Meetup Message Board Update

   Hello to all my fellow Toronto e-bikers, blog readers, and just curious guests! Today I finally figured out how to regularly post news and updates from an excellent Meetup group called Toronto Electric Riders Association or symbolically  - "TERA" of which I am active and proud member myself (which makes me wondering  - should I call myself now "TERArian" or "TERArist"? :-), so here it is. Now every visitor of this blog will be able to learn about this abundant source of all kind of help, advice and assistance for all active and interested e-riders of T.O. I hope within the time these updates will bring many more new e-bikers from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, US and from around the world to TERA where we can share our visions, ideas and thoughts.

*Please do not reply to this message*
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You asked that we send you a summary of Meetup message board activity. The following is a list of discussions with new messages posted since October 10, 2012 3:45 AM.
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TORONTO ELECTRIC RIDERS ASSOCIATION
Forum: Private Group Discussion Forum
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STRATEGY - Public Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting October 11
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=27275032
Latest message by m3chen on October 10, 2012 at 3:32 PM

Lock is in the hospital
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=27606732
Latest message by Katie Tucker on October 10, 2012 at 6:38 PM

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TORONTO ELECTRIC RIDERS ASSOCIATION
Forum: Where to buy an e-bike or e-bike accessories?
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Advice needed to get my ebike back on the road.
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=27704592
Latest message by Lubo Ebiker on October 10, 2012 at 2:33 PM

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TORONTO ELECTRIC RIDERS ASSOCIATION
Forum: E-bike Experiences
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Changing from large scooter style e-bike to smaller
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=27422432
Latest message by Fred Weigel on October 10, 2012 at 8:35 AM

My experience using LifePo4 so far and some advice
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=26277482
Latest message by Ramon on October 10, 2012 at 9:38 PM

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TORONTO ELECTRIC RIDERS ASSOCIATION
Forum: E-Bike Technical Forum
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I guess it had to happen sooner or later ... :(
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=27453472
Latest message by m3chen on October 10, 2012 at 3:17 PM

BMS wiring
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=27724582
Latest message by Tariq Aziz on October 11, 2012 at 12:20 AM

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TORONTO ELECTRIC RIDERS ASSOCIATION
Forum: Biker Bar
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Who Killed the Electric Carriage?
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=25424232
Latest message by Allan Harmsworth on October 11, 2012 at 2:27 AM

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TORONTO ELECTRIC RIDERS ASSOCIATION
Forum: Top 20 Questions with Snappy (but accurate) comebacks.
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Winter Riding - I am planning on leaving on my pedals but removing the chain
http://www.ebikeriders.com/boards/view/viewthread?thread=27189872
Latest message by Andy McKenna on October 10, 2012 at 10:17 AM



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Meetup, PO Box 4668 #37895 New York, New York 10163-4668

Meetup HQ in NYC is hiring! http://www.meetup.com/jobs/

About the Winter storage for your e-bike... again! :-)

   Hi, fellas! We all know - old man Winter is coming, and how hard is it sometimes to find a good warm cozy stable for our faithful and so handy little electric horses. After 5 years of e-biking in Canada I know that very well too, since I'm living in the apartment like most of you too, so this year I've decided to try and help my fellow e-biking Torontonians to cope with that problem in a most efficient, elegant, meaningful and affordable way offering the thoroughly put together unbeatable storage and service package for just mere $50 a months which at the end of the cold season will not even buy you a decent new lead-acid battery, but will keep your horse and his energy source in a good or even better shape than it was, so here's my ad I run currently on Toronto's Kijiji website:

 

  Store your e-bike securely indoor over the winter in a regular secure public storage facility for $50 per month and get your e-bike or scooter and battery maintained and ready for the next riding season for free during the entire cold season from November thru March or you can store only your battery in a heated climate controlled secure indoor storage for just $20 per months and still have it regularly charged and professionally maintained.

Free E- bike maintenance includes:

- Drum brake pads checked and properly adjusted or replaced
- Tires pumped and kept up to the specified pressure
- All bearings and gears lubricated
- Screws, bolts and nuts tightened
- Loose plastic parts reattached
- Loose wires and parts secured
- Power lines checked and their efficiency measured and  analyzed
- Small plastic cracks fixed
- Small dents on plastic repainted


Free SLA battery maintenance includes:

- Original condition and performance analyzed and recorded
- Capacity checked and accurately measured at multiple loads
- Every SLA cell capacity analyzed individually and labeled
- Overall battery performance balanced and battery trained
- Weak cells detected and reconditioned or replaced
- Battery training and reconditioning progress measured and recorded
- Battery wires checked and battery properly reassembled
- Battery case fixed if needed


Free pickup and delivery within GTA.
Free access to the storage by appointment.
Free consultation, advices, battery performance and capacity analysis.

