Electric bicycle

An electric bicycle (e-bike, eBike, etc.) is a motorized bicycle with an integrated electric motor used to assist propulsion. Many kinds of e-bikes are available worldwide, but they generally fall into two broad categories: bikes that assist the rider's pedal-power (i.e. pedelecs) and bikes that add a throttle, integrating moped-style functionality. Both retain the ability to be pedaled by the rider and are therefore not electric motorcycles. E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and typically are motor-powered up to . High-powered varieties can often travel more than .

E-bike use is growing in some markets, as they are seen as an eco-friendly and healthy alternative to cars, fossil fuel-powered mopeds and small motorcycles, and a less physically intense alternative to conventional bicycles.

Depending on local laws, many e-bikes (e.g., ''pedelecs'') are legally classified as bicycles rather than mopeds or motorcycles. This exempts them from the more stringent laws regarding the certification and operation of more powerful two-wheelers which are often classed as electric motorcycles, such as licensing and mandatory safety equipment. E-bikes can also be defined separately and treated under distinct electric bicycle laws. In UK legislation the vehicles are called electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPC), in EU legislation electrically power assisted cycles (EPAC).

History

In the 1890s, electric bicycles were documented within various U.S. patents. For example, on 31 December 1895, Ogden Bolton Jr. was granted for a battery-powered bicycle with "6-pole brush-and-commutator direct current (DC) hub motor mounted in the rear wheel". There were no gears and the motor could draw up to 100 amperes from a 10-volt battery.

Two years later, in 1897, Hosea W. Libbey of Boston invented an electric bicycle () that was propelled by a "double electric motor". The motor was designed within the hub of the crankset axle. This model was later re-invented and imitated in the late 1990s by Giant Lafree e-bikes.

By 1898 a rear-wheel drive electric bicycle, which used a driving belt along the outside edge of the wheel, was patented by Mathew J. Steffens. Also, the 1899 by John Schnepf depicted a rear-wheel friction "roller-wheel" style drive electric bicycle. Schnepf's invention was later re-examined and expanded in 1969 by G. A. Wood Jr. with his . Wood's device used four fractional horsepower motors connected through a series of gears.

Torque sensors and power controls were developed in the late 1990s. For example, Takada Yutky of Japan filed a patent in 1997 for such a device. In 1992 Vector Services Limited offered and sold an e-bike dubbed Zike. The bicycle included NiCd batteries that were built into a frame member and included an 850 g permanent-magnet motor. Despite the Zike, in 1992 hardly any commercial e-bikes were available.

Yamaha, a Japanese automotive giant built one of the early prototypes of e-bike back in 1989 and invented the pedal assist system in 1993.

Production grew from 1993 to 2004 by an estimated 35%. By contrast, according to Gartner, in 1995 regular bicycle production decreased from its peak 107 million units.

American car executive Lee Iacocca founded EV Global Motors in 1997, a company that produced an electric bicycle model named E-bike SX, and it was one of the early efforts to popularize e-bikes in the United States.

Some of the less expensive e-bikes used bulky lead-acid batteries, whereas newer models generally used NiMH, NiCd, and/or Li-ion batteries, which offered lighter, denser capacity batteries. Performance varies; however, in general there is an increase in range and speed with the latter battery types.

By 2001 the terms e-bike, power bike, "pedelec", pedal-assisted, and power-assisted bicycle were commonly used to refer to e-bikes. The terms "electric motorbike" or "e-motorbike" refer to more powerful models that attain higher speeds (up to or higher).

In a parallel hybrid motorized bicycle, such as the aforementioned 1897 invention by Hosea W. Libbey, human and motor inputs are mechanically coupled either in the bottom bracket, the rear wheel, or the front wheel, whereas in a (mechanical) series hybrid cycle, the human and motor inputs are coupled through differential gearing. In an (electronic) series hybrid cycle, human power is converted into electricity and is fed directly into the motor and mostly additional electricity is supplied from a battery.

By 2007 e-bikes were thought to make up 10 to 20 percent of all two-wheeled vehicles on the streets of many major Chinese cities. A typical unit requires 8 hours to charge the battery, which provides the range of , at the speed of around .

Gallery

File:Ebike1932.jpg, E-bike 1932 (by Philips & Simplex)
File:Electricbike1raleigh.JPG, A bike equipped with an after market electric hub motor conversion kit, with the battery pack placed on the rear carrier rack
File:BLDCBicycleHubMotor.jpg, BLDC bicycle hub motor

Classes

E-bikes are classed according to the power that their electric motor can deliver and the control system, i.e., when and how the power from the motor is applied. Also the classification of e-bikes is complicated as much of the definition is due to legal reasons of what constitutes a bicycle and what constitutes a moped or motorcycle. As such, the classification of these e-bikes varies greatly across countries and local jurisdictions.

