Panasonic Announce Own Brand Electric Bike

[SEATALTEA]

Reading the article the bike sounds pretty stunning, huge range, regen technology, reasonable price and the Panasonic name to back it all up.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/07/07/panasonic-presents-electric-bike-recharging-its-battery-via-the-braking-system/

Anyone here read Japanese ?

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[SEATALTEA]

All thanks to a fish in the ear..

Translation result for http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/jn080703-1/jn080703-1.html?ref=news

The exchange rate makes it £710.

 

[flecc]

I see the limitation of regeneration to below 15 mph as a disadvantage, meaning one has to crawl downhill to generate. In typical British up and down conditions, that means the high downhill speed helping one up the other side through kinetic energy is even more compromised, always a problem with regeneration on e-bikes.

In practice kinetic energy is often more useful than tiny amounts of regeneration, and more efficient as well, hence the scarcity of regenerating bikes. At the moment we only have the Giant new Twist, reported to be very poor with both regeneration and performance, and the BionX kit which has done a better job of it.

So I won't grieve if this Panasonic never sees the light of day in the west.
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[prState]

I see the limitation of regeneration to below 15 mph as a disadvantage, meaning one has to crawl downhill to generate. In typical British up and down conditions, that means the high downhill speed helping one up the other side through kinetic energy is even more compromised, always a problem with regeneration on e-bikes..

But if you only used your brakes when you actually needed to use your brakes, it would be useful wouldn't it?

For instance, if I was riding gentle rolling hills, I wouldn't bother using it, but every time I needed to stop, or actually slow down for some reason, might as well get some regenerative benefit.

At the moment, I don't have that option (I just burn some brake rubber)

Also, I'm looking at this over several years (like a savings account of energy, hah).

 

[flecc]

There is a benefit on those occasions certainly, but the efficiency of regeneration of a small mass low speed vehicle like a bike and rider is low.

Otherwise regeneration is a conversion of energy with the losses that entails, but using the kinetic energy directly incurs no conversion loss.

The BionX can make a reasonable job of regeneration since the rider selects it when appropriate, but always-on systems like the Giant new Twist one have been near to useless.

We may not see it anyway. Panasonic don't normally sell their bike range outside of Japan, just selling the motor units to constructors, not so easy with a system which includes the wheel regeneration unit as well.
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[Beeping-Sleauty]

................We may not see it anyway. Panasonic don't normally sell their bike range outside of Japan, just selling the motor units to constructors, not so easy with a system which includes the wheel regeneration unit as well.
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damm...

i was hoping to see one of these,

 

[eddieo]

Blimey... that looks more like it!

I think the future looks good for ebikes.

 

[flecc]

damm...

i was hoping to see one of these,

If an importer expresses a desire to have it, you may just see it, since 50cycles imported the Panasonic Will folder at one time. Not too likely for such a specialised product though.

There's always the Cytronex, a hub-motor bike yes, but with more in common with the Panasonic system otherwise than is at first apparent, and plenty in common with this sporty Panasonic.
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[jac]

hi is the handelbar control the same as on the kalkhoff bikes as it looks like it has 3 power settings ecco normal and power

jim

 

[flecc]

It will be Jim, and despite it's looks, it's not a high speed Panasonic unit, just the usual one.

That's due to Japanese laws on e-bike speeds and where they are allowed to be ridden, both of which are very restrictive.

It should be very fast as power reduces though, assuming the road speed restrictor is removed.
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[essexman]

oooooh! Look at the geometry on that! Speed Speed Speed! I instantly see the point of that! Me want!

Note the geometry is highly compatible with drop handlebars. Cool! Me want one....... (mmmmm might want to swap the forks...)...

.....its clearly built for fast riding... BUuuuttt its got a deraileur, which would mean changing all the rear cogs to get general use out of the motor. I suspose you play around with it...

....Although it would have a very long range. Would ride fast without motor on the flat (inc in the wind), climb really well and descend really well (with drops). Plus imagine the acceleration from standing with that geometry and that motor! Wooosh 0-15 in...?

Anyway lovely to see a fast pedelec. Is that a first? Or have their been concept ones before? Of course you could pitch this as hub motored fast bike for max light hills like the the torq and wisper. It would be even better then for that type of terrain.

 

[flecc]

I think that's their first as it's only a style bike, fully restricted to Japanese law so a bit pointless there.

With some tweaking the potential is in it to be a great sport bike though.
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