Who can help me please?

[am001]

Hi,
I am trying to buy a 500Wish 36v LiFEPO4 electric kit for my Marin hybrid bike, with 700C wheels. Seems simple doesn't it, but I want to buy it using the cycle to work scheme, and that means I need a UK supplier who is registered for it.
Alien was the first guess, but they have no stock and seemingly no idea when their new stock will arrive.

Does anyone know where I can buy this? All help really appreciated as I seem to have run out of options !

Thanks!
Andrew

 

[flecc]

The eZee kit is a powerful one available in a 700c wheel and either 10 Ah or 14 Ah battery Andrew. Using the disc brake is optional of course:

Ezee kit at Onbike
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[am001]

hmm. Best I've see but

Thanks flecc,
I didn't come across that one, it looks like a good kit, but its almost double what the Alien ones cost, and its a 250W motor, Li ion battery where from the research I did, I really wanted 500W LiFePO4. It seems like maybe China via eBay is the only option, but I really don't want to do that when I could get so much off with the cycle to work scheme. Any other ideas? or am I being too fussy?
Andrew

 

[CeeGee]

I would imagine that if you want to take the "Cycle to Work" scheme route then you would have to purchase something that you can use to cycle to work - ie something that is legal to use on the road. A 500W motor isn't, the 250W motor is.

Colin

 

[am001]

Fair point.
Do you think the scheme administrators would actually care if I were to choose over 250W? Actually over half my cycle commute is private lanes leading to and through a golf course, but thats just semantics!
Still does anyone supply a 250W kit with LiFePO4? (I hope for less than £900!)
Andrew

 

[flecc]

Thanks flecc,
I didn't come across that one, it looks like a good kit, but its almost double what the Alien ones cost, and its a 250W motor, Li ion battery where from the research I did, I really wanted 500W LiFePO4. It seems like maybe China via eBay is the only option, but I really don't want to do that when I could get so much off with the cycle to work scheme. Any other ideas? or am I being too fussy?
Andrew

That's the legal rating of course, but in practice the eZee motor is the most powerful of the UK/EU legal ones, peak power certainly well over 700 watts.

If you look at e-bikes in general, LiFePO4 is not usually used, manufacturer's tests leaving them uncertain about the consistency of these, though eZee have dipped a toe in the water now with an optional add-on LiFePO4 for extra range.

The preferred battery across the industry at present is Li-polymer with a compound cathode in the best ones.

Of course the motors I'm speaking of are internally geared, most of the Chinese higher powered stuff on ebay is the direct drive type, not so good on low speed torque but ok for speed and fast climbing on moderate slopes.

Overall there's not a great choice of kits, the market is probably too small in the UK.
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[flecc]

P.S to above. You could try to buy the eZee kit less battery from Onbike, then get the LiFePO4 from Li Ping.
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[am001]

My aim

Thats good information, thank you.

My aim in this is to get my average speed up, so I am less likely to take the car. My journey back from work when I'm tired in the evening has a 3 mile long fairly gentle hill at the end of it, which means I am crawling by the end of it and it takes too long. (Yes I know I should get fitter!)

Presumably the extra peak power helps for starting or climbing where there is high torque, and the 250W is some sort of average power rating?

Are the eZee kits still limited to 15mph, because some of the videos on youtube showing high power bikes have fired my imagination as to getting the commute time down? Can you 'adjust' the limit, for wheel size etc.?

By the way fantastic to find such a forum where people are knowledgable and willing to help!!

 

[flecc]

A pleasure am001, we do try to be a friendly and helpful forum.

The 250 watts legal limit refers to continuous maximum power, but this is interpreted as an average, hence most e-bikes having peak powers of 400 to over 700 watts. The word peak is misleading though, at the right speed the peak of 700 watts plus can be continuous during a hill climb. Typically that will be about 8 to 10 mph.

The eZee kit is restricted to the 15 mph limit but may be derestrictable if you ask Onbike. Another option is to buy the 20" version and have it built into a 700c rim which will assist you to 21 mph, at the cost of reduced hill climb ability, though that shouldn't trouble you on the hill you described. The eZee Torq 1 that I once had was like this, using a 20" motor in 700c, 22 mph on the flat and climbing moderate hills at 16 or more mph with pedalling. That would put a smile on your face!
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[am001]

I'll give thm a call in the morning. Lets see how flexible they can be!
Thanks for your help!