Comments on: Geekfuelery: Saving Gas Update http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/ Commentary on emerging trends, especially cool or absurd innovations across a broad range of geekiness. Tue, 7 Oct 2008 11:35:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Tom Trottier http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14688 Tom Trottier Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:53:12 +0000 http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14688 25 miles is a ways. eBike batteries can usually be taken inside to be recharged from an electric outlet, or you could use an inverter in a vehicle. Newer controllers also recharge going down hills and have finer control than just on/off. You can buy kits in the US for bikes which are much cheaper than whole bikes. The simplest setup seems to me to be a hub motor in a strong front wheel. See http://66.216.117.91/Products_for_the_US_s/2.htm And yes, the batteries will need to be replaced, probably once a year or so, for $400 or so. Still cheaper than car insurance! tOM 25 miles is a ways. eBike batteries can usually be taken inside to be recharged from an electric outlet, or you could use an inverter in a vehicle. Newer controllers also recharge going down hills and have finer control than just on/off.

You can buy kits in the US for bikes which are much cheaper than whole bikes. The simplest setup seems to me to be a hub motor in a strong front wheel. See http://66.216.117.91/Products_for_the_US_s/2.htm

And yes, the batteries will need to be replaced, probably once a year or so, for $400 or so. Still cheaper than car insurance!

tOM

]]> By: Mr. Alex http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14666 Mr. Alex Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:26:36 +0000 http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14666 Tom: Thanks for the tips... I like to keep an eye on what's going on with alternative transport. Apart from the fact that I am somewhat committed to my current gas-powered choice, in that I have already purchased it, I have a couple observations: Cost: The electrics you've listed are all rather expensive. 1200 quid is nearly $2400 of my ever-shrinking US dollars. Granted, that includes the bike, but I already have the bike, so I was more in the market for just the add-on motor. Even with the cost of the bike removed, the electric motors, and more specifically, the batteries, are still expensive, and as noted in the article, they don't last forever. 400 recharge cycles, and if the lithium bike batteries are like my lithium laptop batteries, their capacity degrades over time. So I am always going to be running into a question of range, at least with my current commute. Also, my situation doesn't permit me to recharge at work, so the range question is even more acute. I really wish I could make this work, I just think my particular commute is too much for to attempt on a bicycle, whether it's gas or electric. Tom:

Thanks for the tips… I like to keep an eye on what’s going on with alternative transport.

Apart from the fact that I am somewhat committed to my current gas-powered choice, in that I have already purchased it, I have a couple observations:

Cost: The electrics you’ve listed are all rather expensive. 1200 quid is nearly $2400 of my ever-shrinking US dollars. Granted, that includes the bike, but I already have the bike, so I was more in the market for just the add-on motor.

Even with the cost of the bike removed, the electric motors, and more specifically, the batteries, are still expensive, and as noted in the article, they don’t last forever. 400 recharge cycles, and if the lithium bike batteries are like my lithium laptop batteries, their capacity degrades over time. So I am always going to be running into a question of range, at least with my current commute.

Also, my situation doesn’t permit me to recharge at work, so the range question is even more acute.

I really wish I could make this work, I just think my particular commute is too much for to attempt on a bicycle, whether it’s gas or electric.

]]> By: Tom Trottier http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14661 Tom Trottier Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:32:08 +0000 http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14661 http://www.atob.org.uk/Electric_Buyers%27_Guide.html - comparative review, eg Kalkhoff Aggatu ***** £1,195 You wait and wait for a 5-star Giant Lafree replacement, then three come along at once! Latest, and arguably the best is the Kalkhoff Aggatu. It uses the latest version of the Panasonic crank-motor we loved so much on the Lafree. It's basically much the same as the Gazelle, but slightly less well equipped and a lot cheaper. With three power settings, you can opt for 40+ miles at low speed, or a much sprightlier 26 miles. We have tested the Agattu in A to B 63 - see A to B Back Numbers For prices and stockists, see Electric Price Tag http://www.atob.org.uk/Electric_Buyers%27_Guide.html - comparative review, eg
Kalkhoff Aggatu *****
£1,195
You wait and wait for a 5-star Giant Lafree replacement, then three come along at once! Latest, and arguably the best is the Kalkhoff Aggatu. It uses the latest version of the Panasonic crank-motor we loved so much on the Lafree. It’s basically much the same as the Gazelle, but slightly less well equipped and a lot cheaper. With three power settings, you can opt for 40+ miles at low speed, or a much sprightlier 26 miles.
We have tested the Agattu in A to B 63 - see A to B Back Numbers
For prices and stockists, see Electric Price Tag

]]> By: Tom Trottier http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14659 Tom Trottier Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:21:12 +0000 http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14659 The newer eBikes will cover 25 miles plus with new, lightweight rechargeable lithiums which recharge in a couple of hours, so you can plug in at work. You could even cycle to aid it. No problems/delays filling up. No pollution. See http://www.raylight.ca/ebike_FAQ.htm for an example. You could also put one of these on a reccumbent, add a fairing, and get even more range. tOM The newer eBikes will cover 25 miles plus with new, lightweight rechargeable lithiums which recharge in a couple of hours, so you can plug in at work. You could even cycle to aid it. No problems/delays filling up. No pollution. See http://www.raylight.ca/ebike_FAQ.htm for an example.

You could also put one of these on a reccumbent, add a fairing, and get even more range.

tOM

]]> By: Mr. Alex http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14612 Mr. Alex Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:14:02 +0000 http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14612 I looked at electrics and would have preferred an electric solution if it wasn't for the question of range. My issue is I have 25 miles, each way, and most electrics I have seen can't even cover that. I've also considered the meat engine solution as well... again, with the distance involved, it's just not practical. If I were more in the 10-15 mile range, it would be possible. I looked at electrics and would have preferred an electric solution if it wasn’t for the question of range. My issue is I have 25 miles, each way, and most electrics I have seen can’t even cover that.

I’ve also considered the meat engine solution as well… again, with the distance involved, it’s just not practical. If I were more in the 10-15 mile range, it would be possible.

]]> By: Tom Trottier http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14608 Tom Trottier Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:38:46 +0000 http://www.geekfoolery.com/2008/01/22/saving-gas-update/#comment-14608 Gas is the problem. Get a 500watt electric bike. Or just go entirely manual & shed some excess fat. tOM Gas is the problem. Get a 500watt electric bike. Or just go entirely manual & shed some excess fat.

tOM

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