Anyone on #BikeTooter know an #ebike company that makes an e-bike that can actually stand up to the kind of abuse a commuter bike in New England endures? My poor Flyer just cannot keep up with the apparently endless rain, freeze-thaw cycles, and abundant salt life on Narragansett Bay provides
@moldybasil something sounds like it's shorting, apparently in the controls. If you can get it dried out and add sealant maybe that would do. Having air space inside anything might lead to thermal pumping though, where it's doomed to suck in moist air after heat forces some out and lowers the pressure.
Does anyone know what this attachment system is called? My bike’s rack came with this little spring loaded tab in addition to the big clamping spring. I want to get a new trunk bag that is quick to attach and remove, this seems like it could be the ticket if I knew what term to search for. #BikeTooter#ebike#cycling
#BikeTooter#bike
Year end review of my #ebike adventures of 2023. My commute is 12 miles both ways. its around 40-45 mints each way depending on how in shape I am and how bad traffic is as opposed to 20-25 by my car. I can only bike on clear days when its light out because I share the road with idiot who get extra stupid and dangerous any other time.
Total miles bikes 816. Total gas saved, nearly 34 gallons not burnt and put into the atmosphere. Around 2 and a half tanks of gas. Of course one trip on a private jet probably offset anything I saved. Health up, no numbers for that.
Total money saved, around $115. Total cost for the bike modification and other gear $1300 however if you estimate maintenance and repairs for my 2005 VW, its assumed $2k for year with normal driving. That makes each gallon costing $3.35 (offset for the electricity used) costs a total of $9.50 in gas and maintenance. Add to it that since I drive less I get lower insurance and less stringent state inspections.
In that case, total money saved, $325, basically 1/4th the amount I spent on it.
And this was just the first year. I had no idea what I was doing half the time, my first trip had a wreck become I was riding on a trail and didn't realize I can't stop fast on gravel like I can on the road, so I couldn't bike for like 2 weeks to prevent potential repeated brain damage (problem with all sports related concussions). I couldn't bike in the cold at the first of the year (its easy now), We had about a month worth of humid heat waves, and I couldn't cool my head no matter what, and a month to a month and a half of wildfire smoke. Not too shabby for a newb.
Next year my goal will be 50 trips if not double what I did. If I can pull that off the bike will have paid for itself in a 2 and a half years, and everything else is free money. The battery pack probably has an estimated lifespan of 4 years if I keep it at 70-80% charge when not in use, which isn't that easy if I have to change plans in the morning and drive in.
All in all, not a bad investment on all fronts. Any extra time is just time I wouldn't have been spending at the gym but no have to if I want any of the other benefits. A great start for my first year.
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@MrLee And often the batteries are removable and hot-swappable. We should have more standards around e-bikes and municipal battery and wheel exchanges. Just pay your local taxes, buy your own (quick fit) seat for comfort.
Oh the things we could have, if everyone wasn't wasting tens of thousands of dollars on cars.
#EV#battery repair is dangerous. Here’s why mechanics want to do it anyway.
Fixing car and #ebike batteries saves money and resources — but challenges are holding back the industry.
by Maddie Stone, Dec 08, 2023
"About three times a day, Rich Benoit gets a call to his auto shop, The Electrified Garage, from the owner of an older Tesla Model S whose car battery has begun to fail. The battery, which used to provide several hundred miles of range, might suddenly only last 50 miles on a single charge. These cars are often out of warranty, and the cost of replacing the battery can exceed $15,000.
"For most products, repair is a more affordable option than replacement. And in theory, lots of these Tesla batteries can be fixed, said Benoit, who runs one of the few Tesla-focused independent repair shops in the United States. But due to the time and training involved, the safety considerations, and the complexity of the repair, Benoit said that the bill to fix one car battery at his shop might run upwards of $10,000 — more than most consumers are willing to pay. Instead, he said, many choose to sell or donate their old vehicle for scrap and buy a brand new Tesla.
“'It’s getting to the point where [the car] is almost like a consumable, like a TV,' Benoit said.