Other free and paid repairs, fixes, services or arrangements are possible.

The labor and maintenance are free if e-bike is stored for at least three months. Parts are extra.

On the pictures above you can see me and my all terrain all season powerful horse :-)

Any questions by phone or e-mail are welcome.

Your fellow e-biker Lubo. 
 E b i k e r L u b o & B i k e R i d e r . c o m
( 6 4 7 ) 5 4 7 - 3 7 1 2 

Tranquillity of trailing the trailer on a green forest trail :-)

  Greetings from Lubo Ebiker to all my blog readers and visitors!

   Let me congratulate everyone with the beginning of a new 2011 e-riding season we all were patiently waiting for so long and can finally enjoy it after another extremely long and cold Canadian winter :-)  

   EbikerLubo.BlogSpot flips a new page for this wonderful season to keep you inspired and well informed on the latest trends in e-biking here in Canada, particularly in Toronto and GTA as well as in the whole world.

   Because of a substantial interest, on demand of my fellow Toronto e-bikers from Ebikeriders.com  for those, who is not a member of that excellent forum for TO e-bikers yet, I decided to post few pictures here of my improvised trailer I made myself last year from a regular heavy duty dolly, heavy duty caster wheel base as a hitch and a wire fence clamp to reliably keep them together that could  be all  readily and easily purchased  in Canadian Tire  or Rona here in Canada anytime or anywhere in the North America in Home Depot or Lowe's stores.

   Here are few words I have published recently at EbikeRiders.com as a quick review of daily usage of such a trailer out of my personal experience.

   "A big heavy duty wheel caster from Home Depot or Canadian Tire bolted upside down without a wheel on top of the rear rack, a heavy duty dolly (not a P-handle) for $50 from Canadian Tire plus a fence clamp to piece it together - works fine as an improvised trailer for me for the second season already.

   Cost-wise it's much cheaper than bicycle trailer for kids and much more convenient and versatile just like any other dolly would be. Removes easy from the bike by removing only one nut and bolt. Lets me easy bring batteries to an apartment on the 6th floor or bring half of a skid of bricks from a nearby construction site, takes 3 times more load than e-bike can handle :-)

   Speaking of the way to attach the trailer, there are pros and cons for all of them. For instance, if you extend the rear fork on one or both sides and hitch the trailer flat, then it doesn't block stop light, but it's harder to extend the fork and you can not take longer loads, also there is more load directly on the already heavily loaded rear wheel yet bypassing shocks, which soften the extra load and stress on a bumpy road. If you attach under the rack, the load might block rear lights and there is a good chance to damage the plastic when backing up with the trailer at sharp angle. So the best way for me so far is when hitch is installed on the top of a rear rack, but I have to extend my rear lights and remove the trunk box, which is ok for me, but might not work for somebody else. The best way I guess is to make the hitch easily removable too using some wing nuts and attach it in a way that is the best for a particular application or task.

   Now, word of caution. Out of my experience 350W bike is good only for up to about 100 lbs and when it's cold outside and no steep hills just for short trips. I successfully fried yesterday my smaller scooter's motor controller halfway to that exhibition, which is sad, though not a big deal for me, since I basically was waiting for the controller to die so I can finally replace it with a full size 12 FETs much better Daymak controller like I did on my first bike last year, but if that was my only bike I would have to shell out about 150 bucks to fix it and wait for a couple of weeks for repairs.

   For safety I also tie it with a cable and lock to the bike rack. Another thing to mention, speaking of safety are brakes, they better be disk brakes, but drums are sufficient, provided that they both work fine.

   Frame also flexes alot even with only 100-200lbs trailer on bumpy roads of which there are many here in TO, so some plastic might come off prematurely or even crack where it locks. Yesterday actually I got my trailer flipped for the first time when going at full speed on Willson Ave east of  Dufferin St, the road there was worse than in Ukrainian village :-) The bike was ok though, the hitch allowed enough freedom  for the trailer to flip on it's side without flipping the bike along with it. I just had to hold  the handlebar firm to still keep the scooter upright, so it's better to slow down on a bad road to some 15-20kmph, though it's easy to get used to going at full speed with the trailer behind after a while like with the car.

