1/ legal issues affect many of us re petrol bikes. Laws are often largely honored in the breach, but why push your luck?
2/ low torque petrol power is a pain to start and for stop go work (as are chain drives)
3/ electric range issues ~go away with a regen capable motor and controller
4/ adding a front hub motor is simple and cheapish (NB, i really think the premium for a 2 speed one is worth it)
SO:
A front motor with regen and fast charge storage could charge the bike when under petrol power or braking. A; big, heavy, expensive battery is not mandatory. Just a; light, fast charge/discharge, ~5ah 36v one should do (36o watts of power for half an hour or 720watts for 15 minutes, even 1000 watts on a 3c max discharge battery like mainstream lifepo4 chemistry units).
Getting rolling on electric and dropping the clutch = electric start convenience
Use electric when cops are a risk, motor on back roads and hill climbs where the extra power is really appreciated. Once altitude is gained, a puny electric alone is fine. A QUIET petrol motor seems a must for similar reasons. Why push your luck.
Much of life is factoring risk. Get this one wrong, and once the local cop has warned you once, your petrol bike may as well be scrapped. They dont like their rulings, no matter how silly, being ignored.
Technically, it's only illegal if the petrol motor is powering it on a public road, maybe even if the motor is warm? "I only use that motor on private land officer" should work sort of.
A simple example is a farm kid rides to the edge of town on petrol, and switches to electric around town. If he is sensible, the town cop may well turn a blind eye, even if he spots him on rural roads.
Aside from the above, electric when it suffices, is so much more pleasant.
Much as I love my mid drive ebike, the chain and cogs have been the most troublesome bit of an otherwise very maintenance free, joyous workhorse.
For many, the extra traction of an AWD bike may have big appeal - mud/snow etc.
I have to say, its kind of cool that such cutting edge prius like automotive technology, is so readily accessible to DIY folk in the bike world. I predict that for EV autos to work, they have to be lighter and simpler. The minimalist Nissan Leaf, is 1600 kilos for gods sake. Its just too big an ask for batteries to propel such mass very far for a long time to come. 150 kilos should be easily doable for a four passenger tuk tuk/mini moke type vehicle made from bike framing and bits.
2/ low torque petrol power is a pain to start and for stop go work (as are chain drives)
3/ electric range issues ~go away with a regen capable motor and controller
4/ adding a front hub motor is simple and cheapish (NB, i really think the premium for a 2 speed one is worth it)
SO:
A front motor with regen and fast charge storage could charge the bike when under petrol power or braking. A; big, heavy, expensive battery is not mandatory. Just a; light, fast charge/discharge, ~5ah 36v one should do (36o watts of power for half an hour or 720watts for 15 minutes, even 1000 watts on a 3c max discharge battery like mainstream lifepo4 chemistry units).
Getting rolling on electric and dropping the clutch = electric start convenience
Use electric when cops are a risk, motor on back roads and hill climbs where the extra power is really appreciated. Once altitude is gained, a puny electric alone is fine. A QUIET petrol motor seems a must for similar reasons. Why push your luck.
Much of life is factoring risk. Get this one wrong, and once the local cop has warned you once, your petrol bike may as well be scrapped. They dont like their rulings, no matter how silly, being ignored.
Technically, it's only illegal if the petrol motor is powering it on a public road, maybe even if the motor is warm? "I only use that motor on private land officer" should work sort of.
A simple example is a farm kid rides to the edge of town on petrol, and switches to electric around town. If he is sensible, the town cop may well turn a blind eye, even if he spots him on rural roads.
Aside from the above, electric when it suffices, is so much more pleasant.
Much as I love my mid drive ebike, the chain and cogs have been the most troublesome bit of an otherwise very maintenance free, joyous workhorse.
For many, the extra traction of an AWD bike may have big appeal - mud/snow etc.
I have to say, its kind of cool that such cutting edge prius like automotive technology, is so readily accessible to DIY folk in the bike world. I predict that for EV autos to work, they have to be lighter and simpler. The minimalist Nissan Leaf, is 1600 kilos for gods sake. Its just too big an ask for batteries to propel such mass very far for a long time to come. 150 kilos should be easily doable for a four passenger tuk tuk/mini moke type vehicle made from bike framing and bits.
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. Trouble is, its just for a giggle. It doesn't suit me here in the city.
