phrases in search of what they’re looking for: ‘electric bike kit,’ ‘electric bicycle kits,’ ‘bicycle engine kits,’ ‘electric bicycle engines,’ ‘electric bicycle conversion kit,’ ‘electric bicycle motors kits’ … the list goes on. Often, with the right combination of words, you find what you’re looking for. Other times you’re pointed to something that you did not intend, like a gas-powered bike kit or an eBay listing for a non-descript ‘bicycle engine’ that does not include all of the other necessary parts to convert your bicycle.
Technically speaking, the phrases ‘electric bicycle engine’ and ‘electric bike motor’ are the same thing. These days, when one says ‘engine’ or ‘bicycle engine kits’ it normally connotes a non-electric engine, and in the context of electric bicycle motor kits, (the qualifying term ‘electric’ aside) a motor refers to an electric motor.
According to the Dictionary of ever-useful.com to produce force and motion” and a motor is “a comparatively small and powerful engine, esp,an engine is “a machine for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy or power. an internal-combustion engine in an automobile, motorboat, or the like” and is “also called an electric motor. Electricity. As an induction motor,amachine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.”
That said, referring to electric bike kits as ‘bicycle engine kits,’ or their motors as ‘electric bicycle engines’ is not a misnomer, it’s just not the typically understood language. While an ‘electric bike kit’ specifies the type of power source, ‘bicycle engine kits’ could include both electric bicycle or folding electric bike engines and gas-powered bicycle engines.
Tags: electric bicycle, Electric Bicycles, electric bike, Electric Bikes, folding electric bike
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Saturday, July 18th, 2009
If you are looking at electric bikes as a way to increase your biking range and decrease your commute time, you are looking in the right place. Many people think to buy a pre-made ebike as their main bicycle and stick with that for all their around town transportation needs. But what if you already have a bike and do not see the need to shell out for a whole new set of wheels? Well, fortunately, there are some great ebike conversion kits on the market that will let you turn your existing ride into an electric battery operated powerhouse with just a few hours of quality time with your screwdriver.
Ebike conversion kits range in complexity and price from the most basic models that just give you a little extra boost through more difficult terrain and when you start to get tired after a long ride to the high end models that can turn your traditional human powered cycle into the next level down from a do it yourself Harley. Okay, not quite, but they can be quite powerful if you are willing to spend the money for a higher end model. Just like pre-fab ebikes or folding electric bikes, conversion kits come in a wide range of models, power levels and prices, and for the most part, barring the occasional great sale, you get what you pay for.
Conversion kits let your turn your bike into the same level of product as a traditional pre-made electric bicycle, with the same level of maintenance and quality… of course, assuming the bike you put it on was a good one to start out with,. The great thing about conversion kits is that if you have a bike you dearly love and can’t stand to part with, you can upgrade it and get the extra power you want without having to give up your two wheeled baby.
Tags: electric bicycle, Electric Bicycles, electric bike, Electric Bikes, folding electric bike
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Friday, July 17th, 2009
Have you ever considered biking to work instead of taking your car? Why haven’t you? Perhaps it’s the idea of pedaling up tht steep hillside. Or maybe it’s the ability to store the ebike anywhere. Well, worry no longer because it is time you considered an electric folding bike.
These ebikes are either full size or compact and can go the same places your regular bike would. The only difference is that these particular bicycles fold up, making it easy to take them with you wherever you need to go. So if you bike to your place of work, you are ablke to just fold your ebike up and cart it inside your building with you. You’ll never have to hunt for a safe place to chain up your ebike, as you can just pick it up and take it with you!
Folding bikes are usually lighter than regular bikes. They are made of strong alloys specially developed to make a bicycle lighter. An electric folding bike is the same. While the battery does add a fair amount of weight to the entire unit, foldable ebikes are still perfectly possible to carry with you between the end of your trip and wherever you will be storing it for the day.
