| Re: About six times as expensive....
DougC wrote:
>
> If we assume that the LaFree motor and battery are no more efficient
> than what the Bionx uses, then (6.5Ah/8Ah) x (4495 miles x (500/450
> discharge cycles)) miles = 4058 miles total, you should expect to get
> from an LaFree battery pack over 500 discharge cycles.
>
> 4058 miles / $350 battery replacement cost = $.0862 per mile, or 8.62
> cents per mile.... Now look at the fuel costs for the 4-cycle engine on
> my page; with fuel at $2.50/gal and assuming 200 mpg, the gas engine's
> cost is ~1.25 cents per mile.
Not a fair comparison. More accurate would be the cost of electricity
vs. the cost of gas, and the cost of a replacement battery vs. a gas
engine rebuild or replacement. Small gas engines don't last very many
miles between rebuilds (piston rings, cylinder sleeves, crankcase
bearings), but a brushless electric hub motor lasts much longer before
needing a "rebuild" that consists of just two axle bearings.
I think you may be underestimating the LA Free's range because it
delivers motor power only in conjunction with, and in proportion to,
the rider's pedal power. It has a reputation for offering one of the
longest ranges per charge of all electric bikes. I have no direct
experience with the Lite, so I can't personally verify this.
> Oh, and purchase price?... That's cheaper too. The LaFree bike cost
> around $1300, many places report. A gasoline engine kit costs from $150
> up to $600 (for the Golden Eagle kit I chose), plus a suitable bike
> (which may be as cheap as $100).
The junky gas motor kits available for bicycles bear a closer
comparison to the junky electric hub motor kits from Golden Motor and
others. To my knowledge, there is no gas motor equivalent to the
high-quality Canadian Bionx and German Heinzmann kits (unless the
Revopower motorized wheel is of substantially better quality than the
other internal combustion offerings).
> If you figure matters on a cost-per-power comparison, the gasoline
> engine would come out way on top again. The Bionx setup has a high
> "peak" output, but that [most likely] is at zero RPMs.
Zero RPM = zero power output. The Bionx might offer maximum /torque/
at zero RPM (and it might not), but its maximum power occurs at about
1/2 of its motor's free speed, if it is similar to other brushless hub
motors on the market.
> I'd LOVE to see a electric setup (that is available to consumers) and
> that can compete on a cost-per-mile with gasoline...
They all can, unless you disregard the replacement costs of
quick-wearing small ICEs. You also have to disregard the
difficult-to-price externalities of the noise, stink, heat,
maintenance, flammability, pollution, and carcinogenicity of the ICE
versus the electric alternatives.
Small gasoline engines are an order of magnitude worse in exhaust
emissions than automotive engines, on a horsepower-to-horsepower basis.
Compared to electrical generation facilities, they are /two/ orders of
magnitude worse. I guess as long as you are sharing those costs with
others, you don't mind them as much.
Chalo
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