   Police never stopped me so far questioning the trailer or hitch design, so it probably does look solid, well done and reliable from their point of view.

   Speaking of drivers, some hesitate to pass or drive slowly behind staring at  the trailer, slowing down the traffic behind them and then blaming blocking of the road on us, especially ladies, so I must watch my mirrors and encourage them to pass safely time to time, even though the trailer is not any wider than the bike's handlebar, but  that's often the case even without the trailer for some mysterious reason. Some cheer up laughing and yelling jokes, when I'm moving big loads, others stop and admit that it's good idea worth to remember, trying to have a better look at the hitch, etc.

   Future improvements - wider wheel base to avoid flipping and maybe larger wheels for better coasting plus installation of light reflectors, red-white strips or even perimeter lights for safe riding during the dark, use bike flashers. Also it makes sense to extend the rear and front plastic dirt deflectors and make sure there is one on the dolly as well, otherwise dolly gets dirty quite fast. For the controller I'm going to install a fan or two with a switch to keep it cool when towing heavy loads at lower speed uphill during the hot summer day. Bolt removable big plastic box or two to the dolly to haul the small stuff, etc.

   For straps, those ratchet straps from a Dollar Rama work fine for me. The color is bright orange which I didn't quite like initially, but it definitely does add to the overall safety and visibility on the road :-)"

   That's all for now. If there's going to be even more interest here, I'll continue to post on that topic and eventually write more in depth review of my trailing experience here in TO. 

   If anyone has any questions, ideas or suggestions regarding my trailer, I'll do my best to answer timely them all here as well, so questions are welcome.

   Now here are some pics I took at my e-bike with the trailer attached, they are pretty much self-explanatory. You can click on them to enlarge for a more detailed view or right-click and open in a new tab for your convenience...

DISCLAIMER

   All said above is not to encourage anyone to make a trailer the way I made, using my hitch design or ask me to make one  for them, even though I can do it properly thanks to my extensive personal experience, or even to promote trailing at all, because obviously I cannot take responsibility for everyone's actions, safety or driving habits, except my own. 

   This blog article serves rather as an overview of my own two years long experience of towing the trailer  with an e-bike which I would like to share with all fellow e-bikers around the world who feels confident and seasoned enough to use my experience properly, carefully, safely and securely for their own good, and at their own risk to make their life easier and e-biking more practical and popular, giving the world another chance to live cars at home and e-ride instead, thus keeping the air cleaner, road safer and living  - greener. 

The Difference in Motor Power – 250w 500w 750w

Posted on 05 April 2010.

Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) Founder, Ed Benjamin, explains what it means in terms of electric bike performance for motors having varying degrees of output, from 250w-500w-750w:
A “bicycle” is a very privileged vehicle. It can use the roadway, or the bike path. There is no need for a driver’s license, license plate, or insurance. Taxes are limited to sales tax.
One of the key issues in defining an electric assisted bicycle as a “bicycle” is the power of the motor. The general idea is that if the bike has a motor that is “too powerful” then it is really a moped or motorcycle. So most laws that create and define the category of electric bicycle worldwide have a limitation on the power of the motor – with the idea that the ebike should have similar speed and performance to a normal bike.
That, by the way, is a pretty broad range of speed. Normal bikes can travel as fast as 30 MPH with a strong rider, and they can climb nearly any grade.
But in general, many nations have adopted laws that define a bike that uses a relatively low-powered motor, with a limited speed, as an electric bike – with the same privileges as a normal bicycle.
So what about motor output?
There are a lot of factors to consider in motor output choices for an electric bike. Here are some of them:
1. Legality. Different jurisdictions have different laws about motor output for a vehicle that can still be considered an electric bike. In the EU, Japan, China, and other places, the power limit is 250 watts. In the USA it is 750 watts.
2. How that power is measured. An argument can be made to measure power in these ways:
A. Electric current into the motor.
B. Mechanical power output at the “shaft”. (but if it is a hub motor…do we measure at the hub flange or the rim / tire?)
C. Power in, less the efficiency losses of that motor. (Complicated.) And more, whose machine and which method do we use to measure that power? In the EU, there are detailed regulations about how to measure power. In the USA, it is pretty much what the maker says it is, with no testing method described or required.
3. Do we use peak power (the amount of power that the motor is capable of producing under maximum effort for a short period before overheating) or do we use continuous power?
4. How much power can the battery support? There is a balance of cost, weight, and energy storage in the decisions about the motor power, battery size, etc.
This is not a simple subject. But I will offer my advice:
Most 250 watt systems are satisfactory for pedelecs (where the rider is pedaling and thus adding in his energy / effort).
For throttle-controlled, or power-on-demand systems where the rider is not pedaling, 350 to 500 watt systems are a better choice.
750 watts seems attractive, but this requires a big battery – and the combination of cost and weight is not that attractive. This combination will get better as technology improves, but at this time, 500 watts may be a better choice in many cases.
Climbing hills on any of these will require the rider to add in some muscle power – but not a lot.
In all cases, the rider will enjoy the ride, sweat a lot less, and have less fatigue and go farther, faster.

