Lightweight motor + batteries in a pedal !?

[daniel.weck]

Impossible-Looking Pedals Push Your Bike Up Hills | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

(Brompton owners will recognize the folding pedal)

 

[flecc]

This keeps getting posted Daniel, catching everyone's imagination and disbelief.

Link to previous posts
.

 

[daniel.weck]

Really sorry about the duplicate, I didn't check before posting...

 

[flecc]

No problem Daniel, we get lots of visitors and many members only come in intermittently, so repeat postings do serve a very useful purpose, I only post the links to previous comments so that all can read them.
.

 

[HarryB]

I think we should make one of the posts a sticky

 

[HarryB]

...as one of the posts on wired points out, one clip of the pedals on a speed bump, traffic island, curb - take your pick - and your pedal is toast. Never thought of that one.

 

[eddieo]

I have not seen this pic before when this discussed...is that a working model or a mock up I have an odd feeling that he may be on to something

 

[flecc]

I have not seen this pic before when this discussed...is that a working model or a mock up I have an odd feeling that he may be on to something

He previously explained it's a sort of working model, only low capacity batteries and a temporary motor, so not a true prototype. That's what the money is wanted for.

Personally I think it a dead end, power high enough with virtually no range, power too low with moderate range, or not enough of either.

Enough power will rotate the pedals from under someone's foot so a necessary sensor switch in each pedal to stop it doing that will make the power inadequate. I know that for certain from another context.

Certainly the concept can add some degree of power with very little weight gain, but it won't be anything like sufficient power/range combination for the great majority of e-bike customers.
.

 

[Hermit]

Personally I think it a dead end, power high enough with virtually no range, power too low with moderate range, or not enough of either.

Hmm... but with a small enough nuclear reactor...

 

[lemmy]

Hmm... but with a small enough nuclear reactor...

Cold fusion will solve this problem. I am working on it in my shed now.

 

[Hermit]

Cold fusion will solve this problem. I am working on it in my shed now.

I've got a few extra ice trays in the freezer if you run short...