Powacycle Windsor can't hack it in Sheffield

[Dr. Grumpy]

I'm new to this so please excuse if I'm asking the obvious.
I bought a Powacycle Windsor for my other half thinking it might get her on a bike - the usual excuse being the hills. Unfortunately the bike can't hack the hills (Sheffield is exceptionally hilly and we live at the highest point). It get's half way up the bigger hills and packs up; we then leave it a couple of mins and then it recovers. Otherwise on the flat it's great. I only found this forum last week and it's been most informative and it looks like the lithium batteries can't cope with the current drain going uphill. I'd appreciate some opinions as to whether the following is feasible:-

1. Can I wire in an on/off switch parallel to the brake switches to turn the motor off going downhill?

2. The motor is actually more powerful than we need. Is there any way I can restrict the motor so that the current drain going uphill is reduced and the wife is forced to use her legs at least a bit going uphill

Any help would be much appreciated and please make it idiot proof

 

[flecc]

Those measures won't really help. If you aren't pedalling going downhill, or if the throttle is closed, or if the downhill speed is over 15 mph, there will be no current used anyway.

Only a lower current rating controller and wiring it in will reduce the power, but there'd be a problem finding one I think, since the Windsor has about the lowest power e-bike motor as it is. This model is about the least suitable for such a hilly place as Sheffield, it needs either one of the more powerful hub motor bikes with a larger capacity battery, or one of the Panasonic motored type with a motor which drives through the chain and gears so able to cope with hills better.
.

 

[NRG]

....or it needs more input from your wife to get it up the hills it won't climb them by itself!