Comments on: Running on Empty: Power Anxiety and e-Bikes http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 18 May 2013 21:46:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: BluesCat http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-236225 BluesCat Tue, 03 May 2011 17:24:17 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=11044#comment-236225 I tell ya, I hit my little hill on my way in this morning and two things happened: (1) my left knee complained that I hadn't downshifted quickly enough, and (2) I had a brief, brisk, unusual headwind. I topped the hill and said to myself "Ted! Where's my e-bike!" I tell ya, I hit my little hill on my way in this morning and two things happened: (1) my left knee complained that I hadn’t downshifted quickly enough, and (2) I had a brief, brisk, unusual headwind. I topped the hill and said to myself “Ted! Where’s my e-bike!”

]]> By: Bill Hebb http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-235853 Bill Hebb Tue, 03 May 2011 12:55:53 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=11044#comment-235853 Ted, I agree that the battery meter function is a little lacking, but with experience on how you ride, your load, and the terrain - you pretty quickly figure out the meter and the range remaining. There are meters, such as the Cycle Analyst, that provide more detail, but of course that means more money and raises the retail price. Here is a simple explanation of our meter: Basically, the battery meter is similar to the voltage meter on a car. The battery meter sometimes goes into yellow or even red when going up a hill, just as the voltage meter in a car dips as the car is started or accelerated. On flat ground, the lights work as follows: Green - First 40% of the charge Yellow - Next 40% of the charge Red - Last 20% of the charge In other words you have a little less than half the range on the green light, and when the light's red constantly - it is time to conserve the battery or charge the battery soon. Battery range is affected by terrain, wind, weight of the user, speed, and how much effort the rider is using. I hope this helps and thanks for the comments on our bike. Ted, I agree that the battery meter function is a little lacking, but with experience on how you ride, your load, and the terrain – you pretty quickly figure out the meter and the range remaining. There are meters, such as the Cycle Analyst, that provide more detail, but of course that means more money and raises the retail price. Here is a simple explanation of our meter:
Basically, the battery meter is similar to the voltage meter on a car. The battery meter sometimes goes into yellow or even red when going up a hill, just as the voltage meter in a car dips as the car is started or accelerated. On flat ground, the lights work as follows:
Green – First 40% of the charge
Yellow – Next 40% of the charge
Red – Last 20% of the charge
In other words you have a little less than half the range on the green light, and when the light’s red constantly – it is time to conserve the battery or charge the battery soon. Battery range is affected by terrain, wind, weight of the user, speed, and how much effort the rider is using.
I hope this helps and thanks for the comments on our bike.

]]> By: Ted Johnson http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-235568 Ted Johnson Tue, 03 May 2011 04:23:02 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=11044#comment-235568 It's like an Easter egg! Is there a flight simulator in there too? I'll have to try that. Thanks. It’s like an Easter egg! Is there a flight simulator in there too?

I’ll have to try that. Thanks.

]]> By: peteathome http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-235563 peteathome Tue, 03 May 2011 04:15:07 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=11044#comment-235563 code 3779 if you have revision #12 or above: http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=9044&start=0 code 3779 if you have revision #12 or above:
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=9044&start=0

]]> By: Ted Johnson http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-235526 Ted Johnson Tue, 03 May 2011 03:17:12 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=11044#comment-235526 We have a Bionx bike here, but I haven't investigated all the functions of the controller. Instead today I called someone who ought to know, and was told that that Bionx did not have this feature. Must investigate further. We have a Bionx bike here, but I haven’t investigated all the functions of the controller. Instead today I called someone who ought to know, and was told that that Bionx did not have this feature. Must investigate further.

]]> By: peteathome http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-235517 peteathome Tue, 03 May 2011 03:00:19 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=11044#comment-235517 The Bionx controller has a function you can turn on that gives the distance and time remaining on the battery. But it is based on the power utilization of the last ?30 seconds or so. If they would use a longer time period, say the last 20 minutes, that would give a reasonable estimate, assuming you aren't about to climb a mountain. The Bionx controller has a function you can turn on that gives the distance and time remaining on the battery. But it is based on the power utilization of the last ?30 seconds or so. If they would use a longer time period, say the last 20 minutes, that would give a reasonable estimate, assuming you aren’t about to climb a mountain.

]]> By: GDorn http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-235397 GDorn Mon, 02 May 2011 23:00:39 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=11044#comment-235397 Another significant factor in discharge curves in the battery chemistry itself. LiFePO4, for example, has a much flatter discharge curve than Li-Ion, meaning that it maintains a higher voltage for the duration of the drain cycle. This also means that State of Charge estimators (like your three-LED dashboard indicator) need to be calibrated for the right battery chemistry. You might find the Cycle Analyst to be more useful at estimating remaining charge: http://www.ebikes.ca/drainbrain.shtml Many e-bike controllers are compatible with this gadget, which can also log battery states over time and let you output the data to a computer for further analysis. Another significant factor in discharge curves in the battery chemistry itself. LiFePO4, for example, has a much flatter discharge curve than Li-Ion, meaning that it maintains a higher voltage for the duration of the drain cycle. This also means that State of Charge estimators (like your three-LED dashboard indicator) need to be calibrated for the right battery chemistry.

You might find the Cycle Analyst to be more useful at estimating remaining charge: http://www.ebikes.ca/drainbrain.shtml

Many e-bike controllers are compatible with this gadget, which can also log battery states over time and let you output the data to a computer for further analysis.

]]> By: Roach http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/05/02/running-on-empty-power-anxiety-and-e-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-235373 Roach Mon, 02 May 2011 22:21:14 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=11044#comment-235373 Part of the problem is that batteries don't drain as smoothly as a gasoline fuel tank. The age of the battery, the temperature, the load it's being put under, and other factors all change how it's going to drain. I assume they've figured out ways to level some of these off and provide accurate readings of distance available for pure-electric cars like the Nissan Leaf, but I don't know what's being done there or how much of it could be translated to electric bikes. Part of the problem is that batteries don’t drain as smoothly as a gasoline fuel tank. The age of the battery, the temperature, the load it’s being put under, and other factors all change how it’s going to drain.

I assume they’ve figured out ways to level some of these off and provide accurate readings of distance available for pure-electric cars like the Nissan Leaf, but I don’t know what’s being done there or how much of it could be translated to electric bikes.

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