Electric Bicycles: A Guide to Design and Use

1 Electric Bicycles — History, Characteristics, and Uses.

1.1 Introduction.

1.2 History of Bicycles.

1.3 History of Electric Bicycles.

1.4 Some Uses for the Electric-Powered Bicycle.

1.5 Examples of Electric Bicycles.

1.6 Future of Electric Bicycles.

1.7 Laws and Regulations Governing Electric Bicycles.

1.8 Conclusion.

2 Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion.

2.1 Introduction.

2.2 Mathematical Model of Bicycle Performance: Power Required.

2.3 Estimating Required Motor Power.

2.4 Selecting a Battery for Minimum Life-Cycle Cost.

2.5 Unique New Two-Wheeled Vehicles.

3 Sources of Electric Power for Bicycles.

3.1 Introduction.

3.2 Requirements of Batteries for Powering Electric Bicycles.

3.3 Characteristics of batteries Suitable for Electric Bicycle Propulsion.

3.4 Fuel Cells for Powering Electric Bicycles.

3.5 Best New Electric Power Sources.

3.6 Bicycle Propulsion Power Sources to Watch.

4 Battery Charging.

4.1 History of battery-Charging Technology.

4.2 Basic Functions of battery Chargers.

4.3 Battery Characteristics Pertinent in Charging.

4.4 Lead-Acid Battery Charging.

4.5 Charger Design for Long Battery Life.

4.6 Smart Chargers for New Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-Metal Hydride, and Lithium Batteries.

4.7 Smart Batteries for Smart Chargers.

4.8 Self-Discharge Rate of Nickel and Lithium Cells.

4.9 Recoverable Energy.

4.10 Solar Panel Battery Chargers.

5 Motors and Motor Controllers.

5.1 Fundamental Principles of Electric Motors.

5.2 Motor Characteristics for Electric Bicycle Propulsion.

5.3 Gear Ratio Determination.

5.4 Motor Control.

6 The System Design.

6.1 Introduction.

6.2 Setting up the Electric Bicycle Systems Design.

6.3 Some Examples of Bicycle-System Trade.

6.4 System Design Example.

7 Measurement of Performance.

7.1 Measuring Propulsion Power to determine Propulsion Efficiency.

7.2 Measuring Motor Efficiency Includes Measurement of Motor Power.

7.3 Measuring battery Characteristics.

8 Developments to Watch.

8.1 Bicycle Systems.

8.2 Energy Sources.

8.3 Solar Charging Systems.

8.4 High-Efficiency Motors.

8.5 Controllers.

Appendix: Table of Conversion Factors for Units of Measure.

Index.