Power assisted bikes
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Electric or other motor-assisted bicycles can be great for people who need a bit of extra help to get up hills or carry a heavy load of groceries home, or travel a longer distance.
Regeneration is new e-bike buzz
21 January 2010.
The bike world was abuzz recently with the release during the COP15 Copenhagen conference of a revolutionary new bike wheel that stores kinetic energy from braking for later re-use.
The development promises to save legs as well as conserve battery power and lower hills.
The wheel was developed at MIT's SENSEable City Laboratory, and has other features such as remote locking via iPhone.
Japanese electronics giant Sanyo already has an e-bike on the market which utilises regenerative breaking, although it stores the captured energy in the battery rather than in the wheel.
MIT claims its wheel can be fitted to any bike.
The 'electronic flywheel' has been a dream for generations of transport engineers.
As Einstein and his predecessors elaborated, kinetic energy is a combination of velocity and mass, so the more mass the more kinetic energy to be captured. But who wants a heavy bike?
Sanyo has revealed that its regenerative technology gives a claimed 18 percent increase in battery life on its 250 watt machine, which weighs in at about 23 kilograms.
New electric bike standard proposed
3 June 2009. A new standard for power assisted bikes has been proposed that could result in advanced European and Japanese products, which have been a smash hit with consumers, coming to the Australian market.
The new standard has been proposed by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. Bicycle Victoria has assessed the proposal and will support it.
The crux of the proposed standard is: power limit be lifted to 250 watts; maximum assisted speed at 25kph; auxiliary power only available when pedalling.
E-bikes are good for Australia in that our cities are low density and typical utility transport trips are longer as a consequence. Modern e-bikes provide a middle ground for citizens who would find a bike trip too strenuous, but a car trip too wasteful.
The e-bike concept
Electric or motor-assisted bicycles can be great for people who need a bit of extra help to get up hills or carry a heavy load of groceries home, or travel a longer distance.
They are particularly useful for people with arthritic knees or other physical constraints that can restrict cycling opportunities on an ordinary bike.
Power-assisted bikes with a power output of up to 200 watts are defined as bicycles and covered by the same road rules as ordinary bicycles.
Bicycle Victoria supports an increase in the maximum power output currently allowed, from 200 watts to 300 watts. This increase will help get more people with physical constraints riding. It will also have the added benefit of making it more affordable as the 300 watt motors are generally cheaper. Bicycle Victoria believes a motor with a maximum output of 500 watts is too powerful.
To put the power output in perspective, elite cyclists like Lance Armstrong and Cadel Evans can manage 800 watts in short bursts.
Power-assisted bicycles should have a performance equivalent of no more than a normal cyclist on a normal bicycle under normal conditions. Bicycle commuting speed is around 25 kph but varies according to the conditions.
Read the road rules around electric and petrol driven bikes.
The PDF (right) has information on purchasing electric bikes.
No petrol bikes on trains
Note that petrol-powered bikes, because of the flammable power source, are not allowed on trains for safety reasons. In Victoria, the Connex rules state:
"Which items cannot be taken onto the train?
For safety reasons the following items/devices/vehicles are not permitted on trains:
- Explosives, flammable liquids, corrosive and poisonous chemicals, liquefied and compressed gas or other dangerous goods.
- Petrol driven vehicles such as motorcycles and lawnmowers.
- Other large items such as supermarket shopping trolleys, washing machines etc."
Feb 05 New laws for powered bikes
In late 2004 the Minister for Transport Peter Batchelor announced new laws for powered bikes, skateboards and scooters. Now the illegal use of motorised scooters and miniature motorbikes can attract penalties up to $818.
These changes in legislation are based on concerns for the safety of those using these products and other road users.
See the VicRoads website for a clear understanding of these changes in legislation. This link clearly defines the legality of each of the various powered recreational products.
These new changes in legislation do not effect pedal powered bicycles whether they are fitted with a motor or not as long as the power output of these motors does not exceed 200 watts.
Bicycle Victoria welcomes these changes to legislation.
Support the people who support your bike riding. Join Bicycle Victoria.