Electric Two Wheelers Will Sell But What Kind?

By Gregg Bagni

Posted: October 11, 2010

A recent study estimates some 466mm electric bikes, motorcycles and scooters will be sold worldwide over the next six years. Most will be sold in China and yes, it’s hard to fathom but some research says there’s already100mm electric bicycles on the road in China.

History repeats itself because everyone is getting all jiggy about electric bikes….again. Yo….I’m getting’ déjà vu dizzy thinking back a decade about the ill fated Schwinn-GT/Tom Mason/Currie electric bike partnership fueled by Tom’s industry outsider turned insider quest to show the bike biz how it was done.  (BTW, wtf ever happened to Mason anyway?)

No surprise, the doomed project transformed the production line into one that exclusively built closeouts and as my lovely colleague Andrew Herrick says, “There’s nothing worse than being ahead of your time”

But today it’s different, better technology, batteries, market, demand, etc. The list is promising. However, a case of black hole blindness prevents me from seeing the U.S. electric bike market accelerating as much as on other parts of your planet.

Instead, the big two wheeled electric sellers in the U.S. will be electric scooters.  Easy to park, low cost to produce/sell and operate and much more “streetwise” in their modus operandi. C’mon….if you’re a fat, lazy and unaccountable American why would you even think of getting around on a bike with a  boat anchor battery? Ha

Stand back you naysayers because the big players are jumping in deep with electric scooters….. Mini, Honda, Peugot, Nissan, etc….. all are corp-dudes that play for keeps.  With the ability to weeman dwarf any product/marketing efforts the puny U.S. electric bike industry can muster to convince consumers that your pedal platform electro-product is more relevant and desirable?        

OK…Can we hallucinate for this 5 minutes of my life?  If I was a bicycle retailer I’d consider opening up a new retail store called Lenny’s Electric Scooter & Bicycle Joint.

Location, location, locationed in a densely populated earthly urban market it would most likely be a “pop-up” retail opportunity. This small footprint, temporary satellite location would be a 90-180 day test with clean, simple, inexpensive and minimalist merchandising displays (think giant chalkboard art walls).

Of course, we’d offer up a tight line of urban friendly bikes at reasonable price points but the real focus would be a select line of electric only scooters and folding bikes….

Whoa…..I’m out of time…..Part Two of this post will pose the possibility of the folding bike becoming the future two wheeled icon of urban cool.  ??????

Retail Outlets Can Now Profit from Customers Needing Electricity Access for e-Bikes and Laptops

 

