E-Brompton - Will it get to market this time ?

[jerrysimon]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11808866/Electric-bikes-hit-streets-to-take-the-sweat-out-of-cycling-to-work.html

Not sure if this has been posted before. I love how these reports talk as if no one has been cycling ebikes before

"Electric bicycles promise to transform the daily commute and could become a common sight on city roads as early as next year, the boss of Britain's largest bike manufacturer has predicted.
"

Haven't many of us been doing this for years ?

And

"Pedelecs capture the kinetic energy generated in cycling and store it in a battery."

Sigh

Apart from the obvious errors/misrepresentations its a cleverly worded article and I guess an off the shelf electric Brompton will help promote the technology. I bet it will cost a fortune though. Brompton seem to be going from strength to strength.

Ps I have been running my Brompton without assistance all summer

Jerry

 

[trex]

I am waiting for James Dyson to step in. He'll show the world how good designs in UK can be.

 

[jerrysimon]

An electric bike that hoovers as well

I actually own two Dysons as well lol

Jerry

 

[RobF]

As Jerry says in the thread title, will 'next year' really be next year?

I like Bromptons, but product development seems to take years, if it happens at all.

The factory e-Brompton has been imminent since at least 2012.

 

[oldtom]

I am waiting for James Dyson to step in. He'll show the world how good designs in UK can be.

Like his washing machine, for example?

Tom

 

[trex]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/engineering/11468735/Dyson-makes-first-external-investment-with-move-into-batteries.html

Dyson has shown obvious interest.

 

[RobF]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/engineering/11468735/Dyson-makes-first-external-investment-with-move-into-batteries.html

Dyson has shown obvious interest.

Battery weight and capacity is a severe limiting factor for ebikes.

We've all seen new battery developments which look good but somehow never make it to market.

Let's hope this one is the exception.

It looks promising, but I suppose they all do.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Battery weight and capacity is a severe limiting factor for ebikes.

18650 cells weigh about 50g each. We now have 30 cell 36v 10ah batteries that weigh only 1.5kg. You could have a 20 cell 6ah one weighing only 1 kg, which should be OK for a Brompton. That's less than the weight difference you get from stopping for a pie and a pint for lunch.

Bromptons are already very expensive for what they are. What I worry about is how much the electric version will cost.

 

[jerrysimon]

Yes my 2-3 year old 36V 3.0Ah Konian packs weigh about 1kg each and I could double their capacity (and thus range) for the same weight with todays more modern cells.

Jerry