battery query- will a single charge go the distance?

[musicbooks]

A colleague at work is interested in buying a Kalkhoff Agattu or Pro-connect.. after a test ride on mine!! However, he is concerned that his commute from Sutton Benger, Chippenham to Bath University.. about 18-19 miles is too far on a single charge. I had a quick look at his route ( though I'm not sure exactly which way he will go) and there doesn't seem to be any very steep hills on the way, a few steady, long climbs and descents, and a short steep climb at the end into Claverton. Should he consider buying two chargers and leave one at work, or will he be OK on a single charge? He's also considering the new 2 battery Lafree twist (£850 -Avon Cycle Shop).. Is this a wise purchase?

BW
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[flecc]

That round trip is very marginal and can only be considered as regularly viable if he is a fairly fit cyclist prepared to ride without power at times when the going is easier, or alternatively using Eco mode most of the time. Even then, batteries lose capacity and range over time, so after several months the range could start to fall a little short, so a second charger would be advisable.

I couldn't see that Giant Twist at the Avon Cycle shop site, it seems to be all electric scooters and the like, but the current Twist at around £850 to £895 is the single battery Express model. The Freedom model has twin batteries but costs £1500. Possibly the one seen is discounting to clear of the Twist 2 model with twin NiMh batteries, now discontinued but originally about £1200. Perhaps you could check and confirm?

This Twist series are nothing like as good on steep hills as the Agattu but handle average hills up to 10% quite well. That last short climb could mean some hard cycling though. They are a bit on the slow side, and that brings me to the time factor. That trip would take one and a half hours or a bit more on these bikes, typically averaging about 12 mph, so would he be happy with three hours plus cycling every day?
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[Neil]

Fit a 16 cog and recharge each way

Eco mode is like riding with the brakes on and a lot slower.

I have a 16 cog and have a 10 mile commute to work which I cruses at 20MPH on the flat. You reduce the range to 24 miles on high mode. For me time is important, using the 16 cog knocks me loads of time. You also have the fun of passing most other cyclists. The battery is covered for two years so charging both to and back from work should not be a problem. The charger is light and small enough to pack in a pannier.

 

[JamesC]

A colleague at work is interested in buying a Kalkhoff Agattu or Pro-connect.. after a test ride on mine!! However, he is concerned that his commute from Sutton Benger, Chippenham to Bath University.. about 18-19 miles is too far on a single charge. I had a quick look at his route ( though I'm not sure exactly which way he will go) and there doesn't seem to be any very steep hills on the way, a few steady, long climbs and descents, and a short steep climb at the end into Claverton. Should he consider buying two chargers and leave one at work, or will he be OK on a single charge? He's also considering the new 2 battery Lafree twist (£850 -Avon Cycle Shop).. Is this a wise purchase?

BW
musicbooks

This is a wide range requirement, assuming that your friend may wish to be out and about on occasion on the steeper hills in Bath.

So, fairly fast and flat on the commute + good on the hills, suggests Wide Gear Range and Drive Through the gears.

I would recommend the spec I am using:
ProConnect with its Nexus8 gear hub and a 19T sprocket, allowing for a sprung seatpost or saddle change if a softer ride is preferred.

On maximum assistance throughout, battery settles down to 26 mile range, so a charger at work is certainly required. I reckon that there are always a few days, for any rider, when maximum assistance is nice to have.

Cruise speed on the flat = 17 MPH and 15% hills in 1st gear.

Nexus8 with 19T sprocket:
Top Gear 95 gear inches
Bottom Gear 31 gear inches

James

 

[musicbooks]

Thanks Guys,
I'll pass on your comments. Flecc, I'll probe a bit deeper on which bike was for sale at Avon Cycles.

Thanks again,
BW
Tom
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