Rechargeable Batteries

[UrbanPuma]

Hi all,

Is the technology available to recharge batteries on the bike while cycling?

 

[sjpt]

What would you want to recharge from? Might be easier just to have a spare battery.

Some systems (Bosch) certainly would not allow it. Others might, the charge point is often accessible while the battery is mounted; there might be controller issues that others will be more competent to comment on.

Some have regenerative breaking. Very basic direct drive often do just from the way they are put together, but the result is often also drag when pedalling, and they are inefficient in other ways too. On more sophisticated systems most people think that the energy recaptured is not worth the extra complexity.

 

[flecc]

Hi all,

Is the technology available to recharge batteries on the bike while cycling?

If you mean by your pedal effort creating the charge current, there's no point since the efficiency losses more than cancel any gain.

If you mean by regenerative braking, then again there's little point since a bicycle and rider don't have enough mass and speed to make it worthwhile. Some firms have tried but all fail in the market.

If you mean solar panel generation, then it's difficult to have enough panel area to make it worthwhile, though it may get closer eventually. Our often cloudy country doesn't help.
.

 

[UrbanPuma]

If you mean by your pedal effort creating the charge current, there's no point since the efficiency losses more than cancel any gain.

If you mean by regenerative braking, then again there's little point since a bicycle and rider don't have enough mass and speed to make it worthwhile. Some firms have tried but all fail in the market.

If you mean solar panel generation, then it's difficult to have enough panel area to make it worthwhile, though it may get closer eventually. Our often cloudy country doesn't help.
.

Yes, I was just wondering if there was any way at all - by any means necessary, Flecc. Wishful thinking huh lol. I was thinking it would be handy to prevent juice running out on a long journey, or is there a way to extend current battery range?

 

[UrbanPuma]

What would you want to recharge from? Might be easier just to have a spare battery.

Some systems (Bosch) certainly would not allow it. Others might, the charge point is often accessible while the battery is mounted; there might be controller issues that others will be more competent to comment on.

Some have regenerative breaking. Very basic direct drive often do just from the way they are put together, but the result is often also drag when pedalling, and they are inefficient in other ways too. On more sophisticated systems most people think that the energy recaptured is not worth the extra complexity.

I'd rather not carry a spare (too heavy) - do you think there's any way to increase range on current battery through re-celling?

 

[sjpt]

Whoops ... post crossed ....

Swapping batteries is the easiest way to extend range.
You could recell if a you have a fairly low capacity old battery.

Or ride round and round in the garden while plugged into the mains.

 

[flecc]

I'd rather not carry a spare (too heavy) - do you think there's any way to increase range on current battery through re-celling?

I've carried a spare battery and on some occasions two spares to do very long trips and the weight hasn't bothered me.

If your battery is quite an old design if may be possible to recell it to get a worthwhile gain. But it will cost the best part of £300
.

 

[Nealh]

A couple of years ago I bumped in to a guy on the Downs link with a folding bike and he was charging off an array of solar panels laid out on the ground and also attached to his bike. It all looked a faff and he had made up a heath storage framework for the panels, the wiring and gizmos for the charge system look a bit of a mess.