dogman said:
They prob have a cycle counter in the bms somehow. What bionx really needs is a paralell connection port, so you can add non bionx battery capacity. They don't get it that to make an ebike truly practical transportation requires longer range at the top level of assist.
The Bionx bike system is not your average PC version of ebikes as it operates differently in terms of energy expenditure and conservation. It certainly isn't up to snuff on power and acceleration against some of the Chinese made geared or brushless motors available now. While we worry about LVC and Ah used either through Watts-Up or Cycle Analyst, the Bionx user is only presented with a battery graph indicator -- the fuel gauge. The range is probably similar to the PL-350, because I think it is the PL-350.
However, here is the problem I see with your assessment that to make an ebike truly practical transportation wise, its requirement should be long range at top level assist. There is no doubt the need for this is real to some of the people here, however, in general and I've talked to a bunch of people here in Vancouver that ebike is not only competing with cars, but with viable transit options. In some states and countries, transit coupled with an ebike is a more attractive option. The so called "last mile" connection between a transit stop to the destination in question, an ebike such as this fills the need perfectly. In fact, you really don't need to buy this bike -- a cheap folding bike with an electric assist would do nicely at a significant price savings!
The problem I see with an ebike that makes practical transportation is weight and size. Battery is heavy, motor is heavy too and the bike itself is heavy. Unless your workplace allows bike parking, you need to park your bike outside. And then, there's the elements. Rain, snow and high winds. In Vancouver alone and on bike paths I traveled, as soon as heavy rain sets in, you have a significant huge reduction of ridership willing to endure 6-20 miles of travel in the rain, wet, cold and miserable conditions with dump trucks splashing water on the sides. Wouldn't driving a car or taking a bus a better option?
What about the winter in some prairie provinces in Canada? Are you biking 20 miles in the middle of winter at -20 degrees or colder with the cold wind blasting right in your face while riding at top assist level!?! When the day turns in early during the winter and it rains, the investment you put into the bike and battery themselves aren't going to be used. People can not justify an transportation system that can only be used sometimes. They can only justify the system when it can be used almost all the time. Otherwise, why would you pay a 1 year gym membership if you're going to be using it 6 months out of the year?
It's all and good in you live in Florida or Arizona or even Nevada where the nice heat and somewhat dry climate helps. It's not so much so in the wet coast. The electric assist I see people use for here are only to commute less than 10 miles, the closer the better. I've met people who do commute much longer, like 100+ km with a Bionx system and a hand cycle. Some do grocery shopping with the Xtracycle option, making the "last mile" happen. Riding a bike whether electric or non-electric does not change the fact that it is still a bike. Otherwise, you'll see tons of 2 wheel motorbikes on the streets. The fact that and history has shown 4 wheel vehicles outnumbering 2 wheelers are not going to change the fact of the matter whether it is Bionx powered or Ping powered.
DE.
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