The HyperBike feasibility study
The more you read our blog, the more you probably realize that there is an absolutely huge amount of research going into alternative automobiles. Much of the research is on creating new fuels with which to run our internal combustion engines. However, a great deal of research is also being made into electric transportation. Batteries, capacitors and electric motors with their associated electronics are all being made better and more efficient. Thankfully, other transportation devices can stand to be improved by much of this same research, and ebikes are no exception. Assisted bicycles have been around for a good long time, and you may remember the days when mopeds were criss-crossing your country regularly. After the engine, electric bikes started showing up as well. Now, there are hundreds of electrically assisted bicycles from which to choose.
The HyperBike Feasibility Study in Austria is looking at ways to improve the electric bike's batteries, motor and overall efficiency. Being that the pedals still exist, this is a hybrid form of transportation. Check out their website and see what they are doing. Remember, the original language of the page is German, so the English is not perfect, but its pretty easy to understand. Have fun!
[Source: HyperBike]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rgseidl 5:17PM (8/25/2007)
Correction please: Graz is in Austria, not Germany.
The aim of the project appears to be testing modern brushless DC motors, power converters and storage devices (e.g. Li-ion batteries) for their suitability in hybrid pedal-electric propulsion. A viable solution would have to provide substantially more power and/or range than existing straight DC solutions with low-power brushed DC motors. It would also have to be light enough for a two-wheeler with kickstand, safe, reliable in all kinds of weather and temperatures. Finally, both purchase/lease and maintenance would have to be affordable. The expensive batteries might require additional theft protection.
Pedal-powered vehicles, such as bicycles, trikes enclosed trikes (cp.
http://www.aerorider.com/
) are excellent targets for electric hybrids because there is little vehicle mass to accelerate. Trips tend to be short and in urban or suburban area where top speeds are generally below 30mph anyhow. That means the battery pack can be a lot smaller and cheaper than the one required for a full car.
The power assist makes the bicycle a viable mode of transport for non-athletes in cities built on hilly terrain, easing both congestion and parking problems, not to mention tailpipe emissions. Plus, you get some exercise in, at least on the way home from work.
Boarding a train with an electric bicycle is a little more difficult, though. Batteries still weigh an awful lot and, non-folding bicycles are usually not permitted at all during rush hour. Some lateral thinking will be required to make PEDELECs viable fair-weather commute vehicles for anyone living in the suburbs.
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