Electric bike

An electric bicycle (e-bike, powerbike, pedelek) is a bicycle with an electric drive that partially or completely ensures its movement. It is also called a bicycle hybrid, although a hybrid bike is a bike that combines both mountain and road bike attributes in its design.

In general, an electric bike is distinguished from a regular bike by the presence of three additional components: an electric motor, a battery pack, and a controller. Unlike an electric scooter or motorcycle, an electric bike can be powered by pedals, and its operation and maintenance are slightly more complicated than handling a regular bike.

Despite the presence of an electric drive, an electric bicycle is used in much the same way as a regular bicycle, and in most countries it does not require a driver's license or license plate to drive. An electric bike is well suited as a means of transportation for a wide range of amateurs with a wide range of training levels, as it easily allows you to dose physical activity. In Russia (and the CIS countries), electric bicycles could properly be called mopeds ("MO"-Motor + "pedals"-pedals).

In Russia, according to the SDA (2015 edition), an electric bicycle with an engine power not exceeding 250 watts is considered a bicycle, more than 250 watts and less than 4 kW is a moped; more than 4 kW is a motorcycle; when driving a motorcycle, a driver's license and license plate are required; when driving a moped, a driver's license of category M or any other type is required. another open license category (for example, A or B); no driver's license is required when riding a bike.

History 

The idea of equipping a bicycle with an engine arose a little later than the appearance of the bicycle itself. In 1888, John Dunlop invented pneumatic tires, which significantly increased the comfort and safety of riding, making the bicycle one of the most popular means of transportation. Further development of the idea is associated with progress in the field of electrical engineering. Since 1890, several patents have protected the design of an electric drive mounted on a bicycle. For example, a US patent (1895) describes a bicycle device equipped with a DC electric motor. In 1899, John Schnepf developed a rear-wheel drive model.

In Germany since the 1920s and Japan since the 1970s, various manufacturers have produced electric bicycles and electric locomotives, but in the USSR they did not produce electric bicycles. 

In 1979, electric bicycles began to be mass-produced in Japan, which quickly gained popularity there, and electric bike refueling stations appeared in Japan.

In 1992, the Zike company began mass production of electric bicycles. From this moment on, their output is constantly increasing.

In the US market, the highest sales growth occurred in 2002-2003; the total volume continues to grow.

In China, the first industrial samples of locally made electric bicycles appeared in 1998 and in 2007 their annual production reached 17 million units, and by 2010, it was estimated to grow to 22 million. China is the world's largest producer and consumer of electric bicycles.

Global production in 2007 was estimated at 18 million units, and by 2010 it was expected to increase to 30 million units per year.

Advantages and disadvantages

Fundamental advantages 

• A bike with an electric motor allows physically untrained people to overcome steep or gentle, but long ascents and significant distances.

• The most advanced existing electric bicycle batteries have a service life of more than 5 years and provide a range of more than 100 km on a single charge.

• The batteries are charged from the household electrical network

• When the battery runs out, you can use the pedal drive.

• At a comparable speed in urban conditions, the energy and economic costs of moving one person are an order of magnitude lower than any other type of transport, including public transport.

• Compared to passenger cars, the operation, parking and storage of electric bicycles require ten times less expenses and space.

• Due to the absence of an emitted odor, compact size and weight accessible for transportation, the electric bike can be used by residents of apartment buildings, storing it in their apartment. This is one of the few types of self-propelled vehicles that can be stored in an apartment. For the same reasons, electric bicycles are allowed to be transported on public transport according to the same rules as regular bicycles.

• Electric bicycles have high reliability compared to vehicles based on internal combustion engines due to the minimal number of components and the electronic component that performs the main work. In fact, only battery cells, bearings, gearbox (if available), brake pads and rubber on wheels are subject to wear.

• Kits are available to create an electric bike from a regular bike. Thus, there is no need to buy a ready-made electric bike, saving money and space is achieved. The kits can be of different configurations: type of motor (motor-wheel, carriage, outboard), battery of the required capacity, type of battery housing (with mounting on the frame, seatpost, trunk), brake handles, throttle control (trigger or motorcycle handle, with or without charge indication), display (LCD, LED, without display), PAS, etc.

• A wide range of components for an electric bike allows you to assemble a bike to suit your needs.

• Low noise level.

• There are solutions where the electric motor of a bicycle is powered directly from a solar battery. The 250W needed to power the electric motor can be obtained from a 1.5 sq.m. battery mounted on the rear trunk, which does not significantly increase the dimensions of the bike.

Imperfections of existing structures

• Pedaling and driving an electric bike with a capacious battery is complicated by its large weight (from 30 kg or more), the corresponding inertia and inconveniences with transportation.

• Insufficient range for many users, powered only by low-capacity batteries (no more than 20 km for a conventional model).

• Long charging time of ordinary batteries (at least 4-6 hours).

• The short service life of the most common lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries (no more than 2-3 years at an average load). LiFePO4 — up to 5-7 years old. Lithium-titanate and lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide batteries have been used for more than 10 years, but they are several times more expensive than their analogues.

• Restrictions on the operation of electric bicycles based on lead and lithium-ion batteries at subzero temperatures. These batteries begin to lose a lot of capacity when cooled (reversibly). Below -20 °C, only lithium-titanate and some models of lithium-iron phosphate batteries can be used.

• Insufficient cross-country ability and reliability on unpaved roads for electric bicycles with a geared motor wheel: plastic gears of the motor wheel wear out quickly in conditions of increased vibrations.

• The high cost of the product and its operation compared to a conventional bicycle (by 2 or more times).

• The inability to combine high speed and a large power reserve: with the batteries currently available in mass production, you have to choose one thing.

• The common method of attaching batteries to the trunk makes it difficult to use the latter for cargo transportation, but there are also models with batteries mounted on the frame.

Discussion issues 

• Reduction of atmospheric pollution in case of mass abandonment of cars with internal combustion engines in favor of electric bicycles.

• Reduction of electricity consumption in case of mass abandonment of electric vehicles in favor of electric bicycles.

• Disposal of used batteries.

 On the one hand, it is argued that the use of an electric drive for movement devalues the idea of a bicycle as a sports vehicle that serves to keep the user in good physical shape. On the other hand, the electric drive allows for more flexible load metering by using the electric drive only at certain times (or not at full capacity). In addition, the loads can be the same, but the speed of movement is higher due to the electric drive.

Varieties

Electric bicycles can be divided into four main groups based on whether a cyclist needs to make efforts to move:

1. The electric bike is powered by pedals, and the electric motor creates additional traction, helping the cyclist. The term pedelek is often used to refer to an electric bicycle of this type.

2. An electric bicycle can move only due to an electric motor, without the cyclist exerting effort on the pedals, but it remains possible to ride comfortably on the pedals.;

3. The electric bike can move both with the help of pedals and with the help of an electric motor, there is also a mode when the electric motor creates additional electric traction.

4. Movement without the help of a motor, only on pedals, is difficult in practice, due to the high mass and braking effect of the motor wheel, and the pedals are used purely as a backup system in case of engine failure or battery discharge. This type of electric bike is de facto an electric motorcycle with the ability to pedal.

Pedal assist systems

• the PAS system (Pedaling Assisted System); 

• TorqueSensor system (Torque Sensor). 

Components

According to the type of manufacture, electric bicycles can be divided into:

• Factory-assembled. Factory-made electric bicycles are characterized by special frames designed to mount batteries (there are even models in which the batteries are hidden inside the tubular frame structure), as well as special wheel designs and a generally specific design. For example, A2B.