Pimp my ride

Brief hybrid electric bike update 4

bike and hummer

That’s a picture of my Hybrid Electric parked next to an especially stupid looking Hummer. Dark tinted windows make it impossible for cyclists to make eye contact with drivers. You’re playing Russian roulette when you cross in front of a car that has them. I noticed that this particular Hummer would not move for days at a time when gas prices were high last summer.

A commenter wanted me to post an update on my Hybrid Electric bike. Specifically, he wanted to know how the cheap mountain bike frame was holding out. The answer is just fine. My only complaint is that that the cargo rack has to cantilever from the seat post because it can’t connect to the rear wheel axle on a loose tail mountain bike. This minimizes shocks to the controller but puts a lot of stress at the base of the cantilever.

battery packs

There isn’t much to update. I have not made any improvements to the bike for some time, which is a sign that the design is pretty mature. I thought I’d include a picture of my charging station. It normally hangs on the garage wall but I occasionally take it with me on long trips. It is designed so two chargers can fit in each pannier bag. With the flip of a switch I can charge the batteries or draw power from them.

I rode too far on a trip last week and had to limp home without using my batteries. That’s the beauty of a hybrid system. I’m not sure how the all-electric car thing will work out because people will over-extend now and then. I suspect companies will spring up to assist electric car drivers with quick charges or cheap tows—part of the new green economy.

My real name is Russ Finley. I live in Seattle, married with children. Suffice it to say that although I am trained and educated as an engineer, my passion is nature. I very much want my grandchildren to live on a planet where lions, tigers, and bears have not joined the long and growing list of creatures that used to be. In an attempt to minimize the workload on Grist editors responsible for turning my submissions into intelligible articles, I will also be posting on a seperate blog called Biodiversivist, which will contain articles in addition to those submitted to Grist.

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  1. Delay And Deny's avatar

    Delay And Deny Posted 5:57 pm
    14 Apr 2009

    Will you be making a hydrogen fuel cell version? 

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  2. Pangolin's avatar

    Pangolin Posted 6:12 pm
    14 Apr 2009

    I'm going to throw in a plug for your basic longtail cargo bike. I'm a fat guy in a flat town and I can get anywhere in town in a bit over half an hour. I save money on gas, I no longer need a gym membership and I get so much attention on my bike compared to my car or walking that I'm reluctant to go places without it.

    Plus I no longer have to worry about whether I can carry whatever the load of the day is home. Groceries, tools, a box of apples, my kid, a ladder, a barbecue, or some lawn chairs for the park; I can carry them. (not all at once) If I had some hills to contend with, a longer range or a bit more speed was wanted an electric hub like BioD's rig would suit.http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-revie
    w-and-buying-guide.html    p.s.-If anybody knows how to embed links in comments could you please IM me with the info?

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  3. Biodiversivist's avatar

    Biodiversivist Posted 6:29 pm
    14 Apr 2009

    Sure thing Jabailo,I'll just mount a ten gallon propane tank and a fuel cell on the handlebars. When it runs out I'll just drive over to the nearest hydrogen gas dealer. I'll put blow out panels on my garage door just in case it explodes one night while we are sleeping.Pangolin,Highlight the text then click on the little chain link in the top right corner and paste in your URL. Pictures don't work yet. Just tried it.Word of warning about electric bikes. You will need to use the motor to some degree most of the time to overcome weight and drag penalty. You don't want to carry them around just in case you need them on a hill. That's why the Prius uses its electric motor and ICE together. Carrying a battery and motor around for occasional use imparts too much of an efficiency penalty, especially on a bike. It's all or nothing, baby.   

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    1. bonus-map's avatar

      bonus-map Posted 4:15 pm
      15 Apr 2009

      A revolutionary mobile phone battery that recharges in 10 seconds instead of several hours has been created by scientists.Although the invention will be popular with owners of electronic portable gadgets - who will no longer need to remember to keep them charged up overnight - it could also usher in a new era of electric cars.Bigger batteries for plug in electric cars could charge in just five minutes - compared with about eight hours for existing batteries. Owners of electric cars would be free to drive long distances, safe in the knowledge that they could top up their battery in a few minutes at a service station - just like the owner of a petrol or diesel car.

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