Despite these legal complications, the classification of e-bikes is mainly decided by whether the e-bike's motor assists the rider using a ''pedal-assist'' system or by a ''power-on-demand'' one. Definitions of these are as follows:
*With pedal-assist, the electric motor is regulated by pedalling. The pedal-assist augments the efforts of the rider when they are pedalling. These e-bikes – called pedelecs – have a sensor to detect the pedalling speed, the pedalling force, or both. Brake activation is sensed to disable the motor as well.
*With power-on-demand, the motor is activated by a throttle, usually handlebar-mounted just like on most motorcycles or scooters.

Therefore, very broadly, e-bikes can be classed as:
* ''E-bikes with pedal-assist only'': either ''pedelecs'' (legally classed as bicycles) or ''S-Pedelecs'' (often legally classed as mopeds)
** ''Pedelecs'': have pedal-assist only, motor assists only up to a decent but not excessive speed (usually ), motor power up to , often legally classed as bicycles
** ''S-Pedelecs'': have pedal-assist only, motor power can be greater than , can attain a higher speed (e.g., )) before motor stops assisting, sometimes legally classed as a moped or motorcycle.
* ''E-bikes with power-on-demand'' and ''pedal-assist''
* ''E-bikes with power-on-demand only'': often have more powerful motors than pedelecs but not always, the more powerful of these are legally classed as mopeds or motorcycles

File:Schematic of an Pedelec.svg, Schematic of a Pedelec
File:Schematic of an E-Bike.svg, Schematic of an E-Bike
File:Hyperbikes.jpg, Different types of e-bikes

Pedal-assist only

E-bikes with pedal-assist only are usually called ''pedelecs'' but can be broadly classified into pedelecs proper and the more powerful S-Pedelecs.

Pedelecs

The term "pedelec" (from pedal electric cycle) refers to a ''pedal-assist'' e-bike with a relatively low-powered electric motor and a decent but not excessive top speed. Pedelecs are legally classed as bicycles rather than low-powered motorcycles or mopeds.

The most influential definition of pedelecs comes from the EU. EU directive (EN15194 standard) for motor vehicles considers a bicycle to be a pedelec if:
* The ''pedal-assist'', i.e. the motorised assistance that only engages when the rider is pedalling, cuts out once
# is reached, and
# when the motor produces ''maximum continuous rated power'' of not more than (n.b. the motor can produce more power for short periods, such as when the rider is struggling to get up a steep hill).
An e-bike conforming to these conditions is considered to be a pedelec in the EU and is legally classed as a bicycle. The EN15194 standard is valid across the whole of the EU and has also been adopted by some non-EU European nations and also some non-European jurisdictions (such as the state of Victoria in Australia).

Pedelecs are much like conventional bicycles in use and function—the electric motor only provides assistance, for example, when the rider is climbing or struggling against a headwind. Pedelecs are therefore especially useful for people in hilly areas where riding a bike would prove too strenuous for many to consider taking up cycling as a daily means of transport. They are also useful for riders who more generally need some assistance, e.g. for people with heart, leg muscle or knee joint issues.

S-Pedelecs

More powerful pedelecs which are not legally classed as bicycles are dubbed S-Pedelecs (short for ''Schnell-Pedelecs'', i.e. Speedy-Pedelecs) in Germany. These have a motor more powerful than and less limited, or unlimited, pedal-assist, i.e. the motor does not stop assisting the rider once has been reached. S-Pedelec class e-bikes are therefore usually classified as mopeds or motorcycles rather than as bicycles and therefore may (depending on the jurisdiction) need to be registered and insured, the rider may need some sort of driver's license (either car or motorcycle) and motorcycle helmets may have to be worn. In the United States, many states have adopted S-Pedelecs into the Class 3 category. Class 3 e-bikes are limited to not more than of power and .

Power-on-demand and pedal-assist

Some newer electric bikes include a pedal assist system (PAS) with or without throttle, allowing riders to pedal alongside the electric motor to increase distance per charge. There are also electric bike conversion kits for turning non-electric bikes into e-bikes.

Power-on-demand only

Some e-bikes have an electric motor that operates on a power-on-demand basis only. In this case, the electric motor is engaged and operated manually using a throttle, which is usually on the handgrip just like the ones on a motorbike or scooter. These sorts of e-bikes often, but not always, have more powerful motors than pedelecs do.

With ''power-on-demand only'' e-bikes the rider can:
# ride by pedal power alone, i.e. fully human-powered.
# ride by electric motor alone by operating the throttle manually.
# ride using both together at the same time.

Some power-on-demand only e-bikes can hardly be confused with, let alone categorised as, bicycles. For example, the ''Noped'' is a term used by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario for e-bikes which do not have pedals or in which the pedals have been removed from their motorised bicycle. These are better categorised as electric mopeds or electric motorcycles.

Legal status

''(*) Allowed on bike paths when electric systems are turned off
(**) E-bikes are illegal in this region
(***) Some regions have special regulations, see corresponding entry under Electric bicycle laws.''