It makes sense to use a folding ebike when the distance is too far to walk, but too short to take a car. Using an electric bicycle instead can bridge the gap, offering you safe, reliable transportation at a far lower cost than that of conventional gas powered motor vehicles, and it is better for the environment as well. An Ebike doesn’t produce noxious exhaust to pollute the skies. And, to boot, it gets you your much needed exercise.
Ebikes do that well-assist. Ebikes have the ability to sense how fast and how hard you are pedaling and can automatically adjust for speed and torque. It’s like cutting all your hills in half and turning you motorized bicycle in to a motorcycle on flat ground.
Most foldable ebikes have a range of eighteen to twenty five miles on a single charge of one battery, and some get up to twenty five miles per hour—certainly nothing to sneer at on local roads.
Using a foldable ebike you will find your commute faster and sipler than with an automobile or standard bicycle. The easy storage issue makes it a real winner. It’s just what you are looking for.
Tags: Cycling, ebike, ebikes, Electric Bikes, electric folding bike, foiding ebike
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Thursday, July 9th, 2009
One of the great things about an ebike is that you can lengthen your miles but shorten your commute. Many people think to buy a pre-made ebike as their main bicycle and stick with that for all their around town transportation needs. But what happens when you already have a bicycle you really love, and don’t want to buy a new ebike? Well, fortunately, there are some great ebike conversion kits on the market that will let you turn your existing ride into an electric battery operated powerhouse with just a few hours of quality time with your screwdriver.
Ebike conversion kits vary in feature and price. The way you intend to ride should determine which to buy. Okay, not quite, but they can be quite powerful if you are willing to spend the money for a higher end model. Just like pre-fab ebikes, conversion kits come in a wide range of models, power levels and prices, and for the most part, barring the occasional great sale, you get what you pay for.
Conversion kits let your turn your bike into the same level of product as a traditional pre-made ebike, with the same level of maintenance and quality… assuming the bike you put it on was a good one to start out with, of course. Conversion kits allow you to add power to the old bike you love, while keeping your dream bike.
Ebike conversion kits are all inclusive systems- once you have a kit and a bike, the only other things you may need to buy are a few basic tools to install it, like a wrench and a screw driver. These ebike conversion kits arrive with detailed instructions, and most manufacturers will have help lines. If you are feeling especially assembly phobic, many bike shops will install a conversion kit for you for an hourly labor fee.
All in all, converting your old faithful standard bike into an ebike with one of many kinds of conversion kits is a great idea..Just pick the kit that does what you want and is within your budget..
When the ebike is ready for use and you’re out enjoying the scenery or commuting to work, you’ll be glad you did it.
Tags: Cycling, ebike conversion kit, ebikes, Electric Bikes
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Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
So what’s the bugger like to ride? Firstly it needs to be remembered that the bike is a hybrid human/battery powered design… not a purely electric bike.
Take a look at a trip.
When I leave my house, I am immediately confronted with a very steep climb up the street on which I live. In the driveway I get the bike moving in 1st gear (of 21 gears on this mountain bike) and then switch the battery system in at 12V. (Never switch in the electric power with the bike stationary – there’ll be a huge current gulp.)
Then I ratchet up to 3rd gear and select 24V power with the bike moving faster. In propulsion,the increase is immediately noticeable and as I start the climb, I move up to 5th gear. However, as the bike slows with the increasing gradient,the burst of speed is short-lived I shift back to 3rd, feeling the electrical assist becoming more pronounced. The trick is to match the pedalling speed and selected gear with the amount of electric assist – not going so slowly that the motor is over-loaded, and not pedalling so hard that the rider is over-loaded!
The bike slows still further and then when I am only just moving, I switch off the electrics and brake to a halt as the hill flattens before my driveway.
The roads on which I am riding are very hilly – too hilly for normal bikes or even for folding electric bikes, as people are often seen pushing their bikes up them. However,that is without having to stand and pedal with electric assist there is not a hill that I cannot ride up.
If you just like the idea of having another form of motorised transport, or your license has gone the way of the dodo, an electric bicycle is a do-able do-it-yourself project.
