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12-19-2004, 05:02 PM

What is the best electric bicycle sold today?

Oddly enough, for most people, the answer is likely to be an ebike
made, not in China or Taiwan, but in Montreal albeit with many offshore
parts. The EPS "Smart-E" electric bike, from Quebec.

Here's my 2-cents' worth comparison chart, as of December 2004,
comparing bikes that I have either owned, or used: Lash Out, Currie,
Smart-E, Wavecrest Tidalforce M-750

LASH-OUT 2003 CURRIE SMART-E M-750

Approx. lbs. 70 75
45 70
Top Speed KPH 33 30 31
33
Range KM 20 20
30 20
Brushless motor? Y N
Y Y
Hub motor? N N
Y Y
Battery type SLA SLA
NiMH NiMH
Durability in rain Fair Fair
VG NA
Regen braking? N N
Y Y
Hi/Lo power mode? N N
Y Y
Power by Throttle ? Y Y
Opt. Y
Pedalling Req'd? N N
Y N

Discussion and analysis: Today, most electric bike builders agree that
"direct drive hub motors" are more durable, less finicky than those
(e.g. Lash Out) with external motors that require belts or chains.
However, a brushless hub motor will not require periodic internal
cleaning (during which you could crush your fingers, imho) like
"brushed" hub motors.

Too bad the EPS Smart-E electric bike doesn't get mentioned in electric
vehicle reviews because it deserves at least one consumer test, or
review.

I didn't include other electric motorbikes sold that I haven't owned
nor tried extensively, which include: Giant-LaFree, Iaccoca's E-Bike
(Global-EV's EBike?), Crave, Charger, Merida (out of production?), or
the 20+ brands/models of Chinese "Motorino" Vespa-with-pedals ebikes
from Greenwit.com)

For others, a D-I-Y ebike may be better. Look at the electric bikes
made by smart students at www.ebikes.ca which seem to outperform
store-bought models. And, you may even be able to power the bike with
supercapacitors or ultracapacitors.

12-19-2004, 05:02 PM	#64 (permalink)
smogkiller2004@yahoo.com Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Britain's greatest invention: The bike? What is the best electric bicycle sold today? Oddly enough, for most people, the answer is likely to be an ebike made, not in China or Taiwan, but in Montreal albeit with many offshore parts. The EPS "Smart-E" electric bike, from Quebec. Here's my 2-cents' worth comparison chart, as of December 2004, comparing bikes that I have either owned, or used: Lash Out, Currie, Smart-E, Wavecrest Tidalforce M-750 LASH-OUT 2003 CURRIE SMART-E M-750 Approx. lbs. 70 75 45 70 Top Speed KPH 33 30 31 33 Range KM 20 20 30 20 Brushless motor? Y N Y Y Hub motor? N N Y Y Battery type SLA SLA NiMH NiMH Durability in rain Fair Fair VG NA Regen braking? N N Y Y Hi/Lo power mode? N N Y Y Power by Throttle ? Y Y Opt. Y Pedalling Req'd? N N Y N Discussion and analysis: Today, most electric bike builders agree that "direct drive hub motors" are more durable, less finicky than those (e.g. Lash Out) with external motors that require belts or chains. However, a brushless hub motor will not require periodic internal cleaning (during which you could crush your fingers, imho) like "brushed" hub motors. Too bad the EPS Smart-E electric bike doesn't get mentioned in electric vehicle reviews because it deserves at least one consumer test, or review. I didn't include other electric motorbikes sold that I haven't owned nor tried extensively, which include: Giant-LaFree, Iaccoca's E-Bike (Global-EV's EBike?), Crave, Charger, Merida (out of production?), or the 20+ brands/models of Chinese "Motorino" Vespa-with-pedals ebikes from Greenwit.com) For others, a D-I-Y ebike may be better. Look at the electric bikes made by smart students at www.ebikes.ca which seem to outperform store-bought models. And, you may even be able to power the bike with supercapacitors or ultracapacitors.