Is it possible to convert a ladies Dutch bike to electric

[Foster mum]

I have a ladies traditional Dutch bike which I brought new around four years ago. I love it and have taken good care of it.
I want to know if it’s possible to convert my bike to electric and if so what kit would I need to buy and how much. Any guidance would be much appreciated.

 

[Nealh]

The placing of a battery is the hard bit, the sweeping tubes make it a no no there & not many options on that style of bike. To my eyes it may be unsuitable unless it was placed in the basket, a rear rack looks like it would be too high and the Cof G would make the handling feel a bit rubbish.

 

[vfr400]

There's nothing to stop you fitting a front or rear motor kit, but you're going to have to use a bit of imagination or lateral thinking when it comes to the battery. A normal rack battery will be no problem as long as you're not short and have the seat very low.

 

[sjpt]

I don't know if they exist, but there seems to be a case for very flat battery packs that connect fairly low to the side of a rack (thickness = diameter of a single cell, plus case). Even a pair one each side for balance, though they'd probably sit close enough the the centre balance would not be an issue. It should be easy to fit regular panniers outside the battery if required.

Probably not for OP in the short term, but could be good for that kind of bike generally, both for kit and ready-made ebikes.

 

[Scorpio]

Hi, I fixed up a neglected Dutch Town bike that was originally elecric and it's very nice to ride. I'm sure yours can be converted to electric.
The easy place to fit the battery is on a rack above the rear wheel - anywhere else needs thinking about due to the shape of the frame, and you don't want it where your feet will catch it when you are getting on or off.
Some photos, the battery is hidden under the panniers when I go shopping (I like that's it's not obvious) https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/kemp-starley-dutch-town-bike-out-of-hibernation.37181/

Thoughts: mine has the motor in the front wheel and the battery on a rack over the back wheel so the extra weight is balanced nicely between front & back. Controls on the handlebar are very simple (originally a low/medium/high power switch, now changed to a twist-grip throttle). The wires are neatly hidden inside the frame (easy as the frame tubes are so large - maybe not so easy on yours).
I also have a bike with the battery at the rear and the motor in the back wheel, the bike is very tail-heavy unlike the Dutch bike.
Make sure you buy the correct size wheel when you buy the electric kit, someone had tried to fit the wrong size electric wheel to the one I got - very silly and it could never work properly.
The same person had bought a very cheap electric kit, it works but isn't very nice to use, suggest you pay attention to the suggestions from experienced folk here so you get a nicer bike at the end.
I've found I'm using the bike a lot more now the electrics are working properly, and its a lot easier to go on longer trips. I'm sure you won't regret it if you get a decent electic kit.

 

[Benjahmin]

Probably the easiest is a front hub motor. Providing that that the forks are steel (test with a magnet) and the dropouts are 100mm there should be no issues with fitting. The front rack fixings may need a bit of filing though.
A rear rack battery would be best, but you need to check that the frame has fixing holes for a rack. So long as the battery rack is mounted as close to the wheel as possible and as far forward as possible it shouldn't be too tail heavy.
Someone may shortly be along to say that front hubs are terrible and impossible to use. I'm guessing, from the style of bike, that your riding is all on tarmac and rather gentele ( no realy steep, gravely hills) so shouldn't present a problem.
So:
1 What is the distance between the front forks?
2 Are there any mounting holes for a rear rack?
3 What skills do you have or are available to you? Kits are mostly plug and play but there can be some mechanical issues to get around. General bike maintenance skills should suffice with help from the forum.

 

[sjpt]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Woosh (and that he hasn't joined in).
A front kit from there would suit the bill, with battery rack.

Woosh hub kits | Electric Bike Conversion Kits from Woosh

Woosh range of hub kits with choice of front or rear hub motors. Convert your bike into an electric bike.

wooshbikes.co.uk

Probably XF07 but I'm sure they would advise suitability and availability.

Woosh hub kits | Electric Bike Conversion Kits from Woosh

Woosh range of hub kits with choice of front or rear hub motors. Convert your bike into an electric bike.

wooshbikes.co.uk

It'll be around £500. I guess your milage isn't high so the smaller battery should be fine.

 

[vfr400]

you can see in the picture that it has the fixing points for a standard rack., so fitting a rack battery won't be a problem as long as you don't have the seat right down, which will push the battery further aft. Ideally, the battery should be as close to the seat and as low as it'll go. Though it doesn't look as nice, angling the battery up on the front part of the mudguard gives the best handling. The isea is to have as much battery as you can in front of the wheel's axle.

 

[Woosh]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Woosh (and that he hasn't joined in).

I don't have much in stock, still have a small backlog, and the next shipment is end of March.

 

[Pedaluma]

I have a ladies traditional Dutch bike which I brought new around four years ago. I love it and have taken good care of it.
I want to know if it’s possible to convert my bike to electric and if so what kit would I need to buy and how much. Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Yes. With a superior torque sensor mid-drive! It is sometimes called a Wicked Witch Princess eBike when set-up this way. Princess is for the Pashley Princess from Stafford upon Avon. Wicked Witch is from the Wizard of Oz. Right click the image if you want to search for more similar images. The motor is low and centered. Your internal gear hubs and brakes will still work, but drop the rear cog to 16-T for speed and use a good chain.

 

[gmw1963]

Yes. With a superior torque sensor mid-drive! It is sometimes called a Wicked Witch Princess eBike when set-up this way. Princess is for the Pashley Princess from Stafford upon Avon. Wicked Witch is from the Wizard of Oz. Right click the image if you want to search for more similar images. The motor is low and centered. Your internal gear hubs and brakes will still work, but drop the rear cog to 16-T for speed and use a good chain.

Hi,
Could you please tell me where you bought the battery and, more importantly, its holder on that Pashley Princess?
I am looking to a conversion on a similarly shaped bike and had decided a water bottle battery on the seat post was the answer.
Thanks.