Electric Bicycles: A Guide to Design and Use

For much of the world, bicycles are a transportation mainstay.Electric bicycles--powered by a rechargeable battery pack--areproven to deliver the highest possible energy efficiency, evencompared to pedal bikes. A transportation alternative to fossilfuels, electric bicycles are fast catching on, in part because theydon't require factory assembly. End-users can easily construct themwith available components.

The text reveals important techniques, data, and examples thatallow readers to judge various propulsion setups--used in bothhome- and factory-made bikes--and estimate speed and traveldistance for each. Numerous charts clearly present the costs, benefits, and trade-offs between both commercial and user-convertedmodels.

Key features include:

• Estimating motor-performance for wind, hill, and cruising powerrequirements
• Estimating battery capacity and a thorough description ofbattery charging
• Motor and motor-control options
• Evaluating motor-to-wheel coupling options
• Placement of propulsion components
• Configurations and performance
• How systems-engineering techniques can produce electric-bicycledesigns that have long travel range and low life-cycle cost
• Testing
• Developments to watch

A comprehensive resource for harnessing innovation, ElectricBicycles is the definitive practical guide to taking fulladvantage of this exciting alternative energy technology.