I recently got hooked by the idea of an electric bike, having seen several of them in use – usually overtaking me on the uphills – in Germany. I’m contemplating converting a Cannondale Street Ultra to a pedelec. It has front headset suspension, Rohloff hub gears, hydraulic brakes and 700c Wheels (with 160mm discs)

It needs a front wheel bike conversion kit because of the rear hub

The prices seem to vary considerably – from around £500 to around £2000. I’m not willing to pay the top end prices – at that price I think I’d rather add a bit more and buy a complete bike.

I want to end up with a bike that can be used for day tours up to 60 miles or so in moderately hilly terrain with a fair amount of input from the rider. Also it mustn’t compromise the use of the bicycle too much if used without power.

It would have to have rack mounted batteries – there isn’t room in the frame triangle because of water bottles and it has a suspension seat post. Therefore the bike conversion kit wouldn’t be suitable.

From the ones I’ve seen so far, that are currently available, the bike conversion kit with options looks most likely to meet these requirements.

Does anyone have suggestions for other kits I should consider before taking the plunge? I would also be grateful for advice or suggestions from anyone who has already done a conversion for touring rather than commuting use.

HiddenPower is an easy to install and unconventional E-Bike Conversion Kit. It fit’s nearly any conventional street bike and adds 250W of power for up to 60km to your legs. Top speed depends on version starting at 25kmh up to more than 30kmh.

Bike conversion kit-electric bike battery repair

Products to promote electrical repair battery repair any damage factors with new batteries, ensure that the battery life can be extended many times, these are unscientific, it is not realistic. Without any damage to any element of battery, has an impact on battery life, the question is how to reduce battery damage, how to reduce the impact on battery life, following a brief introduction to several methods of electric vehicle batteries, routine maintenance, for reference.

First, to “every car, every charge.” Lead-acid batteries have no memory, so the capacity to rapidly decrease is mainly the battery sulfide and “dehydration”, “power loss” and some other reasons, the batteries are most afraid of is the “power loss” under-voltage, battery often “power loss” battery pole board vulnerable to injury, our survey found that 70% of the electric vehicle battery capacity to reduce the discharge electrodes is strong current (inrush current) due to injury (electric its obvious), the electrode plate injury is physical damage to the battery, This damage can not be repaired. Therefore, “every car, every charge,” to ensure adequate voltage at the battery becomes inevitable. Call Maryland birth injury lawyers when you want to have a legal consultation on injury lawyers.

Second, the user generally thought, maintenance-free batteries do not add water, in fact, this statement is wrong. Maintenance-free battery charging and high-current discharge process will generate heat, there is heat there will be evaporation, although the process of water evaporation is very slow, but over time, the cumulative amount of water to evaporation can not be overlooked.

Third, the electric car start clever force. Electric car start-up current is significant, particularly high-power motor electric motor, a larger starting current. High-current battery plate is injured, the best way is like riding a bicycle before the start of the ride, and then start the electric vehicle power supply. Of course, many did not ride electric motor device, which is no solution.

Fourth, the battery depth of discharge on a quarterly basis. Battery in use for some time after the sinking of the active substance is bound to have some, if not promptly activate the active substance, bound to have some impact on the battery capacity caused, therefore, often used in electric vehicles, when to do on a quarterly basis on the battery depth of discharge time.

Fifth, always observe the charger is good or bad. New battery charging process are generally 6-8 hours, fully charged, the charger will light green, charging time is necessary to check if the charger voltage protection device is corrupted, if corrupted on the need for timely exchange charger or vulnerable to charge bad batteries. In addition, the Chargers do not buy fast charger, fast charger for battery plates have the same injury.

Sixth, long battery when not in use to give the battery charge at least once a month. The aim is to prevent the battery place too long and cause the battery sulfide and “loss of power.”

Seven, to prevent the battery prolonged sun exposure. Prolonged sun exposure can cause the battery temperature, so pay attention.

