Interesting take on e-bike speed

[Artstu]

I wonder what they'd make of that here?

Now here's what gives the Specialized Turbo a major advantage over other electric bikes. The maximum legal speed for electric bikes in United States in 20 mph. But, as Specialized's attorneys shrewdly figured out, that only applies to a bike's maximum unassisted speed. Because the Turbo doesn't provide any juice without some actual pedaling, it's able to hit a max speed of 28 mph before the motor cuts off.

article Specialized Turbo: Powerful Electric Bike Makes Cycling No Sweat [REVIEW]

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Hmmmm, some interesting facts there. It can do 30mph with its 250w motor and 10aH battery. It shoots up to 25mph, which my 500W motor can't do at 30amps (1200w from the battery).

The Q100 is rated at 350w. The 328 rpm version can spin up to 30mph in a 700c wheel, but it's absolutely gutless below 15mph; however, that motor in the Specialized Turbo is four times the size. In my reckoning, either it's a 500w motor or it'll behave just like the Q100 and be useless at that speed. Something doesn't add up.

 

[oigoi]

Yeah there's no way that is a 250W motor, about 500W is more realistic. I thought 500W is what the americans were allowed to have anyway?

Failry sure it's nailed down in our legislation that the assistance is not allowed beyond the 15mph limit

 

[103Alex1]

It'll definitely be a hefty motor - would hope so too at that weight ! Predictably way overpriced - but probably not as overpriced as a Haibike or a £3.5k S-Pedelec . That 10Ah battery isn't going to do more than about 15-20 miles tops in Turbo in San Francisco either lol.

 

[Cakey]

I was told not available in the uk

 

[Deleted member 4366]

It'll definitely be a hefty motor - would hope so too at that weight ! Predictably way overpriced - but probably not as overpriced as a Haibike or a £3.5k S-Pedelec . That 10Ah battery isn't going to do more than about 15-20 miles tops in Turbo in San Francisco either lol.

I think that even that's a bit optimistic. I would say 10 to 12 miles more like it.

 

[flecc]

The position in the USA is that there's federal law, 700 watts and 20 mph max assist, but each state can make it's own law if it wishes and that overrules the federal law. The states that have changed the law are set out in this previous post of mine.