Electric Bike
Our Electric Bicycle Project
I have added an electric power assist onto a GT mountain bike. With a 3 HP peak motor, it is much more powerful than typical electric bicycles. The basic motivation to build an electric bike was to have a fun and efficient and environmentally friendly way to stay out my car for short trips around town, and also as a silent trail bike for exploring the hills. I wanted to get some exercise - this bike can still be pedaled. When I first put this together it was even more of a blast to ride than I had envisioned. I have seen 70 year old people get on this bike and laugh like little kids - it's like a magic hand is silently boosting you along. This website will describe the background of this little electric vehicle, offer some reflections on the electric and hybrid vehicle scene, and detail most of the design and motor and batteries should you be interested in making one yourself. Though it's a bit of a project, a number of people have actually made very similar bikes based on my basic design.
The Beauty of the Electric Bike
No noise - no vibration - no smog - no smog checks - no registration - no insurance - no driver's license
No gasoline - no oil - no tune-ups - no parking hassles - no car payments - no more exercise (use the pedals) - no brainer
Background: Why build an electric bike? Why use such a big motor?
I love the idea of electric vehicles in general and would love to have a pure electric car. I have a Prius, currently just about the closest thing available. However, battery technology hasn't advanced enough to make a pure electric car affordable yet. I do think, however, that light-weight, low-speed, short-range vehicles are wellt within the limits of current battery-electric technology, so I set out to see what could be done to make a more powerful and longer-range motorized bike.
Since I live about 3 miles from my favourite grocery store and my house is at the top of a fairly long and steep hill, biking and
I have added an electric power assist onto a GT mountain bike. With a 3 HP peak motor, it is much more powerful than typical electric bicycles. The basic motivation to build an electric bike was to have a fun and efficient and environmentally friendly way to stay out my car for short trips around town, and also as a silent trail bike for exploring the hills. I wanted to get some exercise - this bike can still be pedaled. When I first put this together it was even more of a blast to ride than I had envisioned. I have seen 70 year old people get on this bike and laugh like little kids - it's like a magic hand is silently boosting you along. This website will describe the background of this little electric vehicle, offer some reflections on the electric and hybrid vehicle scene, and detail most of the design and motor and batteries should you be interested in making one yourself. Though it's a bit of a project, a number of people have actually made very similar bikes based on my basic design.
The Beauty of the Electric Bike
No noise - no vibration - no smog - no smog checks - no registration - no insurance - no driver's license
No gasoline - no oil - no tune-ups - no parking hassles - no car payments - no more exercise (use the pedals) - no brainer
Background: Why build an electric bike? Why use such a big motor?
I love the idea of electric vehicles in general and would love to have a pure electric car. I have a Prius, currently just about the closest thing available. However, battery technology hasn't advanced enough to make a pure electric car affordable yet. I do think, however, that light-weight, low-speed, short-range vehicles are wellt within the limits of current battery-electric technology, so I set out to see what could be done to make a more powerful and longer-range motorized bike.
Since I live about 3 miles from my favourite grocery store and my house is at the top of a fairly long and steep hill, biking and