Some of the above points more comprehensive description of the battery damage, repair and maintenance of related technologies and knowledge, which is based on our years of experience and market feedback written, the article language is simple, layman understand at a glance. We are also in good faith to the reader from one side of the battery electric vehicle repair techniques reveal the mystery, that is, battery repair can be taken many ways, but not for damage to the battery are all effective, curing, and minor defects repaired by the battery effective; plate slightly softened, short circuit, may be separated by the restored effective short-term, as supernatural power, the use will not be long down the same place; some very serious damage to the battery, the basic repair invalid, introduced This knowledge is mainly to facilitate the reader a preliminary understanding of the industry, maintenance and repair in the battery to make the right choice. Qualified electric vehicle battery by battery manufacturers factory, the battery life and performance depends in part on consumer use and maintenance.

(1) match the charger and battery. Electric vehicle batteries is a bad charge, rather than bad, we can see the importance of matching chargers and batteries, there are two situations: First, the new battery charger itself and the parameters provided by the manufacturer does not match the charging voltage is too high, increased battery water loss, shortened life expectancy, more serious is the charge current drops less than the current value set conversion, battery temperature, charging current further increases, the temperature severe, resulting in thermal runaway, cell expansion and deformation, and vice versa charging voltage is too low, the battery charge state due to a long period, part of the PbSO4 still not converted to produce sulfate, the battery capacity decline, electric bicycle continues the course shorter. Second, the charger itself is of poor quality components, the beginning of use, fairly matched, as consumers charge and discharge cycles to use. Charger itself as temperature, component aging, resulting in the charging voltage and switch current drift, battery damage. It is recommended that consumers and manufacturers to buy the best electric car battery charger supporting manufacturers, not because of greed and a moment of cheap bad battery charge, but not worth the candle.

(2) regular and timely supplement electricity. Consumer instructions are usually nominal cycle life is a misconception that one charge, the battery life reduces the time, so every time the battery power consumption such as the protection voltage 31.5V to the controller began to add power , knowing that not only can not protect the battery and reduces battery life. Because the positive active material combination PbO2 itself is not strong, and the molar volume of PbO2 and PbSO4 are very different.

Electric bicycle charger-bike conversion kit

1, it should not replace the charger, do not remove the controller speed. Each manufacturer’s individual needs are generally charger, not sure when not in the random replacement charger. If the driving distance longer required to be equipped for remote charging and multiple battery charger, took charge of the charger during the day and make up the complement of the other chargers, and evening use of the first wife of the charger. Remove the controller’s speed limit, although you can increase the speed of some vehicles, in addition to the safety of vehicles will reduce outside, will reduce battery life.

2, protect the Electric bicycle charger-bike conversion kit . General instructions above have instructions on the protection of the charger. Many users do not see the manual of practices that tend to only think of the future in addition to the problem to find manual to see, often too late, so look at the manual is necessary. To reduce costs, and now the Chargers have not been doing basically the design of high resistance to vibration, so that the charger is generally not on the bike in the trunk and the car basket. Exceptional circumstances, we must move, we should also charger packaged with foam to prevent vibration of the bumps. After a lot of vibration through the charger, the internal potentiometer would drift, making the parameter drift, resulting in an abnormal state of charge. Also to note is that the battery charger when the ventilation to maintain, not only will affect the life of the charger may also affect the charging of thermal drift of the state. This form will damage the battery. So, to protect the charger is also very important.

3, the daily charge. Even if your capacity requirements continue the line is not long, one charge can use 2 to 3 days, but still recommended that you recharge every day, so in the light cycle the battery status, battery life will be extended. Early use of mobile phone users that some of the best is the basic use of battery recharge is over, this view is wrong, the memory benefits of lead-acid battery is not so strong. Often is discharged to the battery life is relatively large. Most of the charger indicator light indicates fully charged after charging into the battery power may be 97% to 99%. Although only 1% due to charge 3% of the electricity, the continued ability of the line is almost negligible, but also due to the formation of charge accumulation, it becomes light after the battery is fully charged or charging as much as possible to continue to float on the inhibition of cell sulfide is good.