Gallery

File:Beijing-electric-bicycles-3729.jpg, E-bikes and electric scooters in a specialized shop in Beijing in 2008. (Y2750 is around US$400.)
File:Yangzhou-WenchangLu-electric-bicycles-3278.jpg, E-bikes are common in China, with an estimated fleet of 120 million in early 2010.
File:Hybrid bicycle clock.jpg, Hybrid bicycle speedometer with integrated battery level measurement

Popularity

E-bike usage worldwide has experienced rapid growth since 1998.

China is the world's leading producer of e-bikes. According to the data of the China Bicycle Association, a government-chartered industry group, in 2004 China's manufacturers sold 7.5 million e-bikes nationwide, which was almost twice the year 2003 sales;"China's Cyclists Take Charge", By Peter Fairley
IEEE Spectrum, June 2005 domestic sales reached 10 million in 2005, and 16 to 18 million in 2006."Cheap and green, electric bikes are the rage in China"
, by Tim Johnson. Originally published 23 May 2007 by McClatchy Newspapers. In 2016, approximately 210 million electric bikes were used daily in China.

With time passing many ebike brands emerge and took fame in countries worldwide. And as the e-bike's popularity increase so did the competition between manufacturers to provide the best quality and features to customers in order to stay at top.

One interesting thing is, regardless of all these brands being popular in different countries such as USA, Canada, Europe. Most of their manufacturing and distribution plants are based in China. This helps them lower there prices and stay in competition.

This race of popularity ends up in competition between electric bikes manufacturers, often results in a beneficial way to consumers. Bringing new and unique features and making innovation in the bikes design, improving build quality, lowering prices, etc. These all are few tactics that companies do in order to stay customers first choice. One more sales tactic these companies use is to offe
e-bike coupons
that any buyer could use to save money on the purchase of their electric bike. Brands try to give as much discount to attract as many buyers. This gives them a happy feeling and sensation of satisfaction when they ride around the town, knowing that they got the best deal on their ride.

According to trade umbrella body CONEBI, electric bike sales in the EU were over 5 million in 2021, up from 2 million e-bikes in 2016,Black, Forbes
"The State of the Electric Bicycle Market"
Electricbikereport.com, September 19, 2016 up from 700,000 in 2010 and 200,000 in 2007. In 2019, the EU implemented a 79.3% protective tariff on imported Chinese e-bikes to protect EU producers.

Technical

Motors and drivetrains

The two most common types of motors used in electric bicycles are brushed and brushless. Many configurations are available, varying in cost and complexity; direct-drive and geared motor units are both used. An electric power-assist system may be added to almost any pedal cycle using chain drive, belt drive, hub motors or friction drive. Brushless hub motors are the most common in modern designs. The motor is built into the wheel hub itself, while the stator is fixed solidly to the axle, and the magnets are attached to and rotating with the wheel. The bicycle wheel hub is the motor. The power levels of motors used are influenced by available legal categories and are often, but not always limited to under 750 watts.

Another type of electric assist motor, often referred to as the mid-drive system, is increasing in popularity. With this system, the electric motor is not built into the wheel but is usually mounted near (often under) the bottom bracket shell. In more typical configurations, a cog or wheel on the motor drives a belt or chain that engages with a pulley or sprocket fixed to one of the arms of the bicycle's crankset. Thus, the propulsion is provided at the pedals rather than at the wheel, being eventually applied to the wheel via the bicycle's standard drive train.

Because the power is applied through the chain and sprocket, power is typically limited to around 250–500 watts to protect against fast wear on the drivetrain. An electric mid-drive combined with an internal gear hub at the back hub may require care due to the lack of a clutch mechanism to soften the shock to the gears at the moment of re-engagement. A continuously variable transmission or a fully automatic internal gear hub may reduce the shocks due to the viscosity of oils used for liquid coupling instead of the mechanical couplings of the conventional internal gear hubs.

The main advantage mid-drive motors have over hub motors is that power is applied through the chain (or belt) and thus it utilizes the existing rear gears (either external or internal). This allows for the motor to operate more efficiently at a wider range of vehicle speeds. Without utilizing the bicycle's gears, equivalent hub motors tend to be less effective propelling the ebike slowly up steep hills and also propelling the ebike fast on the flat.

Batteries

E-bikes use rechargeable batteries in addition to electric motors and some form of control. Battery systems in use include sealed lead–acid (SLA), nickel–cadmium (NiCad), nickel–metal hydride (NiMH) or lithium-ion polymer (Li-ion). Batteries vary according to the voltage, total charge capacity (amp hours), weight, the number of charging cycles before performance degrades, and ability to handle over-voltage charging conditions. The energy costs of operating e-bikes are small, but there can be considerable battery replacement costs. The lifespan of a battery pack varies depending on the type of usage. Shallow discharge/recharge cycles will help extend the overall battery life.

Range is a key consideration with e-bikes, and is affected by factors such as motor efficiency, battery capacity, efficiency of the driving electronics, aerodynamics, hills and weight of the bike and rider. Some manufacturers, such as the Canadian BionX

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