"Benoit’s experience heralds a problem that early adopters of EVs, as well as electric micromobility devices like e-bikes and #escooters, are beginning to face: These vehicles contain big, expensive batteries that will inevitably degrade or stop working over time. Repairing these batteries can have sustainability benefits, saving energy and resources that would otherwise be used to manufacture a new one. That’s particularly important for EVs, which contain very large batteries that must be used for years to offset the carbon emissions associated with making them.
But many EV and e-mobility batteries are difficult to repair by design, and some manufacturers actively discourage the practice, citing safety concerns. The small number of independent mechanics who repair EV or e-bike batteries struggle to do so affordably due to design challenges, safety requirements, and a lack of access to spare parts.
“'There are a lot of automakers who do not allow battery repair, even in case of minor damages to the battery case,' a GDV spokesperson told Grist. Automakers sometimes choose to replace the battery if the car was involved in an accident that caused the airbags to activate. Both practices 'will lead to an increase of repair costs,' and ultimately, higher insurance premiums, the spokesperson said.
"New rules around EV battery repairability would come at a critical time. Helps, of Cox Automotive, said that two trends in EV battery design are occurring in parallel: 'Batteries are either becoming very serviceable, or not serviceable at all.'
"Some, like the batteries inside Volkswagon’s ID.4, feature LEGO-like modules that are easy to remove and replace. Others, like Tesla’s new 4680 structural battery pack, don’t include modules at all. Instead, all of the cells are bonded together and bonded to the pack itself, a design Helps described as 'impossible to service.' If a bad cell group is found, the entire battery must be replaced.
“'It’s still a fully #recyclable battery,' Helps said. 'You’re just not able to repair it.'
"#Tesla didn’t respond to Grist’s request for comment."
"Sometimes batteries stop holding charges. It's something we see with household rechargeable batteries, and it's a design flaw that needs to be fixed."
You cant compare a single cell to a battery pack with smart advanced safety and management functions.
@DoomsdaysCW e-bike batteries have 1% as much energy, and 1/10th of the voltage of electric cars. They can easily be replaced without special tools or safety equipment, but modern cells will last for thousands of miles. In my experience, we replaced 3x car miles with cargo bike miles (largely by replacing car trips to farther places with bike trips to parks and more local destinations) nearly 30k gas-fueled car miles displaced by #eBikes with just about 10lb of lithium-ion battery.
Seen this bike around the village and finally got chance to chat to the owner. The owner was THRILLED I knew it was a pashley mailstar, then went through the Elephant Bike charity scheme and then he had retrofitted a bafang mid drive. Old boy said he had done ALL his transport on it everyday for the last 3 years. I told him I loved every part of his bike story! #biketooter#ebike
#introduction 2024 edition:
I’m in my late 50’s, retired CIO, & live in #Phoenix#Arizona with my wife, (from #Taiwan,) my 2 ASU students, and 2 #dogs. Formerly an avid #bike rider, I’m now enthusiastic about my #eBike. I’ve had a #SciFi#Podcast since 2011 called #FusionPatrol. The only sport I care to watch is limited-overs #Cricket (#T20#TheHundred.) I play #Racquetball when the old body allows it. #Apple watcher and user. Published my first iOS App in the App Store in 2023.
For some months now I’ve been coming to the realisation that despite what I might want to do, I won’t be getting back on my e-bike 🙁.
The damage to my spine is permanent & I’m scared to risk more accidents riding on the roads & I can’t get to any bike track without going on the road. I don’t trust the people driving cars, I see how they drive. I am fit & I am healthy, but I’m also 71 & it’s been 7+months since I was hit & I haven’t ridden the bike since.
So I’ve sold it & today it was picked up & going to a lady in Tatura, country town, roads with less traffic. It’s a bittersweet decision, but it was the right one unfortunately & I’m feeling quite sad. I’ll keep on walking though because I’m not so damaged I can’t do that, I’ll also keep up with my Yoga, Balance & weight classes because I love them. #Health#EBike#Exercise
There's someone in town running #DnD nights at the local community center, but although I would like to join in, I'm honestly worried about the prospect of parking my #ebike downtown and leaving it where I can't see it for hours at night.
My small town does not have acceptable #bicycle parking facilities, let alone secure ones, and property #theft#crime has skyrocketed in the past several years due to junkies stealing anything they can to buy #opioid#drugs.