Pay-per-charge service makes recharging batteries as easy as buying long-distance minutes
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL and KITCHENER, ON, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ - Retailers across North America can now offer a revolutionary new service to customers whose cell phones, iPads, computers, e-bikes, e-scooters and other electronic devices need a charge. 2D2C, Inc.'s new SafePlug(R) Model 1200-P3 pay-per-use electrical outlet makes it safe and easy for retailers to provide pay-per-use electrical outlet access to the public.
"Customers will be able to purchase a pre-paid card that entitles them to a number of charges. They will simply touch the card to the SafePlug electrical outlet to have access to power for a set period of time to use or recharge their electronic device," said Steven Montgomery, Chief Operating Officer at 2D2C, Inc. "In today's world, recharging electronic devices and vehicles anytime, anywhere is going to be a necessity."
Everyone can relate to the frustration of running out of battery charge on computers or handheld devices prior to taking a long flight, or being stuck in a remote location with no means to recharge. Montgomery anticipates high demand for the SafePlug outlets in convenience stores, airports, hotel lobbies, malls and more. The device received eager interest on October 8, 2010 from retail store owners at the NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) trade show in Atlanta http://www.nacsonline.com/nacsshow/Pages/default.aspx).
The SafePlug 1200-P3's patented technology adds a high-value and high-return offering for retailers, while being affordable and convenient for users (for more detail go to: www.SafePlugOnDemand.com). The P3 pre-paid cards required to activate the outlets are available in either a plastic key-fob version or a credit-card sized paper version. The cards can carry retailer labeling and color advertising information for added benefit and can be dispensed from kiosks or at the counter.
The SafePlug 1200-P3 outlet will turn on electricity to its receptacle socket only after it reads a P3TM pre-paid card. The P3 card will be pre-loaded with a set number of fixed duration, charge-time credits. For example, a 20-minute charge time can typically restore 30-40 percent capacity for Li-ion rechargeable batteries commonly used in newer e-bicycles, e-mopeds, laptops and cell phones. Montgomery feels that most customers stuck for power won't mind the wait.
"It's truly a revolutionary design due to its built-in security to prevent 'power theft' by users who haven't pre-paid. The SafePlug outlet has LED indicators to show when it's charging and the credits left on the P3TM Pre-Paid Power card," said Montgomery. "The SafePlug system incorporates a lot of the features customers are familiar with when buying long-distance minutes or using an ATM, so it's going to be easy for people to start using the service."
The device even has 'anti-bully' technology to prevent someone from removing a customer's charge plug and inserting their own; the outlet will recognize the change of equipment and cut off the power feed. For the retailer's peace of mind, the SafePlug 1200-P3 system has built-in security features to prevent tampering with the pre-paid-cards or counterfeiting.
"The possibilities for this product are only limited by imagination," said Montgomery. "Wherever people are living, working, travelling or relaxing, they take electronic devices and the reality is, even the most sophisticated device is useless without a charge."
About 2D2C Inc.
2D2C, Inc. (www.2d2c.com) develops electrical wiring innovations for safety, energy and security. 2D2C, Inc. holds a number of patents on electrical safety and wiring devices and licenses its technology to other companies. Additionally, 2D2C, Inc. sells its own "SafePlug" product brand (www.SafePlugOnDemand.com). (SafePlug is a registered trademark and P3 is a trademark of 2D2C, Inc.) 2D2C, Inc., a Delaware company, was founded in 1999 with headquarters in Lincolnshire, IL and operational facilities in Kitchener, ON Canada.
SOURCE 2D2C, Inc.

E-bike rider seriously hurt in Windsor, Canada

The Windsor Star October 12, 2010

The rider of an electric bicycle is in hospital with a serious head injury after he collided head-on with a car Saturday night.
The accident happened around 6:30 p.m. as the rider of the silver e-bike attempted to make a right turn onto Silverdale Drive and collided head-on with a blue Dodge Spirit approaching the stop sign.
"It looks like he was trying to carry too much speed, took that turn a little too wide and caught that car as she was slowing down for the stop sign," said Windsor Police Staff Sgt. Todd Lamarre.
The cyclist, a Windsor man in his 40s, was thrown from his electric bicycle into the windshield of the car before landing on the pavement.
"I was working on homework when I heard a big thud," said Dilshan Pieris, who called 911. "I came outside and the guy was on the ground twitching, he had blood on his face and the driver was hysterical."
Lamarre said the rider was taken to hospital with a serious head injury. His condition was unknown at press time.
The driver of the Dodge Spirit will not be charged.
Another e-bike rider suffered non-life threatening injuries last month when he struck the door of a parked van on Wyandotte Street.
The cyclist was wearing a helmet and the driver of the van was charged with opening a vehicle door improperly.

© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star

Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/news/bike+rider+seriously+hurt/3655396/story.html#ixzz12GEuwFtT

Zerotracer motorcycle throws down gauntlet to electric cars

Zerotracer motorcycle throws down gauntlet to electric cars

By Darren Quick

02:11 July 6, 2010

8 Comments

8 Pictures

The Zerotracer

The Zero Race will see contestants dash around the globe in 80 days in zero emission, electric powered vehicles... and one of the most distinctive entries is the Zerotracer. Designed by a group of engineers from Winterthur, Switzerland, the Zerotracer is an electric motorcycle that encloses its two occupants in a Kevlar shell and is capable of a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and a range of 350 km (217 miles) on a single charge.

