Q1. What is an electric bicycle?
There are currently two categories of electric bicycles.
Ebike -The motor is activated by turning the throttle. As such, there is no need for pedaling. However, one could still pedal at the same time and also decide how much electrical assistance one wants with the throttle.
Q2. What size or power of the motor is needed and what is best?
For a person from 70 - 90 Kgs, it only takes about 150 - 180 watts to move at a speed of 24 km/h on level roads. Therefore a motor of 180 to 250 watts should be more than sufficient and when you combine your own muscle power to that of the motor.
A good electric bicycle depnds on both the motor and the controller working in harmony. Acceleration, torque, maximum output, assistance factor are the real the judges of what a good electric bicycle should be. Check out the summary of the extra energy test report.
Q3. Can I climb hills with this bicycle?
With eZee, you'll have no worries tackling grades at all; a simple pedal assist should get you up most grades, making your job even easier than most conventional 21 gears bicycles.
Q4. What kinds of battery are available and how long can I use bicycle before the battery runs out?
With a 36V 9Ah (324 wh) NiMH battery, the range one a single charge is between 40 – 70 kms.
eZee has introduced a Lithium ion battery with a rating of 37V 10 Ah or 370 Wh. This is based on LiMnO and is intrinsically safe and there is all the protection that is required from an excellent Battery Management System. The lightess at 4.3 kgs for the entire battery with casing and management circuit, the highest energy density by weight and by volume. The cell phone has normally 3.7V x 500 mAh, this is 200 X the amount at 37V x 10000 mAh, for the price it is almost a give-away. Our Li ion battery has an added capacity of approximately 10% compared to the NiMH.
Q5. What is the lifespan of the battery?
The NiMH battery will give you about 350 cycles before reaching 80% Depth of Discharge. ( meaning only being able to attain 80% of its original capacity).
The Li+ battery will give you about 400 – 500 cycles before reaching 80% Depth of Discharge.
Q6. What is the electrical consumption like?
Next to nothing. Electric bicycles are the most energy/cost-efficient transport. 1kw will take about 100 kms – that’s about 25 – 50 cents in any country, even the food you’ll need to that distance on a regular bike will cost more.
Q7. How fast can I go on the eZee electric bicycle? What are the legal issues involved in owning one?
This depends on what the regulations in your country allow. We put in the controls and motor specifications to meet such requirements. The following regulations for the USA and Europe respectively.
USA
The US Senate has passed SR 1156 clearing the way for legal definition of an electric bicycle in the USA. President Bush has signed this law. The new law will assign the governance of electric bicycles to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and will define a bicycle that has two pedals (and is capable of being propelled by those pedals) and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts, a top speed (on motor only) of 20 mph as a "bicycle".
EU countries
Pedelecs up to 25km/h (16 mph) and a motor no more than 250 watts rated output are considered bicycles. Type approval is not required. Applicable November 9th2003 in all EU member states.
The EU directive 2002/24/EC comes in effect on May 9th 2003 and will replace the current Directive 91/61/EEC