After decades of virtual non-existence, the bicycle with auxiliary engine seems to come back. Of course, the old, stinking two-stroke engines with friction wheel remain obsolete, electric drives are the fashion of the day.
»Bicycle with auxiliary engine« - what first comes to mind is, of course, the great Jacques Tati . Hat, pipe, raincoat, vélosolex , umbrella hanging at the (very high) handlebar,
Monsieur Hulot (e.g. Mon oncle) off to involuntarily cause havoc.True connoisseurs still ride on solex scooters from the 1950s or 60s, but in general the times for this kind of bike have been over for about just as long.
(courtesy of Discina films)
Our aging societies may change this and initiate a renaissance of the auxiliary engine bike, electrically driven and full of electronic components - the »e-bike«.
Wheels and electronics - clearly, Bosch has to be involved. And, indeed, Bosch will be building electric drives for e-bikes in the future and wants to become one of the leading providers in this expanding market. At their Reutlingen location, a separate product area is built up that will transfer the group's technological know-how in electronics and electric drives, sensors and battery technology into the new product for the bicycle industry. The core of the e-bike drive is the drive unit, consisting of an electric motor with control unit and sensors. Electric power – the fuel for an e-bike – is provided by the included battery pack, the charger replaces the gas station, and the control computer on the handlebars also provides the usual bicycle computer functions. The new push assist will be exclusively shipped to OEMs; no upgrade kits are planned. The first presentation of electric bikes with the Bosch drive will be at the international bicycle trade show »Eurobike« in Friedrichshafen in September.
Modern electric bikes have nothing in common with the old days of the traditional »bicycle with auxiliary motor« concept; according to Bosch, e-bikes are high-tech machines that won't just replace pedalling, but rather support it. Only when muscle power is exerted will the electric drive add motor force. How much force is automatically determined by the electronics depending on the rider's exertion – more on hills than on flat stretches – and also based on the rider's selection of more or less support. Depending on which level of support is selected, a battery charge at the highest level of support is good for about 35 kilometres, but at lower levels distances of up to 80 kilometres are possible. The Bosch drive is effective at speeds up to 25 kilometres per hour; above that speed, the e-biker is pedalling alone. The reason: This is the only way the e-bike can legally remain a bicycle, and thus free of helmet, license plate, and insurance obligations.
The Bosch drive unit is designed for installation in the middle of the frame. There, its weight has less, and therefore a positive effect on riding behaviour. From the point of view of efficiency however, an electric drive can't be too light, so the e-bike system from Reutlingen is also one of the lightest, claims Bosch. The battery uses the same lithium ion technology as the mini-battery screwdriver »Ixo« .
In order for electric motor's auxiliary power to be always measured accurately and no milliampere of power or meter of range be wasted, the control electronics of the drive must know how fast the rider is moving and how hard he or she is pedalling. This data is pulled several time per second from three sensors in the drive unit, and used to calculate the exact motor support appropriate to the current situation. For example, if a headwind comes up, the e-biker has to pedal harder to keep the same speed. The pedal force sensor reports this to the computer in the drive unit, which reacts immediately and supports the rider with a little more motor power.
Monsieur Hulot (e.g. Mon oncle) off to involuntarily cause havoc.True connoisseurs still ride on solex scooters from the 1950s or 60s, but in general the times for this kind of bike have been over for about just as long.
(courtesy of Discina films)
Our aging societies may change this and initiate a renaissance of the auxiliary engine bike, electrically driven and full of electronic components - the »e-bike«.
Wheels and electronics - clearly, Bosch has to be involved. And, indeed, Bosch will be building electric drives for e-bikes in the future and wants to become one of the leading providers in this expanding market. At their Reutlingen location, a separate product area is built up that will transfer the group's technological know-how in electronics and electric drives, sensors and battery technology into the new product for the bicycle industry. The core of the e-bike drive is the drive unit, consisting of an electric motor with control unit and sensors. Electric power – the fuel for an e-bike – is provided by the included battery pack, the charger replaces the gas station, and the control computer on the handlebars also provides the usual bicycle computer functions. The new push assist will be exclusively shipped to OEMs; no upgrade kits are planned. The first presentation of electric bikes with the Bosch drive will be at the international bicycle trade show »Eurobike« in Friedrichshafen in September.
Modern electric bikes have nothing in common with the old days of the traditional »bicycle with auxiliary motor« concept; according to Bosch, e-bikes are high-tech machines that won't just replace pedalling, but rather support it. Only when muscle power is exerted will the electric drive add motor force. How much force is automatically determined by the electronics depending on the rider's exertion – more on hills than on flat stretches – and also based on the rider's selection of more or less support. Depending on which level of support is selected, a battery charge at the highest level of support is good for about 35 kilometres, but at lower levels distances of up to 80 kilometres are possible. The Bosch drive is effective at speeds up to 25 kilometres per hour; above that speed, the e-biker is pedalling alone. The reason: This is the only way the e-bike can legally remain a bicycle, and thus free of helmet, license plate, and insurance obligations.
The Bosch drive unit is designed for installation in the middle of the frame. There, its weight has less, and therefore a positive effect on riding behaviour. From the point of view of efficiency however, an electric drive can't be too light, so the e-bike system from Reutlingen is also one of the lightest, claims Bosch. The battery uses the same lithium ion technology as the mini-battery screwdriver »Ixo« .
In order for electric motor's auxiliary power to be always measured accurately and no milliampere of power or meter of range be wasted, the control electronics of the drive must know how fast the rider is moving and how hard he or she is pedalling. This data is pulled several time per second from three sensors in the drive unit, and used to calculate the exact motor support appropriate to the current situation. For example, if a headwind comes up, the e-biker has to pedal harder to keep the same speed. The pedal force sensor reports this to the computer in the drive unit, which reacts immediately and supports the rider with a little more motor power.
Auxilliary engines may seem extremely retro... but you know what they say, everything comes to a full circle!
Posted by: Cyclist Apparel Nina | 04/16/2012 at 10:59 AM
Brilliant! I have always admired antique bikes like Schwinn. I guess the first scooters are the motorized bicycles like this.
Posted by: Rig My Roll | 05/25/2012 at 01:44 PM