Are there any books about e-bikes?

[mike killay]

So many posters on this forum obviously know all about electrics and electronics. Unfortunately, they only air their knowledge in direct response to someone's problems.
What I would like is a book that tells me how everything works, just the same as you can get car and motorcycle books.
I can understand an electric motor, but googling reveals brushed, brushless, stepper motors etc.
Just what is a controller?
I know that a Mosfet is a metal oxide silicon field effect transistor, but what does it do, and why are 9 better than 6?
What is a shunt, and why does adding solder make the bike more powerful?
I have discovered what a Hall effect sensor is and how it works, and that it is 19th century technology!
Any recommendations please?

 

[flecc]

Because e-bikes are such a small market and their technology has not settled down into standard patterns, books on them are as rare as hen's teeth. I only know of two, but neither meet your needs.

"Electric Bicycles" by David Henshaw and Richard Peace, ISBN 978-1-901464-24-5 is more a comprehensive guide for prospective purchasers, the technical side nothing like what you need.

"Electric Bicycles - A guide to design and use" by William C Morchin and Henry Oman, ISBN 0-471-67419-2 is obviously far more technical, but it doesn't cover the motor and controller issues in the way you want. It's biased more to the ways of using what is available with plenty of data connected with that.

I think online sources will better meet your needs, while others may have some tech book suggestions not directly connected to e-bikes that are better sources of motor and controller knowledge.
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[hihihi]

flecc has some very good online information (website). Specialised maybe, but really really good, and kept up to date.

Hope you don't mind the link flecc.

In fact, how about it... fancy compiling a book? I herewith promise to purchase a copy of your first edition. Come to think of it, that would be a good investment even - I'll have two please!

 

[flecc]

Not for me, in some of the areas Mike asks about, d8veh is a better choice to write a book, as are some other members. My websites are rather specific to those bikes and don't go into great depth on their motors and controllers. Any book I wrote would probably cross duplicate parts of the two I mentioned above.

As for battery information, the Battery University website is a very good source, though in this fast moving field nothing is ever completely up to date.
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[hihihi]

You're a genius flecc.
I like your thinking of compiling a book with the input of several authors. Brilliant!

 

[NRG]

The LDZS web site has a reasonable Knowledge Base that covers some of your questions. Its a little short on some answers but it may help...

http://www.lsdzs.com/e/lie2.asp

 

[flecc]

You're a genius flecc.
I like your thinking of compiling a book with the input of several authors. Brilliant!

Now then, you're embarrassing me!

Someone once posted on a computing site that I had a brain the size of Mars, but I think he might have meant a Mars bar.

 

[Miles]

The first chapter of this book is the best introduction to the theory behind electric motors that I've come across: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gbIDM60AvGAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Austin+hughes&hl=en&ei=OrjLTqfwOsWAOpy76JYP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Austin hughes&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gbIDM60AvGAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=motors+and+drives&hl=en&ei=QrfLTsOgA5Oy8QO7n5kE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CEsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=motors%20and%20drives&f=false

 

[Miles]

A few more links on motors:

http://www.fastelectrics.com/elecmotorbasics.htm

Electric Motors for Model Aircraft

a-BM-motors-1
from:
http://www.southernsoaringclub.org.za/

http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=388184#p388184

 

[wurly]

I'd like to include this one.

'Build Your Own Electric Bicycle' by Matthew Slinn
Available from Amazon.

It's a very informative book from someone who has many years of experience with ebikes and batteries.

Even though i have a background in electronics, i still find i have to search out the answers to my own questions (or ask here). For any of it to make any sense at all, knowing the fundamentals of electricity and how it works are essential or else it's like trying to understand another language. Nothing that cannot be learn't of course. If you don't understand, just ask a question.

 

[Miles]

Here's a good general reference:
Lessons In Electric Circuits