36V Ebikes any thoughts

[Steven]

Seems to be an excess of Ebikes for sale in Northern California $500 to $700 US dollars. I already own a Torque and have a very hard time keeping myself off of it as noted by the misses. E-lectric Wheels

Think the 36v will have a better performance over the 24v?

 

[Ian]

Steven,
performance depends on many factors, voltage being only one of them. That said most 36V systems do have better performance and range thean their 24V counterparts, other things being equal.

That E-lectric Wheels site is rather sparse regarding the important information that does affect performance, however there is a mention of lead-acid batteries on one bike and a brushed motor on another, these are old heavy technology and not in the same league as a Torq.

 

[flecc]

That e-bike on your link is almost certainly the BionX motor again, Steven, and if so the 36 volt one would be the best by far. Lee Iacocca pictured there is the ex Chrysler man from the time of their research into e-bikes which gave rise to the BionX,

It's a direct drive motor, so it has even less starting torque than the Torq, and similarly needs to get up to a few mph before things really start to happen. The Torq is more powerful though, the BionX rather more refined and quiet. A bit like the Torq, it's best on the flat, not so good on hills.

 

[Canadian Cadence]

Flecc are you sure that is a Bionx motor? It looks too small and they do not mention anything about regeneration and pedelec modes.
I was looking forward to the extra energy review that was reported to be on the 36V Bionx system but they only reported on the 24V system.
The 36V system has a lot more torque and surpasses the Panasonic drive bikes and currie drives in hill climbing in all my experiences. I would love to compare it to a Torque but have not had that chance yet.
The Bionx kit is a very good choice for people needing a specific geometry for bike riding.....it is too bad that the price increases so much when it is brought in to the UK.!!

 

[flecc]

I think it will be based on that at least, with Lee Iacocca involved, as that was very much his baby. With the BionX already licenced out, he'd have to make changes for one of his own, but I think it will be the same direct drive system, albeit perhaps without regen and braking.

Most e-bikes will outrun the Panasonic powered bikes on hills, as although they climb them ok, they do it very slowly, but I can't rate a direct drive motor unconditionally as a good hill climber since they have virtually no starting torque. Once rolling they get better as wheel revs increase of course, but that's not much help when loaded up with shopping and needing to start up a steep one way slope as I do outside my supermarket. Hill climbing is a Torq weak point due to the very high motor and rider gearing, but all the other eZee models are great hill climbers which outclass virtually most others in this activity.

As you say, the BionX prices are a real problem, not just the bike in the UK but the crazy price of the battery everywhere, I saw 900 dollars from a US source.
.

 

[Steven]

A little more info

Found a site with a little more info
http://www.ebike.co.uk/images/ebikeSXwebbrochure.pdf

Shame they can't give the bikes actual weight? Like the concept of cruise control? Batterys are cheap and heavy $140 U.S. ebike (UK & Ireland) - The ebike SX is a very stylish electric bike and very fast and powerful

 

[Steven]

Found the Weight

Yes 88lbs or 40kg and the battery just weighs 24lbs thats for the 34V model.

 

[Ian]

Most new bikes hitting the UK market are around half that weight. While it appears to have quality cycle parts it's steel frame, SLA batteries and brushed motor make it a rather primitive and heavy machine, and it's UK price tag of £1300 is high for such a bike.

The Heinzman motor is powerful, but it needs to be with all that weight to pull.

 

[flecc]

That's definitely not the BionX type design then, as Ian says, old technology, and it looks like Iacocca is just cashing in on his name with some old Chinese designs.

There's loads better than that on the market for less money, and here in the UK SLAs and to some extent brush motors have gone the way of the dinosaurs.
.