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The vehicle is based on a MonoTracer body but replaces that vehicle’s 4-cylinder in-line BMW K-engine with a battery-powered electric motor that provides 135 kW/183Hp to propel the Zerotracer from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Without passengers the body of the vehicle weighs less than 80kg (176-lbs) and the 18 kWh, 400V battery pack can be fully charged in two hours, while a quick charge can charge the battery pack to 80 percent capacity in less than 30 minutes.

Since the driver and passenger are enclosed in the vehicle’s Kevlar composite outer shell and can’t use their legs to stay upright when the Zerotracer isn’t moving the vehicle uses a pair of retractable wheels to stabilize itself when stationary. When retracted these wheels protrude from the side of the cabin to act as a “knee” to skim the road when cornering at high speeds.

Inside the cabin the occupants are treated to an almost noiseless ride thanks to the silent electric motor, unless of course they are listening to the Zerotracer’s stereo system. The vehicle also boasts a heating system and two bucket seats from which to enjoy the panoramic 250 degree-plus views provided by the plexiglass windshield.

The rules of the Zero Race state that the race teams must produce their own electricity using renewable sources such as solar, wind, wave and/or geothermal. This electricity must be then fed into the grid system in the home country of each team to offset the electricity used by the vehicles during the race. Taking care of this aspect is the team’s main sponsor, Oerlikon Solar, which will generate electricity from thin-silicon solar panels at the company’s headquarters in Trubbach, Switzerland.

With its aerodynamic design and impressive performance statistics the Zerotracerstands to be a real contender to take out the honors when the Zero Race kicks off in Geneva, Switzerland, on August 15. 2010. We’ll take a look at some of its competitors in the coming weeks.

Sanyo and Suzuki collaborate on experimental electric scooter project

Sanyo and Suzuki collaborate on experimental electric scooter project

By Paul Ridden

15:00 September 27, 2010

2 Pictures

Sanyo and Suzuki have announced a collaborative project resulting in the development of an electric drive system for an prototype scooter named e-Let's

    Sanyo and Suzuki have announced a collaborative project resulting in the development of an electric drive system for an prototype scooter named e-Let's. About the same weight as the petrol scooter it was based on, the prototype has a claimed range of 18.6 miles and its battery pack can be charged using a household outlet. The scooter is currently undergoing on-road trials leading to possible commercialization.

    Based on a petrol-engined model called the Let's4 basket, the e-Let's features an in-wheel electric motor to the rear with regenerative braking, a dedicated charger and battery system, a "high efficiency control circuit" and a Li-ion battery pack. The developers have managed to keep the new prototype at about the same weight (74kg) as its petrol predecessor.

    The e-Let's scooter is charged from a 100V household outlet and a single charge is said to take about four hours and should be good for a journey of around 18.6 miles (30km), not exactly ground-breaking but sufficient for most inner city journeys. The prototype is said to offer the kind of "smooth acceleration, nimble performance, low noise, low vibration" that is making electric scooters an attractive short commute option.

    Last week, Suzuki began testing the prototype on public roads in Japan and plans to use the data gathered to create a production model. The road trials will also be conducted as part of the Hamamatsu Social Experiment Project on Next-Generation Eco-Cars announced in May.

The PG-Bikes BlackTrail - world's fastest ebike!

URBAN TRANSPORT

The PG-Bikes BlackTrail - world's fastest ebike!

By Ben Coxworth

18:56 September 7, 2010

10 Comments

6 Pictures

The PG-Bikes BlackTrail - world's fastest ebike!

It’s no secret that as gas prices soar and battery technology evolves, electric bikes are fast becoming the next big two-wheeled thing. That trend is clearly evidenced by the strong showing ebikes are making at this year’s Eurobike trade show, currently taking place in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Over the next several days, we’ll be showing you a few examples that we’ve spotted at the show, but to start things off... well, let’s kick out the jams and go with the “Oh come on, you can’t be serious” ebike. It called the BlackTrail, and with a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), it’s officially the world’s fastest commercially-available electric bicycle – and probably the most awesome-looking, to boot.

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The BlackTrail is the result of a collaboration between two German companies, namely PG-Bikes and carbon fiber products developer UBC, which also designs parts for Formula 1 race cars and Porsche Carrera GTs. The bike itself is striking – it has the classic styling of a 1930s motorcycle (complete with brown leather saddle and battery cover), but with the sharp angles and undisguised carbon fiber of a rocket bike.

