Show HN: Long Range E-Bike • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#221

Post by user_7832 » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:11 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #202

user_7832 wrote: post #190

I have a question for the author - what safety precautions do you take against theft for such an e-bike, especially when going to public places like supermarkets? I recently came to the Netherlands and have heard that bike theft is common, especially for expensive bikes. I would guess that such an e-bike would be an attractive target, so do you take additional precautions when parking in public places (like 2/3/4 loc…

I would not leave it outside for more than a few minutes unattended. It's too expensive for that.

That makes sense, thank you. I assume you use a "regular"/beater bike for such activities (like supermarkets)?

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#222

Post by gtirloni » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:11 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #152

glenjamin wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking at those power numbers, I can't help but wonder how much you'd gain by doing this sort of modification on a bike that is more efficient and/or aerodynamic even without the motor attached. A touring bike frame with 700c wheels and a more stretched out position would likely allow you to travel at the same speed for lower total power output - and make your battery go further (or not require such a large battery)…

There are velomobiles here, and also e-bike versions of those that go wicked fast. They also ride on the bike paths. I think they're quite dangerous because they are so low that you are riding below the height of a car hood (or a mirror for that matter). Here is a picture of one: http://dutchbikes.nl/artwork2/kv4/passing.jpg and a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAcy7EVRpXc

I think it's insane this is allowed on the streets without a license or anything. I'm afraid of riding my regular bike if there's no bike lanes, let alone something like this in the middle of all the cars. Insane.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#223

Post by dheera » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:12 PM UTC

pharmakom wrote: post #214

fragmede wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And scooters, electric-scooters, and sit-down electric scooters. And electric wheelchairs, and non-electric wheelchairs and mobility assist carts with handlebars. We also have to delineate between a daydreaming cyclist who's top speed is slow, and a hard-core cyclist with a $3000+ bike that can hit 40 mph in the right conditions. Those cyclists should be banned from using the same paths as the first kind of bicyclist…

A really important factor you didn’t mention is weight. KE = 0.5 * v * v * m

Yes but probability of a crash is probably related to the spread in the velocities of various agents.

This is why I often ride my 40 km/h max electric moped on bike paths. Cars don't give me enough following distance so I'm not risking my life there. I also slow down drastically when passing pedal bikers.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#224

Post by utopcell » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:12 PM UTC

gquiniou wrote: post #167

I am surprised velomobiles are never mentioned: they are much faster than traditional bicycles, have some protection from the weather and can be electric assisted too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velomobile

Too close to the ground; that's what "killed" Sinclair's version of it.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#225

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:12 PM UTC

drited wrote: post #197

jacquesm wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speed limit on bike lanes in the city is 30 kph, outside it is 45. So those rules already exist (here, in NL).

What is the max speed of the bike you made jacquesm? I note from the start of the article that low speed of alternatives was one of your motivations. I saw the range stats in the last paragraph but didn't notice speed stats (perhaps I missed that?)

45 kph flat out, if you try to go faster you are fighting the motor. But practically you're going to top out at about 40 kph on the Bosch system, using a Stromer or a Klever s-pedelec you will be able to maintain that 45 kph a lot longer. But 38 is plenty for me, it's still a bike and the little bit of extra speed does not weigh up against the risks.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#226

Post by harshaw » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:12 PM UTC

Great project. I have a 2018 giant quick e+ that is speed limited to 28mph for the US market - in reality gets up to 26-27. In general the push bike cycling technology is universal (SRAM, shimano, campy, etc kit works everywhere) but for e-bikes there are wierd oddities where all the enthusiasm of the international DIY community doesn't quite translate to different locations because of differences in the battery and motor. I wanted to add a supernova headlight to my bike and what seemed like it would work was really hard because the US wire harnesses were different, voltages were different, etc.

In order to support the weight of the motor and batteries these bikes tend to be really beefy and top out at around 50 lbs. Not sure how much your extra batteries weigh - but if you exhaust the batteries on a 50lb bike you need to make sure you have a super granny gear to get you home if you have hills.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#227

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:13 PM UTC

groone wrote: post #189

TacticalCoder wrote: post #27

We really need a terminology to differentiate better between pedal-assist only e-bikes ("pedelec") and electric motorbikes. A "bicycle" that can accelerate without the need to pedal at all is an electric motorcycle, no matter if you put pedal on it or not. I see the two as totally different things: I've tried pedal-assist e-bike and they're great. But... Although I have nothing against motorbikes I'm not cool at all…

In my opinion the throttled e-bikes should be treated as bicycles as long as they have pedals and are under 25kg and 250W power. That would legalize my e-bike that I have used for 14000km in city saving a lot of carbon emissions and not sacrificing much as I can park it in bicycle stand. Of course going faster than 20-25km/h in pedestrian traffic (where bicycles are allowed) is extremely dangerous. But from my experi…

Is that with or without the weight of the battery ;)

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#228

Post by aidenn0 » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:13 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #171

rjbwork wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have an e-bike and I disagree with your assertions. I'm a fat asthmatic and I have absolutely no problem maintaining 40kph for long stretches of time on my bike. The fastest I've done on it (on a large hill but still) is 42.7MPH (~68Kph). Average cruising speed on flat land can easily be 30-33mph(48-53kph). Not all e-bikes are capable of this, but they are certainly not some kind of rare expensive impossibility - m…

I'm sure there are other e-bikes, but those are not available where I live. The fastest here are the Stromers, they are a little bit faster but not exceptionally so and they also cut out at 45 kph, just like mine. At a guess your bike outputs more power than is legal here.

Anything over 45kph or 750W is illegal unless registered as a moped in California at least (and much of the rest of the US as well). Enforcement is lax in most places though.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#229

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:15 PM UTC

harshaw wrote: post #226

Great project. I have a 2018 giant quick e+ that is speed limited to 28mph for the US market - in reality gets up to 26-27. In general the push bike cycling technology is universal (SRAM, shimano, campy, etc kit works everywhere) but for e-bikes there are wierd oddities where all the enthusiasm of the international DIY community doesn't quite translate to different locations because of differences in the battery and…

Chances of depleting this battery in normal use are nil unless you end up driving to Berlin from Amsterdam or so :) It can go up to the country borders in every direction.

The added weight is 130 times 50 grams + the weight of the enclosure. 170 batteries in there, but the original battery already had 40 of those.

Agreed that you don't want to pedal it uphill without the motor running that would get old really quick.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#230

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 7:16 PM UTC

Torkel wrote: post #219

fragmede wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And scooters, electric-scooters, and sit-down electric scooters. And electric wheelchairs, and non-electric wheelchairs and mobility assist carts with handlebars. We also have to delineate between a daydreaming cyclist who's top speed is slow, and a hard-core cyclist with a $3000+ bike that can hit 40 mph in the right conditions. Those cyclists should be banned from using the same paths as the first kind of bicyclist…

Multi-lane bike ”highways” would be awesome. What matters most (imo) is that all these riders are unprotected, and should be kept far apart from cars. If the unprotected, single rider, narrow vehicles want do drive at vastly different speeds then multiple lanes seems like a good solution.

We have some of these in NL.