4, timely charge. Pool discharge started after the curing process, starting in 12 hours, there is a clear cure. Timely charge, you can clear the sulfide is not serious, if not charged, will accumulate these sulfide crystals gradually formed a thick crystal, the general charger for these thick crystals is powerless, the battery capacity will be gradually decreased, shortening the battery life. So, in addition to charging every day outside, but also noted that the use is over as soon as possible to charge as much as possible so that the battery is in full state.

5, periodic deep discharge. A deep discharge battery regularly is also conducive to “activate” the battery, can slightly improve the battery capacity. General approach is to periodically conduct a complete battery discharge. Completely discharge method is a flat surface under normal load conditions, ride to the first voltage protection. Note that we emphasize the first undervoltage protection. Battery under-voltage protection for the first time after the battery after a period of time, the voltage will rise, then back to non-voltage state, this time if the re-use batteries, the battery great harm. After the completion of fully discharged, the battery is fully charged. Will feel the battery capacity has improved.

6, to develop some good habits of saving. Possible use of slide. When the slope below, slide as much as possible the use of advanced power reduction. Be encountered in the early entry into the taxi when the traffic lights, to minimize braking. A friend told me he would rather have one less turn a Bay brakes, it makes sense. Start, the best to join riding help, not only can improve the startup speed, and can reduce the battery life of loss and damage.

7, note that charging environment. Charge is the best temperature 25 ℃. Most chargers are not adapted to the automatic temperature control system, so most chargers are designed in accordance with ambient temperature of 25 ℃, so the charge at 25 ℃ under the conditions better. Otherwise, it is inevitable that over the winter and summer due to charge the charging problem. The ambient temperature at 25 ℃, when the real is relatively small, so there must be less in summer than winter charging charging problem. Fortunately, most families now have the conditions of the indoor thermostat, so that charge, the best arrangements for the battery and charger in a ventilated and temperature controlled environment. Special notice the battery in the northern winter low temperature outdoors into a warm room when the battery will be frost on the surface condensation. In order to avoid frost condensation caused by battery leakage, should the battery temperature rises to close to room temperature and dry and later be charged.

8, take advantage of a lot of bike maintenance conditions, dealers can provide battery maintenance and repair services, should take advantage of these services. Some brands of electric bikes made for battery maintenance. Such as: regular maintenance on the battery, can reduce the damage to the battery. Battery state of charge of the repair can alleviate the “battery backward” failure, which is equipped with a maintenance capability for the dealer is easy. For water loss, in 70% of battery capacity when the water than 40% of battery capacity when the effect of water is better. And even some brands of products are also proposed: the time is not required to give up the equivalent of battery maintenance warranty period. Consumers should not occur by the loss. Therefore, consumers should make full use of the conditions to extend battery maintenance to increase battery life by these methods, the user can greatly extend the battery life. Some users continue the mileage is short, relatively long battery life, some of the problems are relatively difficult to find.

If you’re a fitness nut, the thought of having something other than your legs power you up the mountainside is tantamount to downing a McDonalds McRib while choking down your second pack of Marlboro Reds. But for those of us less concerned with exercise and more interested in enjoying the spaces between A and B, Ego-Bike conversion kit has an answer. And it’s packing 1,200-watts of go juice.

The bike conversion kit comes complete with a battery pack, electric motor, drive system, throttle/controller and all the necessary mounting hardware to retrofit a claimed 70% of the bikes on the market. According to the German company, it can push an average rider uphill for 3,280 feet at an 80% maximum incline (around 40-degrees). If the terrain is flat, you can travel up to 25 miles and max out at 43 mph, and when the juice does run out, a full charge won’t take longer than an hour. Naturally, there’s a rub and it comes in the form of tonnage. The whole kit weights in at 9.7 pounds – hefty for even the most kitted out downhiller and unthinkable for a lightweight carbon roadie. Prices haven’t been announced, but expect sales and importation to begin later this year.