I'd like to share my experience with "leafbike" engine.
First of all, I was using a no-name direct drive motor 500W 48V for several years. The engine was set on the 26 inch rear wheel.
I was able to climb a hill which had a 20% grade and 500m length, with a load of 120kg. I was pedaling as much I could to help the engine. With no engine I was not able to climb the hill.
I decided to purchase a direct drive 1000W 48V engine from "leafbike" for similar 26 inch rear wheel. I re-used the battery (48V 20Ah LiFePO4).
The reason to purchase was based on my existing experience with the 500W engine, hoping the new 1000W engine will have more power.
Result:
On the same hill after 100m the engine and cables melted. It seems that the controller was not good to limit the amount of electricity for the engine when the throttle was fully engaged.
The old (no-name) 500W engine had its own controller which was good to limit the power even if the throttle was fully engaged.
It seems that the firmware which programs the microcontroller is important, not only the engine itself.
"Leafbike" customer service was not cooperating, stating that it was "customer fault". PayPal decided in their favor.
The end of the story: I bought a geared engine from ebikes.ca - which was a lot pricey (I paid about double compared with leafbike) - but this engine is able to climb the 500m hill (20% grade) even if I do not pedal. The battery is the same (I re-used the battery).
I wanted to share here my experience - anyone which looks to purchase an electric engine kit for a bike and plan to climb hills can read and decide.
First of all, I was using a no-name direct drive motor 500W 48V for several years. The engine was set on the 26 inch rear wheel.
I was able to climb a hill which had a 20% grade and 500m length, with a load of 120kg. I was pedaling as much I could to help the engine. With no engine I was not able to climb the hill.
I decided to purchase a direct drive 1000W 48V engine from "leafbike" for similar 26 inch rear wheel. I re-used the battery (48V 20Ah LiFePO4).
The reason to purchase was based on my existing experience with the 500W engine, hoping the new 1000W engine will have more power.
Result:
On the same hill after 100m the engine and cables melted. It seems that the controller was not good to limit the amount of electricity for the engine when the throttle was fully engaged.
The old (no-name) 500W engine had its own controller which was good to limit the power even if the throttle was fully engaged.
It seems that the firmware which programs the microcontroller is important, not only the engine itself.
"Leafbike" customer service was not cooperating, stating that it was "customer fault". PayPal decided in their favor.
The end of the story: I bought a geared engine from ebikes.ca - which was a lot pricey (I paid about double compared with leafbike) - but this engine is able to climb the 500m hill (20% grade) even if I do not pedal. The battery is the same (I re-used the battery).
I wanted to share here my experience - anyone which looks to purchase an electric engine kit for a bike and plan to climb hills can read and decide.