Mistrals Arrival

[flecc]

I share Seataltea's view that rolling downhill charges the battery on the Mistral. Often I have been down to three lights, rolled down a long hill and immediately got up to four lights and even five. There is clearly some charging going on because when the bike is wheeled along one LED definitely lights and remains lit for as long as you are moving.

This may not be altogether the case. Lithium battery cells chemically tire under load and when rested they recover charge. Some of eZee's most powerful models have shown this very clearly, hill climbing dropping the meter indication and sometimes a low voltage cut-out occurring. Pausing then for a few minutes allows the battery to recover and the meter indication to improve, which is the same as going downhill with the motor no longer driving.
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[rooel]

flecc's description corresponds to my experience. There may be some regeneration, but I think it must be almost negligible. If you stop the bike after the red bar lights have fallen in number, or the three green lights on top of the battery have fallen to two or one, within a few minutes the number of lights will rise. This must come from the battery recovering while at rest rather than regeneration.

I think most people who use the sole true regeneration system from Bionx soon discover that it is far easier to consume electricity than it is to regenerate it!

 

[Kal]

I share Seataltea's view that rolling downhill charges the battery on the Mistral. Often I have been down to three lights, rolled down a long hill and immediately got up to four lights and even five. There is clearly some charging going on because when the bike is wheeled along one LED definitely lights and remains lit for as long as you are moving.

Mistral Battery Regeneration was discussed on the Yahoo Synergie group:

Yahoo! Groups

If the Mistral battery is indeed recharged by regeneration then you would think this would be highlighted in the sales advertising, especially as it is one of the first questions most people seem to ask.
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[nikon201]

This may not be altogether the case. Lithium battery cells chemically tire under load and when rested they recover charge. Some of eZee's most powerful models have shown this very clearly, hill climbing dropping the meter indication and sometimes a low voltage cut-out occurring. Pausing then for a few minutes allows the battery to recover and the meter indication to improve, which is the same as going downhill with the motor no longer driving.
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As a mistral owner I too have experienced some recovery of the battery after losing power assistance, but I would never have deemed this to be recharging of the battery.

 

[SEATALTEA]

Just a little update about my ongoing Mistral relationship.

Covered a few hundred miles now and all is well, never been happy with the brakes however so last week I swapped the OE pads for these.

Biddle Bikes - The Cheapest Cyclestore On The Net - Enough Said!!

Brake feel and performance is hugely improved, riding in all weathers the original pads screamed in the wet, they were wearing very quickly and covering the rims in black brake powder.

I can really recommend the Tristop pads and was suprised that just the pads would make such a difference.

And finally, I now see many cyclists on my commuting and MTB routes, maybe it's just me but when I'm on the MTB I'll get a friendly nod or a raised hand on the handlebar.

The Mistral seems to get a different response, I'm sure its not my paranoia but other riders on seeing something which is a 'little sit up and beg' with a battery don't know what to do.

Some are really interested, others, often those on lightweight road bikes sprayed with lycra can't even bring themselves to make eye contact.

People are strange.

YouTube - People Are Strange

 

[flecc]

And finally, I now see many cyclists on my commuting and MTB routes, maybe it's just me but when I'm on the MTB I'll get a friendly nod or a raised hand on the handlebar.

The Mistral seems to get a different response, I'm sure its not my paranoia but other riders on seeing something which is a 'little sit up and beg' with a battery don't know what to do.

Some are really interested, others, often those on lightweight road bikes sprayed with lycra can't even bring themselves to make eye contact.

People are strange.

YouTube - People Are Strange

They certainly are. I've won over many of the lycra brigade in my area, but there's still quite a few who seem to regard my e-bikes as offensively as they view cars. They are mostly the occasional club riders though, the daily regulars and professionals in training are generally very much more accepting and courteous.

And the worst of all? The lycra commuters, seemingly bloody-minded and anti-social towards everybody. Probably the traffic effect I suppose.
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[JohnInStockie]

And the worst of all? The lycra commuters, seemingly bloody-minded and anti-social towards everybody. Probably the traffic effect I suppose.
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Yeah I dont get these guys. When I am waiting at lights along with the other traffic, they intentionally go past to get in front of me with an air of superiority and arrogance thats so annoying. They seem to demand that they are special regarding all other road users and pedestrians as mere obsticles. I bet they get home and go shopping in their Shogun or Hummer.

John