T
Tourezrick
Guest
I applaud you for wanting to commute by assisted bike, being green, getting exercise at the same time. But, I think you are asking a lot from a transportation option that would be really hard pressed to meet your wants.
What I've learned in the short time I've been riding an assisted trike -
1. Faster means a more powerful motor - either electric or human, or both.
2. Faster means a bigger/heavier or bigger/very expensive battery pack. VERY EXPENSIVE
3. Faster - on a bike frame meant for lighter riders, but ridden by a heavier rider with a motor and battery means frame failure down the road, while on the road. That frame isn't gonna break in the garage. Chances are it will break with a pickemup or garbage truck or gas tanker behind you. You don't want that and none of us want that for you.
4. Farther means very hard pedaling on your part plus # 2.
5. Farther means that at some time, you may want to try solar to help charge your battery as you ride, thus getting you farther down the road.
6. Farther means you may be tempted to try a small genset on a trailer rather than solar.
So, what have I tried/learned? A delta trike (2 wheels in back) with a hub motor up front and solar panels on the trike and trailer to boost range. I started out with sealed lead acid batteries, a Wilderness Energy 20" wheel up front at 36v 400w, which was good for 15 mph no pedal, 20+ with pedal, range of 12 miles no pedal, 20 pedal. When I added 50# of solar panels, I once got 33 miles, but I was pedaling my a** off and it was a lot more work than just riding my unassisted trike. The solar would give me 36v 45w - so, about 12% increase in range. Sure, I could have gone with larger panels at $400 - $900 each, multiplied by 3 to get the 36v I needed. A losing battle, but very green! Somehow, on a 90 degree day, it just wasn't what I thought it would be! I wanted more speed, so, I went to 26" wheels all around and a Crystalyte X5 motor running at 36v. First day out, I bailed on the throttle at 25 mph, although I'm sure it would have pulled up to 30 or more had I waited and pedaled harder. The solar trailer started fishtailing - had that happen once in 1975 when towing my Alfa Romeo race car up to Road America. Not fun then, less fun now. A few years ago, at the Midwest Recumbent Rally at the Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point, Wis., I saw a guy riding a Sun USX with a Cyclone motor assist, towing a trailer with a gen set on it, plus his dog, in a transport cage on the trailer. Poor dog! Gassed and deafened by his loving master!
I'm adding LiFePO4 batteries, 20 Ah, but the pack is rated at 1.5C, which may not be high enough, maybe I should have gone with NiMh at 3 or 5C. Time will tell!
I think the people that have been telling you that if you want to go fast on electric power, get a scooter have a good point. You may not like the idea, but riding with a 2 hp (36v) or 4 hp (72v) hubmotor is a real handfull, especially if the motor is up front. You won't get the benefit of the heavy (25# or more) motor's gyro effect until you are moving at a good clip, and up until that point, it is a beast that can have a mind of it's own! I've 'burned rubber' at a standing start - little weight up front on a delta trike, and when the pavement is damp - it seems like there is an evil force up front just trying to get me sideways and turned over. Then, there is the issue that any assist motor over 750 watts (1 hp approx.) is illegal, Federally and assisted bikes traveling over 20 mph - ditto. Will you end up on 'COPS' or'SPEEDERS' on cable tv? Probably not, but being in California, Eric Estrada could be around any bend, radar in hand, waiting.
It's your choice to make, and you could probably do it by lowering your expectations on speed. From your photo, I'd guess that you are a 'mature' adult like me (sounds better than borderline geezer, right?) and should have gained respect for how long road rash takes to heal, let alone broken bones. Temper what you want with what is safe and practical and enjoyable. And have a good ride!
What I've learned in the short time I've been riding an assisted trike -
1. Faster means a more powerful motor - either electric or human, or both.
2. Faster means a bigger/heavier or bigger/very expensive battery pack. VERY EXPENSIVE
3. Faster - on a bike frame meant for lighter riders, but ridden by a heavier rider with a motor and battery means frame failure down the road, while on the road. That frame isn't gonna break in the garage. Chances are it will break with a pickemup or garbage truck or gas tanker behind you. You don't want that and none of us want that for you.
4. Farther means very hard pedaling on your part plus # 2.
5. Farther means that at some time, you may want to try solar to help charge your battery as you ride, thus getting you farther down the road.
6. Farther means you may be tempted to try a small genset on a trailer rather than solar.
So, what have I tried/learned? A delta trike (2 wheels in back) with a hub motor up front and solar panels on the trike and trailer to boost range. I started out with sealed lead acid batteries, a Wilderness Energy 20" wheel up front at 36v 400w, which was good for 15 mph no pedal, 20+ with pedal, range of 12 miles no pedal, 20 pedal. When I added 50# of solar panels, I once got 33 miles, but I was pedaling my a** off and it was a lot more work than just riding my unassisted trike. The solar would give me 36v 45w - so, about 12% increase in range. Sure, I could have gone with larger panels at $400 - $900 each, multiplied by 3 to get the 36v I needed. A losing battle, but very green! Somehow, on a 90 degree day, it just wasn't what I thought it would be! I wanted more speed, so, I went to 26" wheels all around and a Crystalyte X5 motor running at 36v. First day out, I bailed on the throttle at 25 mph, although I'm sure it would have pulled up to 30 or more had I waited and pedaled harder. The solar trailer started fishtailing - had that happen once in 1975 when towing my Alfa Romeo race car up to Road America. Not fun then, less fun now. A few years ago, at the Midwest Recumbent Rally at the Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point, Wis., I saw a guy riding a Sun USX with a Cyclone motor assist, towing a trailer with a gen set on it, plus his dog, in a transport cage on the trailer. Poor dog! Gassed and deafened by his loving master!
I'm adding LiFePO4 batteries, 20 Ah, but the pack is rated at 1.5C, which may not be high enough, maybe I should have gone with NiMh at 3 or 5C. Time will tell!
I think the people that have been telling you that if you want to go fast on electric power, get a scooter have a good point. You may not like the idea, but riding with a 2 hp (36v) or 4 hp (72v) hubmotor is a real handfull, especially if the motor is up front. You won't get the benefit of the heavy (25# or more) motor's gyro effect until you are moving at a good clip, and up until that point, it is a beast that can have a mind of it's own! I've 'burned rubber' at a standing start - little weight up front on a delta trike, and when the pavement is damp - it seems like there is an evil force up front just trying to get me sideways and turned over. Then, there is the issue that any assist motor over 750 watts (1 hp approx.) is illegal, Federally and assisted bikes traveling over 20 mph - ditto. Will you end up on 'COPS' or'SPEEDERS' on cable tv? Probably not, but being in California, Eric Estrada could be around any bend, radar in hand, waiting.
It's your choice to make, and you could probably do it by lowering your expectations on speed. From your photo, I'd guess that you are a 'mature' adult like me (sounds better than borderline geezer, right?) and should have gained respect for how long road rash takes to heal, let alone broken bones. Temper what you want with what is safe and practical and enjoyable. And have a good ride!
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