The non-human-generated speed is supplied by a 1.2 kW CM48 V hybrid motor, powered by a 48-volt lithium-ion battery. It charges up to 80 percent in 30 minutes, and up to 100 percent in 150. At its top speed, the bike has a range of 40-60 kilometers (25-37 miles). At its cruising speed of 30-50 km/h (19-31 mph), that range extends to 160-200 kilometers (99-124 miles). No acceleration specs were provided.

Besides carbon fiber, its body is composed of high-alloyed aluminum (“used by NASA”), titanium and magnesium, for a total vehicle weight of 19.8 kg. (43.65 lbs.)

Is it cheap? Nope. If you wish to purchase one of the 667 BlackTrails that will ever be built, be prepared to part with approximately US$75,460. You could certainly get a full-on electric motorcycle for much less money, but... with a huge ticket item like this, bang for the buck is hardly the point.

Commencal 2009 Clearance - www.speedgoat.com
Save up to $1350 on complete bikes. Frames starting as low as $499.

Ads by Google

 

60 mph on a bike with NO suspension?

No thanks!

Keith Reeder

- September 7, 2010 @ 09:09 pm CDT

Why would I pay $75K for a bicycle? That Oregon based company has a motorcycle, with a suspension for less than $20K, does a sustained 100mph.

VoiceofReason

- September 7, 2010 @ 10:09 pm CDT

I've been riding my ebike every chance I get, it is unbelievably fun. My commute is significantly faster and actually rewarding in so many ways. I can't even begin to explain how incredible it is to blow through standstill traffic with the speed of a professional athlete while getting around 1000 mpg equivalent. Also, I get to park at the door and have a bunch of money suddenly not being spent on car stuff. Srsly, cars are for suckers, just like this absurdly overpriced bike.

dreamer.redeemer

- September 7, 2010 @ 10:09 pm CDT

Gad, that thing is FUGLY.

At first glance I thought it was a photo of a motorcycle from the turn of the LAST century.

yrag

- September 7, 2010 @ 11:09 pm CDT

This is a bad joke. Going 62mph without suspension is not doable as the rider would get thrown off on normal streets. Next 1.2kw isn't enough to push a bike that fast without aero body. It would take 7-10kw to do that.

In the US it's not a bike but a MC, pedals or not.

Ebikes and MC's are a great idea but this one isn't. Plus unlikely to be the fastest Ebike under their difinition either.

jerryd

- September 8, 2010 @ 09:09 am CDT

The speed record was 64 mph on a 3-wheel human powered streaminer from the early 1980s (Vector). That record held for many many years. Now it is up over 80 mph on a 2-wheel streamliner. I don't know if spending $75K and finding about faster bicycles will make customers very happy.

Chris Jordan

- September 8, 2010 @ 11:09 am CDT

Makes me wonder if they actually did market research before coming up with the production limit of 667. For what they are offering at that ridiculous price point, I have the feeling that they will be waaaaay overstocked!

Will, the tink

- September 8, 2010 @ 03:09 pm CDT

Its a bit early for an aprils fool joke right? no suspension, $75k. sure. I wouldnt pay $7k for that.

Scott_T

- September 8, 2010 @ 06:09 pm CDT

I have done 130Kmh on a bicycle - down a HUGE steep and long hill, towing a trailer full of heavy stuff......

Quite good actually.

For the people who shit can first and think nothing later......

1. If you are going to do much more than 20 - 30Kmh.... and way up too 100 kmh, dump the velcro and wear more and more heavy duty stuff like joint pads, gloves and leathers.

2. Avoid surfaces that induce excessive vertical accelerations.

And - Or:

3. Buy a motorbike.

Mr Stiffy

- September 9, 2010 @ 01:09 am CDT

Very clean looking, but as far as being new or "the fastest"....No

I made one of these about 4 years ago (60mph ebike)... Terrible idea. Recently i made an electric moped with a 65mph top speed and a 40 mile range. Great suspension, full lights and all, much better idea then this death machine.

Marc Breitman

- September 10, 2010 @ 05:09 pm CDT

Yes 'jerryd', you are right about it needing a lot more KW to do 100km/h (62mph) but you CAN do it without suspension and without getting bucked off...it all depends on the road condition... (for a real world motorized bicycle check this out: bikemoto.wordpress.com)

Almoto

- September 20, 2010 @ 05:09 am CDT