Sheik Yerbouti
Member
- Local time
- 8:59 PM
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2008
- Messages
- 195
Hey guys,
It's been awhile since I posted, probably about 2 years. Before I made 2 Happy time bikes with my buddy. Fast forward a few years, and now my class is working with Fuji bikes, to design the next generation of E-Bikes.
We were broken off into groups based on the customer. A few friends and myself are designing our bike for the "Regular Guy" crowd. Not necessarily the gear head or the engineer. Just a guy who wants to use his car less and use an e-bike for recreational riding, short commutes, or running light errands. But we are trying to design with cost effectiveness in mind.
Right now we are in the research phase of this project. And that's why I'm hear. You guys are the best source for information we need to get our projects off the ground. As I mentioned earlier, we are striving to find the balance between cost and a reliable, consumer friendly product. Think...the Honda Cub of e-bikes.
Here's a real basic survey to gather some more general information if you guys wouldn't mind filling it out.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JKNPRRN
So, the first question. Batteries. I know the bikes that are at our price point are mostly SLA (the Currie bikes). From what I gather, they're heavy, don't last many cycles, and don't last very long per charge. Lithium ion batteries are much more expensive from what I understand, but I don't know much about NiCad and NiMh. Somebody said the NiCad's are idiot proof in a different thread. How much is the upgrade from SLA to a different, more reliable battery?
We are also investigating different ways to make e-bikes convenient and easier for commutes and groceries. Maybe a grease-less drivetrain. Belt or shaft driven?
What would you guys like to see done in a lower priced bike, that is currently being ignored by products on the market now? Any other suggestions?
Thanks again guys, you're a ton of help.
It's been awhile since I posted, probably about 2 years. Before I made 2 Happy time bikes with my buddy. Fast forward a few years, and now my class is working with Fuji bikes, to design the next generation of E-Bikes.
We were broken off into groups based on the customer. A few friends and myself are designing our bike for the "Regular Guy" crowd. Not necessarily the gear head or the engineer. Just a guy who wants to use his car less and use an e-bike for recreational riding, short commutes, or running light errands. But we are trying to design with cost effectiveness in mind.
Right now we are in the research phase of this project. And that's why I'm hear. You guys are the best source for information we need to get our projects off the ground. As I mentioned earlier, we are striving to find the balance between cost and a reliable, consumer friendly product. Think...the Honda Cub of e-bikes.
Here's a real basic survey to gather some more general information if you guys wouldn't mind filling it out.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JKNPRRN
So, the first question. Batteries. I know the bikes that are at our price point are mostly SLA (the Currie bikes). From what I gather, they're heavy, don't last many cycles, and don't last very long per charge. Lithium ion batteries are much more expensive from what I understand, but I don't know much about NiCad and NiMh. Somebody said the NiCad's are idiot proof in a different thread. How much is the upgrade from SLA to a different, more reliable battery?
We are also investigating different ways to make e-bikes convenient and easier for commutes and groceries. Maybe a grease-less drivetrain. Belt or shaft driven?
What would you guys like to see done in a lower priced bike, that is currently being ignored by products on the market now? Any other suggestions?
Thanks again guys, you're a ton of help.