Are electric bike kits the same thing as bicycle engine kits?
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
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.
Conversion Kit of The Ebike
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
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.
Riding
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
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.
How to Choose Electric Bike and Electric Scooter
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
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.
Why Go Electric?
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
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.
Electric Bikes:Save Energy and Money
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
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.
A folding bike to get
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
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.
A brief history of Giant electric bicycles
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
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.
A purpose-built e-bike is designed from the ground up
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
In the industry, electric bikes come in two basic designs – adaptive and purpose-built. The adaptive type adds a drive system to it and starts with a bicycle. It’s for about the price of our purpose-built bikes with these hits on ebay. From the ground up,a purpose-built e-bike is designed. Purpose-built bikes have eavy duty frames,innovative designs,reinforced suspension,built-in features and heavy-load tires. Users of both types enjoy easy acceleration, hill climbing, and cutting through headwinds.
Rechargeable batteries, usually sealed lead-acid, provide power for the electric drive motors. Charging costs less than 5 cents of electricity from common 110 VAC wall outlets. 3 – 8 hours is the normal charging time. Most electric bikes have a standard lead acid battery. However, in order to make it lighter, our folding electric bike comes with the Ni-Mh batteries standard, and with our mountain bike, we do have available at an option the Ni-Mh batteries which are last longer and work better in temperatures below freezing. Gasoline bikes, often referred to as mopeds, differ from e-bikes in that they generate more speed, risk, range, noise, pollution, and in some states, legal issues.
30 mph id the top speed of mopeds limited by law. A driver’s license and registration is often required. Also, these gas bikes usually have two-cycle engines, requiring you to mix oil and gasoline. They are nortorius for other mechancial problems like head gasket. The electric bike is much more simple. An electric bicycle, which by law is limited to a top speed of 20 mph, reduces the risk of serious injury. Its shorter range of 15 – 40 miles is plenty for errands and short commutes. E-bikes are the cleanest motorized vehicles both in terms of air pollution and noise. Compared to gasoline bicycles, their disadvantage is that they do not work as well with very cold temperatures and are slow.
Defining the electric bike
Filed under: Cycling, Mountain Biking, bicycling, biking tour, pedalling
The term ‘electric bike’ is to the uninitiated it might be a somewhat nebulous term and bandied about a lot these days. When refered to as an ‘electric bicycle,’ the imagery the name conjures becomes a bit more focused. Calls up images from basic mopeds to the electric motorbikes seen in Akira,simply saying ‘electric bike,’. It will need to make properly efforts to define the electric bike.
To begin understanding just what an electric bicycle is, you should start with your basic bicycle. Not to complicate. Your classical bicycle are with none of the bells or whistles and a conservative number of speeds. Now three things an electric motor, a battery, and a controller that activates and regulates the power and electric assistance. You have the basics of an electric bike with those three items.
An electric bike has electric components equipped on it which is a standard bicycle. An electric bike or a folding electric bike will function normally like a regular bicycle. An electric bike will pedal like a regular bicycle, handle like a regular bicycle, and by and large an electric bike will use the same same parts as a regular bicycle. An electric bike is not to be thought of and used as motorcycle but as a bicycle. An electric bike is not completely replace it but meant to augment human power. An electric bike is not about traveling at high speeds. It happens to be easier with imagining an electric bike as a regular bike. Yes, an electric bike is an easy bike.
Electric bikes come in a variety of styles. there are different frame sizes to accomodate different rider sizes like regular bikes,as well as riding styles.When it comes to the three previously-mentioned main parts hat make them electric: the motor, battery, and controller, electric bikes also differ.