Topic: Magna getting into ebikes

[airbalancer]

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/678192
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/678181
It appears Trek will putting on their bikes

[EV Dan]

Thanks. Excellent read. I didn't like the idea of automatic power assist at first, as I wanted my bike to have more go and less pedal-push, which it still does flawlessly, but I find myself trying to pedal more while modulating it with a "throttle". It seems to me now that BionX is the future. Good for Magna to put their clout and manufacturing capabilities behind the know-how.

[airbalancer]

A store in Peterborugh sells the Bion X , but they are talking that it cost over a grand for the install

[EV Dan]

Yep. The number that pops up in google search is close to $1700 for PL-350 and that's before tax. Mine cost me 500-600 shipped all included, so I figure if Magna really want ppl to ride more they should try to keep it under 1k, considering the cost of 36V Li-ions. I'm also not sure about their regen. braking on a bicycle, it maybe good for the battery but makes it impossible to coast, unless it can be turned off..

[airbalancer]

They probaly should come out with a system under $500 installed
or should our government come out with a rebate , they do it for car and ground soucre heating

[EV Dan]

It will be hard for them to keep it under 500 with Li-ion retailing for just as much, especially when the R&D costs are taken into account, after all I haven't heard of any Chinese kit to have such controls.
Rebates would be great but its not likely to happen IMO. The gobment needs collect taxes and so they need to sell more high price tag items - cars. That's why they came up with $10 grand rebate for the plug-ins.

[dr_spock]

Is there a NiMh battery version of Bionx?  That could lower the cost. 

[lOCk]

It will be hard for them to keep it under 500 with Li-ion retailing for just as much

One data point. I've just ordered 480Wh LifePO4 w/BMS (5.3Kg) for $349US retail...  And, hub motors FOB China ship by the container load for about $35 each.

I didn't like the idea of automatic power assist at first

When Transport Canada studied ebikes in 2001 they first proposed Pedal-Assist only (as in the EU) but they tested both pedal-assist and separate accelerator... They concluded there was no difference from a safety standpoint and their test riders favoured the separate accelerator, so TC left their legislation as optional on this point.

Personally I've been using foot bikes (adult-sized kick scooters) with power-assist, so there are no pedals (or gears etc) and pedal-assist is not an option.

BTW, from the same study, TC commented it is possible that bikes with power-assist are safer than pedal bikes because the great(er) acceleration encourages riders to slow down around other traffic, intersections etc, knowing it is easier to speed up again once the coast is clear.

tks
locK

[lOCk]

I'm also not sure about their regen. braking on a bicycle, it maybe good for the battery but makes it impossible to coast, unless it can be turned off..

BionX regen is activated when the rear hand brake is applied IIRC. Yes on a light-weight vehicle regen gives limited "payback" in terms of energy recovered, but it does save wear on mechanical brakes, and also works fine when mechanical brakes might be wet and so less effective than when dry.
tks
lLok

[lOCk]

Is there a NiMh battery version of Bionx?  That could lower the cost.

Original BionX packs were NiMh but all newer more powerful packs are LiMn (higher energy density versus LiFePO4 at the expense of fewer cycles/shorter life)
tks
loC

[airbalancer]

One data point. I've just ordered 480Wh LifePO4 w/BMS (5.3Kg) for $349US retail...  And, hub motors FOB China ship by the container load for about $35 each
Could you give more info please

[lOCk]

One data point. I've just ordered 480Wh LifePO4 w/BMS (5.3Kg) for $349US retail...  And, hub motors FOB China ship by the container load for about $35 each
Could you give more info please

www   evcomponents   com

(Sorry, I'm a noob here and can't post links

...it's the packs yer interested in, correct?

[lOCk]

BTW airbalancer... just was told by EV Components that they are out of stock on the 48V Headway packs with their next shipment leaving by boat from China yesterday or today. Also, that their website does not correctly state that there will be an additional charge to cover the shipping from China (sigh)... So they say another 3-4 weeks to wait. I'll guess more like six weeks before I have it in my hands (sigh again...) Basically anyone that has these on the shelf in NA at a good price just can't keep them this way. Most shipments are "pre-sold"
tks
lOCk

[lOCk]

I'm also not sure about their regen. braking on a bicycle, it maybe good for the battery but makes it impossible to coast, unless it can be turned off..

PS and just FYI, copy of the BionX user manual here:
www greenspeed.us /graphics /bionx /docs /BionXuserguide.pdf

(Sorry, as new here I can't post links, so add a dot after www and remove other spaces)
tks
loCk

[airbalancer]

I'm also not sure about their regen. braking on a bicycle, it maybe good for the battery but makes it impossible to coast, unless it can be turned off..

PS and just FYI, copy of the BionX user manual here:
www greenspeed.us /graphics /bionx /docs /BionXuserguide.pdf

(Sorry, as new here I can't post links, so add a dot after www and remove other spaces)
tks
loCk

So post more once you at 10 you can put links in