Tags: electric bicycle, Electric Bicycles, electric bike, Electric Bikes, folding electric bike
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Friday, July 3rd, 2009
This is an electric bicycle. Based on traditional bicycle designs,electric bicycles incorporate a battery pack, controller, and an electric hub motor on the front wheel, rear wheel, or both wheels.
The electric bike can function pretty well as a bicycle even without having any battery power. If you want a bit of exercise, just turn off the power or leave the battery at home for a charge.
Storage is usually accomplished by the rider wearing a backpack or attaching saddle bags, bungee cords, or other storage device to the rear carrier. Typically,there’re no built-in alarm systems about electric bicycles.
They are allowed on bike lanes and commuter trails and they are treated just like bicycles in most jurisdictions.
It’s an electric scooter. Except they are battery powered,electric scooters look like their gas scooter cousins. Virtually all electric scooters have much smaller wheel diameters than electric bikes. You just have to turn the throttle as they are designed as “twist n’ go”. The pedals of lousy bicycles are really for emergency use only.
Under the seat,most electric scooters have lockable and waterproof storage. Many electric scooter models have a built-in alarm and immobilizer to prevent theft. From rain and wind,the electric scooter offers a bit of protection.
The electric scooter may encounter more restrictions than the electric bicycle depending on the jurisdiction.
My own personal bias is that I prefer electric bicycles or folding electric bikes over electric scooters. They are a more bulletproof design in my opinion and many brands such as the eZee bike brand are of superb quality with widely available replacement part components.
At Sccoter Underground, you can give us a call or better yet ,drop in and our experts will help you to choose the solution best meets your requirements and budget.
Tags: electric bicycle, Electric Bicycles, electric bike, Electric Bikes, folding electric bike
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Friday, July 3rd, 2009
Electric motor and battery technology has advanced tremendously in rcent years. Today’s LEVs (Light Electric Vehicles) and folding electric bikes have clear advantages over fossil fuel powered vehicles in the areas of performance, ease of use and operating costs. In addition to the financial and environmental benefits, electric bike owners are quick to add that riding these vehicles is fun—and they get “thumbs up” and other encouragement from neighbors as they go by.
Pollution Free
If you drive a car the typical 12,000 miles a year, your vehicle annually leaves four-and-one-half metric tons of carbon in its wake. Because electric vehicles run on batteries and do not burn fossil fuels as their main system of propulsion, they provide the opportunity to reduce your personal environmental impact and improve local air quality.
Plenty of Torque
With their sophisticated electronic controls, today’s motors are more efficient and produce an abundance of torque even with very little throttle. A 1-horsepower electric motor has about the same torque as a 3 horsepower gasoline engine and the torque is immediate, on demand.
Quiet Power
Electric motors are quiet and give you an entirely different feeling when riding. Riding gas-powered personal vehicles is banned in many neighborhoods and they are louder than lawn-mowers. Quiet electric bikes seem to glide down the road with ease and are welcomed in most communities.
Clean Machine
There’s no grease or oil to get to get your hands or clothes dirty. No foul exhaust or gasoline fumes and it never leaks oil. You can safely store an electric bicycle in your home or apartment.
Economic Ride
Electric motors cost almost nothing to run. Electric vehicles are recharged by plugging them into the wall sockets instead of burning up expensive fossil fuels every trip. Given the rising gas prices worldwide, going electric makes good financial sense.
Tags: electric bicycle, Electric Bicycles, electric bike, Electric Bikes, folding electric bike
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Saturday, June 27th, 2009
Electric bikes now come in many models and styles and provide an inexpensive mode of transportation for short hops around town for errands, commuting to work or fun.
Electric bikes are providing a way to save money on gasoline and also reduce carbon footprints. The bikes can combine old fashioned pedaling with the modern technology of a battery powered motor or run on battery alone.
when Baron von Drais invented a wood “walking machine” in 1817 to be used in the royal gardens,electric bikes could not even be imagined. The Draisienne or hobby horse was propelled by pushing the feet against the ground. Next was the wooden velocipede or Boneshaker in 1865 with the pedals applied directly to the front wheel.
