A Network of Girlfriends, Each 25 Miles Apart

[Broadbeans]

This is what electric bikers really need: a county-wide grid of girlfriends, or boyfriends, strategically placed within battery range. Somewhere you can stop for 4 - 6 hours for tea and cakes whilst topping up. What I'm really envisaging is a network of places you can get a charge for a fee, rather like the charging-points on the Norfolk Broads for electric boats. Shops, hotels and campsites could have a sign in the window, similar to the 'Wi Fi Here' offered in Wetherspoons and MacDoughnuts. I've just been to the Great Dorset Steam Fair, and there was a stall there just charging up people's mobile phones. Maybe, as throttle-jockeying gains in popularity, this may start to happen. Or am I a dope? Johnny

 

[flecc]

Could happen. We have some locations in London like in car parks where charging for electric vehicles is provided and it's free, even for electric car amounts. As e-vehicles catch on I think the authorities will provide more of these facilities elsewhere. The reason for this happening in London is the congestion charge of course, e-vehicles being exempt from the £8 a day charge, making them more popular than elsewhere.

Here an e-car like the £7500 G-Wiz is effectively free, since less than four years of saving £8 a commuting day pays for it. With the charging free as well and no road tax on e-cars either, it's almost free motoring, just the very low insurance to pay.
.

 

[Danny-K]

I only got as far as the end of the second sentence before my imagination took off, what with tea and cakes on offer etc., -

So, I roll up at your girlfriend's house and as the the door opens I wipe the sweat from my brow, clear my throat by coughing flem into the gutter, pat my windblown hair down, and sporting a broad smile, turn and say:

"Hi, Johnny's putting it about on t'internet that you're offering a free charge, even though we haven't been introduced. Is that right missus?"

- Although reading your post to the end, overall that's a good idea - like the early days of the pioneer motorists where petrol stations were far and few between. (Although, I am rather taken with all those girlfriends being made available too, purely in the interests of camaraderie you understand, I don't mean to imply... okay, I'll stop digging - think this hole's deep enough now).

 

[Jeremy]

Young Justin from ebikes.ca has managed to do this for more than halfway across Canada (so far) on his ebike marathon ride (see other thread about the trans Canada ride for link to Justin's really interesting ride thread).

He's found charging points in the most unlikely places whilst crossing the wide expanses of the prairies, so I can't see why the same sort of cunning couldn't be used here with a certain amount of imagination.

Jeremy

 

[dienamics]

Stop for tea and cake???

 

[Saddlesore]

I already have girlfriends radiating out from my home at 7, 18, 24 and 30 mile radius which is working well. Trouble is if Girlfriend A gets to hear about Girlfriend C or Girlfriend B finds out about D I am in deep do do's and will then have to pedal home - that is if I am in a fit condition to ( Can you get a Forza in an Ambulance?)

 

[Broadbeans]

No wonder you're saddlesore, Saddlesore, what with all that cycling aroundall over the shop. As battery technology improves, you'll be able to eventually whittle down the harem!

Now, this may may a dozy question for electro-experts: rather than carry a spare battery in a bag, would it be more beneficial to add an extra battery, wired in parallel, to the bike's exsting battery? My thinking is that each battery would then have only half the discharge for a given voyage, helping to maintain its longevity. Would an extra battery overload or confuse a charger?

 

[Broadbeans]

No wonder you're saddlesore, Saddlesore, what with all that cycling around all over the shop. As battery technology improves, you'll be able to eventually whittle down the harem and breathe a sigh of relief!

Now, this may may a dozy question for electro-experts: rather than carry a spare battery in a bag, would it be more beneficial to add an extra battery, wired in parallel, to the bike's exsting battery? My thinking is that each battery would then have only half the discharge for a given voyage, helping to maintain its longevity. Would an extra battery overload or confuse a charger? Come to that, could one theoretically have a bank of batteries on a small trailer (three large 12v car batteries, say, in series) for a mammoth trip?

 

[Saddlesore]

I haven't a clue. Anyway I much prefer your network of Girlfriend / Boyfriend idea and will aim to expand that until my appointment with the vet!

 

[flecc]

Now, this may may a dozy question for electro-experts: rather than carry a spare battery in a bag, would it be more beneficial to add an extra battery, wired in parallel, to the bike's exsting battery? My thinking is that each battery would then have only half the discharge for a given voyage, helping to maintain its longevity. Would an extra battery overload or confuse a charger? Come to that, could one theoretically have a bank of batteries on a small trailer (three large 12v car batteries, say, in series) for a mammoth trip?

Yes, it is better to have greater capacity by paralleling, but both battery inputs should have Schottky diodes in them to prevent charge cross transfer which could cause problems or battery failures even.
.

 

[JamesC]

Now, this may may a dozy question for electro-experts: rather than carry a spare battery in a bag, would it be more beneficial to add an extra battery, wired in parallel, to the bike's exsting battery? My thinking is that each battery would then have only half the discharge for a given voyage, helping to maintain its longevity. Would an extra battery overload or confuse a charger?

Hi Broadbeans
I believe that it is a good solution, and fitted a second battery onto the Torq, described in this thread.

Certainly it improved the hillclimbing, enabling the motor to pull equally from both batteries. I am still waiting to see how the life of the batteries work out over time.

In my case, I charge the 2 batteries separately, using 2 standard chargers.

The disadvantage is cost - needs 2 chargers.

The advantage is that the 2x 10AH batteries can be charged in 4 hours rather than 8 hours, AND I can keep a check that they have shared the work equally.

James

 

[Broadbeans]

Right, Flecc, ta! Crumbs, not sure what a Schottky diode is, but I'll find out!

And, Saddlesore...I'll look so kool on my Alien Cruiser, I won't have any trouble forming a network!

Johnny

 

[Broadbeans]

Thanks, James...I'll have a look at your thread now! Johnny

 

[Django]

Yes, it is better to have greater capacity by paralleling, but both battery inputs should have Schottky diodes in them to prevent charge cross transfer which could cause problems or battery failures even.
.

Although the opposite applies with girlfriends where in my experience series is much better - though I do recall at least one 'cross transfer' causing problems as a teenager.

 

[Footie]

.... A Network of Girlfriends, Each 25 Miles Apart ....

Unfortunately, that wouldn't work for me
My Cornish hills mean I only get 19-20 miles (with lots of input from me)
Mind you, if I took a doggy bag and stashed a few cakes, I could then walk and munch the last five miles - might work
.

 

[Tiberius]

Hmm,

There was a certain "je ne sais quoi" to this thread from the beginning. But now that we are getting onto discussing series versus parallel utilisation....

 

[Blew it]

Stop for tea and cake???

Well of course!

Even throttle-jockeys have to replace burnt carbs.

Mine will be Bath buns and Yorkshires finest "extra strong" please.

 

[SEATALTEA]

Tea and cake or death ?

YouTube - Eddy Izzard- Tea, cake or death sir?

Sorry I'm a big Izzard fan.

 

[carigada]

Maybe this is an idea that will grow. A Pedalec forum database of free charging points. I'd be happy to offer any member of the Pedalec forum a free charge at my house or place of work.

I would however like to point out that I will draw the line at being a girlfriend to any of you.

 

[Danny-K]

Maybe this is an idea that will grow. A Pedalec forum database of free charging points. I'd be happy to offer any member of the Pedalec forum a free charge at my house or place of work.

I would however like to point out that I will draw the line at being a girlfriend to any of you.

Fair enough, but what happened to the tea and cakes?
Don't want to sound fussy, but will you be having any Garibaldi's in?