Hill Climb Boost Battery for the your Torq

[Ian]

I suppose anyone doing a post round on a bike in that terrain is going to get very strong, mind you when they get electric bikes things might not be any easier, I doubt they'll get bikes that'll climb 1 in 3, and if they're pedelecs they'll have to pushed without any assistance, and anything they're likely to get will make the Pashleys seem lightweight.

[flecc]

Yes, I'd thought of that too Ian, since I think they're certain to choose the German post bike as a play safe choice, and that will be a pedelec of course. I don't know what it weighs, but it's massively built with a huge wheeled stand and front and rear substantial carriers as well as the electric system, so I think it will probably be right up to the 40 kilo limit. Maybe it's motor is the geared down 11.5 mph version though, and that climbs most hills. Not 1 in 3 though, but I understand the Royal Mail have been telling customers who have what is termed "difficult access" that they must collect their mail in future, so they have a cop out!
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[HarryB]

Thanks Ian for the information about re-celling a torq battery. Not sure it is worth it unless you have the cells to re-use as it seems to be cheaper to buy a ready made battery from 50 cycles. I am running the Torq restricted at the moment as unrestricted the range is fairly hopeless, barely reaching 10 miles. Restricted it will go 20 miles with plenty of juice left so hopefully the battery has many more months or maybe a year of life left. However the torq is pretty gutless when restricted but something I will have to get used to.

[coops]

Thanks for the NiMH recelling information Ian, very useful .

To HarryB:
If you get 20miles+ restricted, then with careful throttle & speed limiting I think you could still get at least, say, 2/3 of that range when derestricted, if thats any help?

Stuart.

[Ian]

The replacement NiMh batteries from 50cycles are good value when available, and the cells used seem of good quality and suitable for the purpose. Any cost saving with the DIY approach would be minimal and it would be difficult to guarantee the cell quality.

My next re-celling project will probably be a lightweight "get you home" battery with C size cells of about 5Ah, if I can find them at the right price. It seems pointless lugging a spare 5.5kg battery around when it only gets used for the last couple of miles.

[HarryB]

Originally Posted by coops

If you get 20miles+ restricted, then with careful throttle & speed limiting I think you could still get at least, say, 2/3 of that range when derestricted, if thats any help?

Stuart.

Thanks Stuart for the advice.

Yes I have tried to limit how much I use the throttle, all I can say is it never works out for me and I run out of juice on the long but gentle hill up to my house. Restricted I cycle at about 17mph and therefore barely use any power. Unrestricted even at that speed it is difficult to know how much power you are using. I have tried to ride without the meter going into the yellow (and using the noise of the motor) as a guide but in the end it is too much hassle so I am restricted and will put up with the lousy hill climbing.

[coops]

Ah, I see HarryB thats how you get the range when restricted then ok, I see what you mean now and why unrestricted wouldn't work... sounds like you do well to squeeze 20+miles out of your battery as it is .

NiMH here we come? :-)

Stuart.

[aaannndddyyy]

Hi just finished my upgrade of fleccs radical battery using his third idea as the batteries will not fit the rack if altered here are a couple of pics of my bike with a Heinemann front hub and a powerbyke rear hub fitted.


On the Heinzmann I was able to add 4 extra NiCad 4.5 amp cells which I got off EBay for 1.50 each to the 36v 5amp NiCad battery pack, on a full charge the pack reads 47.8v, on the Powarbyke I added 6 extra 8 amp nimh batteries (I managed to get from a friend for doing a little gardening) on a full charge reads 51.4v both controllers seem to be able to take the extra power with no apparent side effect, being a flatlander (no steep hills to worry about) there has been no heating problems as yet. with the 54-44-34 crank set I am able to reach 19 mph with the Heinemann with good toque which is the maximum the motor will give, shutting the Heinemann down then adding the Powerbyke I am able to get 25mph on the strait , using both throttles to pull away there is excellent acceleration, the weight of the bike with both batteries comes in at 38kg which is heavy but the extra power more than makes up for the weight, the range has also improved giving around 40 miles total which is 5 miles more than I was getting before adding the extra batteries. I have been keeping a close eye on the temperature and voltage well charging these batteries as the chargers are for a 36v setup, so far there have been no problems.

[flecc]

Neat job aaannndddyyy, well done. You're the first to do this, and I'm glad it worked out well for you.

As you say, it makes quite a startling difference to the performance, acceleration, hill climbing and speed. With the four and six cells your controllers cope with it's even better. The extra range comes from the lower stress on the battery resulting from the extra power.
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