Electrifying a bicycle

[jojo]

I am seriously thinking of electrifying my bike. Before anyone get the flame thrower at me, let me give my reasons!

I have a heart problem, called Paroxismal Attrial Fibbrilation, for which I have to take medication. It can be weeks betwewen episodes, but when it happens, I can feel like c**p for hours on end. I want to be able to continue cycling, cos I like it. But also don't want to be stranded on the side of a road, because if my heart is playing up, I wouldn't be able to pedal!

So has anyone got some experience of electrifying their bike? I know you can buy kits but they are blooming expensive! And I'd rather have fun doing it myself. And it should work out cheaper anyway.

 

[mrcharly]

The kits are dear for a reason - it isn't a simple job (unless you are knowledgeable in building motor controllers).

I would suggest looking for someone with a kit that they want to sell on, and consider getting a replacement battery.

The http://www.atob.org.uk/Electric_Buyers'_Guide.html and velovision lot might be able to help. Also try GetCycling for advice. Avoid buying from Jim McGurn tho'; he will overcharge like mad.

There is a lightweight front wheel motor that is spoken of highly - gives a 150W boost - enough to keep you going at a very decent speed. Look at the Cytronex.

 

[TREETOP]

Hi Jojo, Take a look on Ebay loads of good bike shop sellers on there here's one i just found that seems like a good price.
Some of the imports from china look good to fully built front or rear wheels with bushless motor hubs and some do 35 mph So then sir how fast were you going when you past my police car
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IZIP-ELECTRIC...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3a64a53770

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/48V-1000W-ELE...porting_Goods_Scooters_LE&hash=item4cf5708f97

 

[galopede]

Hi Jojo, Take a look on Ebay loads of good bike shop sellers on there here's one i just found that seems like a good price.
Some of the imports from china look good to fully built front or rear wheels with bushless motor hubs and some do 35 mph So then sir how fast were you going when you past my police car
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IZIP-ELECTRIC...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3a64a53770

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/48V-1000W-ELE...porting_Goods_Scooters_LE&hash=item4cf5708f97

There's a 15mph limit on electric bikes in the UK!

 

[TREETOP]

There's a 15mph limit on electric bikes in the UK!

Well you learn something every day, Seems a bit OTT tho i mean i can go 20mph pedaling on the flat with not to much effort.
Heath and safety mad this country

 

[Glen]

I think you'll find that it's a 15mph limit on the electric assist not on the bike. That is the bike can be assisted up to 15mph, though shouldn't be capable of being assisted over 15mph but is legal to be used above that without the assist.

 

[Manacles]

I've been keeping an eye on this thread out of pure curiosity. I am a closet green and have an interest in alternative modes of transport. A mile or so from where I live is a specialist dealer in electric bikes, scooters and things. I would be happy to pop over there and pick up any leaflets or advice sheets they have for you if you would like. It's not even out of my way as I drive past it about once a week. If you pm me an address I will send on anything I can pick up from them on to you

 

[789987]

I think you'll find that it's a 15mph limit on the electric assist not on the bike. That is the bike can be assisted up to 15mph, though shouldn't be capable of being assisted over 15mph but is legal to be used above that without the assist.

whats the chances of

a) ever being pulled over

b) the policeman knowing that

c) getting anything more than a warning

i say fit 2. one on the front wheel, one on the back!

 

[mrcharly]

uhuh.

You ever braked a bicycle to a stop, from 30mph?

 

[Indoorsout]

Yeah, just don't grab a fistfull of front brake!

 

[No Idea]

Er....

Ive got an electric scooter that I put new batteries in.

It takes 2 12v batteries and uses them to make 24v.

The charger for it is a 24v thing.

So....

I was wondering...

Can I join two solar panels together to charge it at 24v. or would it not work?

 

[Lee Wright]

Yes you could, it would take a while though. Good idea though, be worthwhile if it was secure as the scooter could be charging while it was parked up

 

[HHazeldean]

Attach it to a car battery and it will be seriously electrified.

 

[rik_uk3]

I think sinclair do them now. How about a little motor scooter?

 

[ged]

Ive got an electric scooter that I put new batteries in. It takes 2 12v batteries and uses them to make 24v. ... Can I join two solar panels together to charge it at 24v. ...

Sort of. You really need a controller for any solar charging setup. For a 12V battery you need a 12V controller. For a 24V battery you need a 24V controller. The solar panels need to be able to deliver enough voltage to power the controller. That usually means more than 24V for a 24V controller. Quite a bit more.

Personally I'd say in the UK at least, forget solar charging for something that needs as much power as your transport unless you can afford huge (and therefore very expensive) solar panels. It will be a lot cheaper and a lot faster to charge from the mains.

To give you an idea of how pathetic solar power is in the UK, I tried to use a 60 Watt solar panel (maximum output theoretically something like 5 amps at 12 volts) connected permanently to the battery on my Jeep just to keep the battery topped up while it sits parked for weeks on end when I'm out of the country. The panel couldn't even keep the battery topped up when all that was running on the Jeep was the alarm, which takes just a fraction of an amp. Absolutely hopeless. I gave up with the panel and ran a cable out of the garage window to a cheap Halfords battery charger, which sits in the back of the Jeep. The charger is plugged into a power point which Chrysler thoughtfully put there for running the 'fridge...

 

[ickyan]

I have become crazy about recumbents recently and I am in the process of building one.
They may be less of a strain for someone with a heart problem but not much I dont think
However I have seen these really good videos of someone making a electric recumbent trike hybrid with a shell
must have cost ALLOT and not legal but still good to watch:
part1

 

[ickyan]

Also you could look into hub motors (legal limit is about 200-300W but you could fake the sticker!)

 

[dasy2k1]

AFAIK you can make a bike go over 15mph legally,
you just need a moped licence, insurance and a numberplate to ride it on the road legally

 

[Jock]

Ask your GP to send you to an Electrophysiologist for an RF ablation.