AndrewFleming

I suspect its using this http://www.amazon.com/Currie-Schwinn-Mongoose-Scooters-Battery/dp/B000NNBB1Q Which is 10a so only 10 miles / 16k From what you say above could I replace the battery with the 24V 18Ah Nexcell NiMH (3rd item down at http://www.ebikes.ca/store/) which weighs 50% more and so expect 16 (for extra AMP) * 3 (weight diff) *1.5 (50% heavier battery) = 72km

Still hunting out bikes over in Canada. Do you reckon the specs below sound realistic (flat conditions, low wind most of the time). It won't do the long journey I was hoping for but I've concluded no bike is likely to do that. It looks like it would cover shorter trips (15k) is the range is honest and that it may by cyclable when the battery is flat Schwinn I-zip * 24V portable lead acid battery pack easily recharges through any household power outlet * Travels at a speed of up to 24 km/hr and up to 40km on a single charge * Power on/off switch and twist throttle * Charger LED indicates when the battery is fully charged, throttle LED indicates when power is low * Steel comfort frame with suspension fork, seven-speed twist shifter with Shimano rear derailleur and 26" heavy duty alloy rims with comfort tires http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/products/images/SportsRec/BikesAccessories/BikesAdult/0711519_160_CC_63665.jpg Prince is cheap 600 Can + tax (16%) which would be a little over 300 STR This sounds too good to be true so I suspect it is.

OK following my disappointment with regard to the suitability of the Strong GT I've started to look into conversion kits. I suspect this makes more sense for the distances I'm talking of as a converted bike is probably going to be a bit easier to ride when the battery is low than one designed as an ebike. I've located one Canadian supplier so far selling BL-36 or BD-36 kits http://www.itselectric.ca/Products.html Its 36v and comes with either Lead (545) or NiMh (595) and either brush or brushless motors. I'm interested in the probable accuracy of two claims in their FAQ How fast will my bike go with the Electric Bike Kit installed? On a 26" wheel, your bike, with the help of Electric Bike Kit, will reach a top assisted speed of 32 km/h. On a 24" wheel - 30 km/h, 20" wheel = 25 km/h, and 16" wheel = 22 km/h. How far can my Electric Bike go? We like to use the formula: 32/32, which means your electric bike will go 32 km/h for 32 kilometers, but that is under the following conditions: 26" wheel with thin, slick street tires, 150 lb. rider, flat riding terrain, and no stops or starts. In the real world, you will probably get 24 kilometers per battery pack charge with the standard battery pack, and about 16 kilometers more (40 kilometers +) with the extended range battery pack. Both of these look like they might be quite honest estimates because they list the conditions involved in their calculation. The odd thing is that unless I've read their installation instructions wrong the power is used to drive the front wheel. Does that make sense?

H'mm so from those figures the best I could hope for is doing that trip one way, recharging and then coming back. But if as you say the battery will lose 30% of capacity over a year then after a while even that wouldn't probably work out. From the manual another issue I note is weather temperture. It -6c here at the moment and will stay around 0 for the next 3 months with drops down to -10 at times (I'm in the warm bit, its -40 elsewhere). From the manual it appears those sort of tempertures would damage the battery so it would have to spend the winter indoors.

The manufacture's site says 41k with the lead battery, the li ion is 9k lighter I think. Is the main disadvantage of lead a much greater weight for the same output then?

opps Should have looked harder first, the manufacturs web site includes the owners manual. Also I see the standard setup is with a lead battery but a li ion one can be bought for extra. Apart for the weight saving what othe advantage might this have? Web site is at Strong Canada • Vélo électrique • Electric bicycle

Hi, Ontario has just legalised electric bikes and I'm considering buying one. It's very flat where I live (old sea bed) and range is the biggest issue for me as ideally I'd like to be able to do a 70km round trip without a recharge. Canadian Tire (big retail store) are selling a Strong GT-S210 for 1000 CAN (about 450 sterling) + tax (15%) which they claim can do 100km round trip. But I know these figures are theoretical maximums. The run I'm looking at is flat all the way and winds above 20km are rare, do you reckon this might be up to 70km in such real life conditions. The CT page on the bike is at http://tinyurl.com/2qw6we I can't find any other info on the bike online http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/products/images/Assortments/PrimaryAssortments/Recreation/BicyclesAccessories/BikesAdult/0711510_450_CC_54c6f.jpg