The price of Electric bikes range from about $1400 to $2500 or more. Price is usually determined by weight, quality and battery type. A 250-watt folding electric bike is available for about $1400. $2500 can buy an extra-light 350-watt model using a lightweight lithium-ion battery at the high end,. Without recharging,most models can travel 15 to 20 miles.
If a car is replaced with an electric bicycle, saving on gas, wear and tear and maintenance cost are substantial. For example,an electric bike costs $20 for the same mileage while fuel costs for a car traveling 10,000 miles is $910.
Different state regulations governed the electric bikes. In some places, they are classified as bicycles and require no license or registration, in others its speed and wattage determines its status. The Department of Motor Vehicles should be consulted about the laws governing electric bikes.
They become sleeker, better looking and hide the batteries more than ever before as the latest technology used by the manufacturers of electric bikes. Due to the new designs, they are becoming more main-stream and a Green way to save money and is more and more popular.
Tags: electric bicycle, Electric Bicycles, electric bike, Electric Bikes, folding electric bike
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Thursday, June 25th, 2009
A compact bike is a portable bike, but the best of both worlds would be a bike that folds or even a folding electric bike. You should know that there are a wide variety of them out there, each with their own unique attributes if you’re looking for a bike that folds. Some bikes that fold are ideal for storage and travel which made to fold in such a way. Other bikes can be taken absolutely anywhere as they sre folded so compact. If you own a bike that folds you no longer have any excuses not to ride a bike or an electric bicycle, as they have no limitations. “I can’t take a bike to work.”As some models of bicycles that fold get as compact as a brief case, sure you can. You can take a brief case to work? “my knees are bad,I’m too old.” All bicycles make them easy to pedal that fold come in a variety of speeds. ” I’m too stupid to learn new things,let alone a million steps to fold a bike. I had Transformers as a kid, those things were impossible.”These bikes can be folded by Even the most mechanically uninclined person.
Generally, bikes or electric bikes that fold will fold down in anywhere from one to four quick, intuitive steps. If you can tie your shoes you can fold a bike, and often just as fast.
For all areas, bikes can be folded perfectly. A bicycle that folds works great in congested city areas in New York and California where space is an issue. Bicycles that fold also come in handy in areas where space is not an issue. With a bicycle that folds you are never limited by your bike. In fact, the opposite is true: a bicycle that folds opens up a world of opportunity to you.
Tags: electric bicycle, Electric Bicycles, electric bike, Electric Bikes, folding electric bike
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
As time has progressed, more and more of our inventory has come to consist of Giant bikes. This can be attributed to two major reasons: 1) Giant bikes are very popular, and 2) We are very happy with Giant as a company. the products of giant have withstood the test of time again and again and thry have been extremely reliable.
Giant electric bicycles are high quality and are designed with a great deal of care. Once purchased, the owner of a Giant electric bicycle has to do very little to maintain the bike outside of your standard bike maintenance; the batteries need to be recharged, but the other electrical components rarely require any input, if any attention is even needed at all.
To Giant’s line-up of electric bikes,the Giant Suede E was a more recent addition and as such you still see plenty of them on the road. It features both a throttle and pedal assist. The Suede E’s secondary throttle feature allows for boosts in power and some light, effortless cruising in addition to pedal assist.
The Giant Twist Freedom is the newest addition to the world of electric bikes even folding electric bikes. The Giant Twist embodies some of the best features of the Giant Lite and the Giant Seuede E, years of user feedback and market research, and other new innovative improvements and cutting edge technology. Much like the Giant Lite, the Twist works with pedal assistance. While enjoying an incredibly comfortable, easy ride,you can set it to three very effective modes of assistance. And the best part yet? You have slim,two light-weight batteries to alternate between. When one gets low, simply switch over to the next by means of a switch on the handlebar, allowing for an unprecedented range. 7-speeds, fenders, a rear rack, and pannier bags complete the package.
Tags: electric bicycle, Electric Bicycles, electric bike, Electric Bikes, folding electric bike
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