Folding electric bike

[tmmorris]

Moar Folding Electric Bike | Uncrate (http://uncrate.com/article/moar-folding-electric-bike/)

Handier than the pedalled version!

[worrab]

A whopping ~30kg!

[Lantern10]

Looks good.

[onetrack]

For that kind of money (US$1000-$1200), I'd like a little better than 20mph top speed. Even with the programmable increase to 28mph (45kmh) for "off-road", that's still going to make the trip from the remote airstrip to the nearest town, a slow and boring trip.

[ChickenHouse]

As ebike at power >250W and that fast to count as motorbike, it'll most probably need street insurance, a license plate and you have to wear a helmet? 30kg is not really nice ... mine is only doing 15 mph (electro assisted pedal driven bicycle), needs no insurance, no license plate and weights a little over 15kg (Dahon Mue Uno with aftermarket china motor and 14Ah good for about 65 miles full e-power, the only limit, max driver 231lbs ) - I'll stay with that. Some friends use e-Brompton, but ooh boy, at what a price.

[funfly]

I have a Wisper which weighes around 21 kg with the battery. I have to say that it has made a massive contribution to my quality of life.

[alex90]

I think the best one I have seen is the GoCycle G3.... in terms of weight, space when folded, range... etc.... but it costs more than I would spend on a motorcycle!! Brompton bicycles are pretty good space & weight wise, but again quite expensive too.

This is the hardest bit of flying, how do you get from the airfield to other places. Taxi is often be the best method, but can be quite expensive.

In the US, I have seen airports offer courtesy cars, that pilots coming in can just borrow, keys on the wall type deal with a "please bring back with full tank" note. It's a shame that this isn't customary in the U.K. But then again who would foot the bill for the MOT, insurance... etc....?

[ChickenHouse]

@alex: thankee for the GoCycle G3 hint, I did not know that before, it looks like the far future version of my almost home built solution. I'll give it a closer look (even though the price ...).

[Jan Olieslagers]

[[ off topic ]]
English is such a wonderful language for confusion...
Suppose one were to answer Folding electrics have not yet been applied to bikes :)

[MrAverage]

alex90


In case you're thinking of using a courtesy car at an airport in the USA, be advised that you - almost definitely - would not be insured.

[ChickenHouse]

would not be insured
Who cares a damn ****?

[alex90]

Would I not?

My car insurance in the UK covers me driving any UK registered car within the same class of vehicle whilst in the UK, providing that it has a valid MOT & road tax. If it is in a different "class' all I need to do is call them and let them know, they *may* charge me a few quid - but it has never been crazy, even when I borrowed my friend's Porsche.

I would assume, that should I be American, and own a car there, that there would be similar means of ensuring to be insured. Although - of course as a foreigner, you just make sure you take out your own short term policy with a reputable insurance company - that's not that hard to organise!!

Anyway - getting back to the important side of the conversation. The G3 is really cool, and I do want one, but sadly it is way out of my budget! Again - way above standard budget - but there is a company which make "belly pods" for a small motorcycle: MotoPOD LLC ? Innovative Aircraft Accessories (http://www.motorcyclepilot.com/motorcycles.php) they seem pretty cool!

I mean - alternatively of course, we could by some reliable "old bangers" (ie: £800 - £1000 - cheap to insure...etc..), leave them at the airfields that we use, and reciprocate the "use" of the car for anyone else who is part of the scheme with a simple online booking system.

(probably too easy for anyone to be interested though...)

[EddieHeli]

This looks impressive
Ahooga eBike ? Light+ | Ahooga Bike (http://shop.ahooga.bike/eshop/ahooga-e-bike-light/)
not tried it, just found it by googling lightest electric bike

[ChickenHouse]

This looks impressive
Ahooga eBike ? Light+ | Ahooga Bike
not tried it, just found it by googling lightest electric bike
Looks like a Brompton clone, but the battery seems pretty small at 24V/4.4Ah(105.6Wh) and that cut may be part of the lightweight story. I compare to my Dahon at 9.9kg bare plus 5.2kg for the ebike conversion, which carries a comfortable but heavy 36V/14Ah(504Wh) battery (and is way cheaper). From doing some research I guess the 10kg for the bike are about construction min unless you go highly expensive exotic materials, the motor conversion adds 2kg and the rest is trading battery capacity for weight.

[wiggy]

A whopping ~30kg!

Cripes, you could almost get a decent road bike plus a pro-rider to do the pedalling for you at that weight.:ooh:

[Geriaviator]

https://s15.postimg.org/7egwhx9mz/arrow_skye.jpg

ELECTRIC bicycles? What next? Here's a picture we have on our office wall. Still trying to work out whether it's to chide you young pPruners for going soft, or whether it's to remind my wife and I that once we could spend a fortnight cycling around Skye -- not to mention dozens of other places. Our folders went into the back with ease, and the panniers were in the boot. Alas our pedalling, our puff and our lovely Paro have long gone ...

[horizon flyer]

If a Lithium battery for long life operating it between 10% and 90% of charge will lengthen the life. Over charge and total discharge kills them.

The other thought is carrying a large Lithium battery in a aircraft may be a bit of a fire risk which could only be contained by dumping it over board. I know very low possibility but mechanical damage is the concern may be in turbulence if not tied down well.