Selfsufficientish.com

I've just found an electric scooter for sale... it's limited in range etc, but I wonder whether it's a good investment?

Of course, for me, I'd have to have a car because I travel further than that some days, but for just running to work and back, it'd be a treat!

I do have lots of hills around where I live though... and I don't imagine walking the rest of the way up and down hills pushing a 127kg motorbike would be much fun

Still, it'd be fun to test it out.

http://ww2.neco.com.au/product.asp?pID=352&cID=149

heh replying to my own post already....

This one http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-07-IMPERIAL- ... dZViewItem is a heap cheaper, seems to have the same range BUT also has pedals that you can attach - so if you ride it and it runs out of power, you pull out the good ol' pedals and be on your way.

I think it'd look rather hilarious to have to use the pedals, but hey - as I mentioned above, better than lugging that 127kg around!

I wonder where the pedals go, and how effective they are.

I think battery assisting pedals can be an excelent idea, but issues to consider are:
- any claim that these things are emission-free is spurious unless you have your own renewable energy source. Usually, plugging them in to the household supply to recharge them simply means that the emissions happen elsewhere.
- the thing will have batteries; these can be a problem to dispose of in an environmentally friendly way when they are at the end of their life.

My own absolutely and purely personal reaction to these scooters is that they are more to do with fashion, rather than saving the planet. I think I'd rather have something that was more bicycle-like, rather than scooter-like. But that's just a matter of taste, and I probably haven't got much of that.

There are other options to consider, too, for adapting a standard bicycle - for example, you can get a power pack that sits next to the wheel and drives it, or you can replace the front wheel with one that has a motor built into the hub. This means you can choose any decent bicycle that is perfect for your needs, and then add electric assistance to it.

Also, if Aus. road law is anything like the UK experience, do make sure you know what the law is regarding these. In the UK they fall into a specuial category of road vehicle, which has its own weight, power, speed and age limits (though TBH, I don't know if that covers the power-pack option, too).

G'Day Guys,

As usual GG, Stew's points are very valid.

Anything with a motor over 200w requires a license, rego etc. Under 200w is still a bicycle.

We have looked at a tricycle in a local bike shop ex China. It is a trike with electric motor assist. Unfortunatley it is about $1800.

I can't do the link thing that Stew Does but if you go to http://www.oatleyelectronics.com/motors.html, they have all the gear to electrify an exising bicyle for about $150. I have bought the gear but not put it all together, so i don't know how well it works. It is another job to be done while I am off .

Stew, that ZAP thing looks like the answer to a maidens prayer, I didn't know they existed. Looks like it will acheive the same thing as the Oatley stuff without the DIY!

Obvioulsy I intend to use overflow from our 12 panels to charge the bike!

Also, in her book "Living the Good Life" Linda Cockburn talks about her husband using an electric bicycle to get to work, and they were based in Brissy. Unfortunatley the book does not contain any details of it but you could email her through their site. I corresponded with her a while ago and she was very informative. (There is a bit about our house on the Brisbane - adventure 1 - part of their site.)

http://www.lintrezza.com/

Nev

cheers guys! great info!

I wondered too, why I couldn't just get off my lazy butt and just ride a regular pushbike, which would be the best option - but alas, I just KNOW there is no way I could drag my butt up and down the amount of hills here - no possible way without some help! It's a killer to walk too! (and too far to get to work that way!)

Nev, let me know how the project goes!

I did read that something went sour with Trev's bike in the beginning.... I hope that doesn't happen to me! LOL But I might try to email Linda and get some information... thanks for the tip.

And yes, I intend to buy some solar panels in the future, which I can use to repower the bike, if I get one. I have a bit of learning to do before then though! LOL That's okay, gives me time to get a bike and put it together