System (U, Motor, Controller) Efficiency

[Jonathan]

I know we got an ebike, but some of us chose to pedal assist to get some exercise or just give our motor a chance for cooling.
I'm interested in what you guys are achieving for efficiency. I think this will help us make a better bike in the long run.

So what's your total overall system efficiency.

1. Efficiency (Watts/mile)
2. Speed (mph | kph)
3. Gradient (%)
4. Pedaling effort (none, light, heavy, extreme)
5. Bike Type (roadster, MTB, trike, others)
6. Motor Model
7. Controller Model
8. Battery (Voltage/Capacity)

[Link]

This sounds like it would make a good poll.

Anyway:

1. ~26Wh/mi
2. 27mph top speed all the time with hard starts
3. No hills whatsoever
4. No pedaling
5. S-40 MTB
6. Golden Motor
7. Slightly modified Golden Motor controller
8. Duct-tape 48V 20Ah

[Kurt]

1. Efficiency 10-30 whrs km
2. Speed (15-45 km)
3. Gradient mixed
4. Peddling effort none-light
5. Bike Type MTB with trailer
6. Motor Model My1018 dual
7. Controller Model Ecrazyman brushed 800w 32amp 48v
8. Battery AGM lead 18ah x 4 48v

Kurt.

[pwbset]

1. Efficiency: 55-75wh/mi
2. Speed: 12-20mph
3. Gradient: 8-20%
4. Pedaling effort: Heavy
5. Bike Type: MTB Jamis Durango hard tail
6. Motor Model: Clyte rear 4011
7. Controller Model: 24-72v20a pedal first (shunt soldered)
8. Battery: 84v5.2ah

[docnjoj]

Yeah! Those hills and weight really are efficiency killers.
Efficiency: 25-30 wh/mi
2. Speed: 12-20mph
3. Gradient: up to 8%
4. Pedaling effort: moderate to heavy (if the Nicads fail!)
5. Bike Type: Tricruiser trike heavily modified
6. Motor Model: rear Bafang geared
7. Controller Model: Infineon 36-52 volts
8. Battery: NiMh 42 volts 10 ah (soon to be 48 volts)
otherDoc

[Johnbear]

This is the bike that I ride the most -

1. Efficiency (Watts/mile) 16 wh/mile
2. Speed (mph | kph) 15-40 km/hr
3. Gradient (%) mixed
4. Pedaling effort (none, light, heavy, extreme) medium
5. Bike Type (roadster, MTB, trike, others) MTB
6. Motor Model -luyuan
7. Controller Model -luyuan 17A, 36v, Regen 5-10%
8. Battery (Voltage/Capacity) 36v 15Ah Duct tape lifepo4

[snowcrow]

1. Efficiency - 10-16 wh/mile
2. Speed - 15-30 m/hr
3. Gradient (%) - mixed (2-8%)
4. Pedaling effort - medium
5. Bike Type - MTB (hard tail)
6. Motor Model -Crystalyte 408
7. Controller Model -Crystalyte 25A, 48v
8. Battery - 48v 12Ah AGM SLA

[fechter]

This sounds like it would make a good poll.

OK, I stickified the thread.

I've always wanted a collection of efficiency measurements for PEVs. There are a bunch of reports scattered throughout the archives, but it would be nice to have them collected in one spot. Nowdays a lot of people have a way to actually measure it, so we should get some good numbers.

Here's a few previous measurements from the early days : http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=706&hilit=+watt+hours+per+mile

Maximizing efficiency is always a worthwhile goal.

[lepton]

Daily commute average:

1 ) Efficiency - 29 Wh/Mile
2 ) Speed - 35 MPH cruising on long straights
3 ) Gradient - Almost completely flat
4 ) Pedaling - hard for acceleration, none at cruising speed
5 ) Bike - Full suspension mountain bike
6 ) Motor - Xlyte 5304
7 ) Controller - Xlyte 4840 analog, modified with 4110
8 ) Battery - 3p20s A123 (66 volt nominal, 6.9 Ah)

This is what I do every morning. I ride about 10 miles and use approximately 280 - 310 Wh each way. There's one big hill, but otherwise it's almost completely flat. I pedal hard at low speeds (below 25) and none above 30. I have to stop at 5 stop lights and I do about 10 stop signs through neighborhoods. About 7 of those 10 miles are rural straight aways, during which I'm at full throttle.

I've tried to set personal efficiency records on this route. My best thus far is 8 Wh/mile. I accomplished that running at 33 volts (2p10s pack), cruising speed of about 22 mph, and pedaling hard the entire way. Aside from the battery change it was the same system.

[Freddyflatfoot]

1) Efficiency, 8.5-10 Wh/Km
2) Speed, 35 kph cruise, max about 42 kph with pedaling.
3) Gradient, up to 10% for my commute.
4) Pedaling, moderate.
5) Homebuilt tadpole trike
6) bafang rear brushless, geared. 20" wheel.
7) Ananda, 36v, 14.8 A
Ping LiFePo4, 36v/10AHr

[lepton]

On my way home today (yay for leaving early on Friday) I cruised at 25 MPH so that I could usefully pedal the whole way and reduce wind resistance. The stats for today (on the exact same route as my above post) were:

1 ) Efficiency - 23.17 Wh/Mile
2 ) Speed - 25 MPH cruising on long straights
3 ) Gradient - Almost completely flat
4 ) Pedaling - moderately while cruising, heavy during acceleration
5 ) Bike - Full suspension mountain bike
6 ) Motor - Xlyte 5304
7 ) Controller - Xlyte 4840 analog, modified with 4110
8 ) Battery - 3p20s A123 (66 volt nominal, 6.9 Ah)

[docnjoj]

Hey Freddie! Thats pretty darn good efficiency! How much do you + trike weigh?
otherDoc

1) Efficiency, 8.5-10 Wh/Km
2) Speed, 35 kph cruise, max about 42 kph with pedaling.
3) Gradient, up to 10% for my commute.
4) Pedaling, moderate.
5) Homebuilt tadpole trike
6) bafang rear brushless, geared. 20" wheel.
7) ??? Std, 36v, 14.8 A
Ping LiFePo4, 36v/10AHr

[Freddyflatfoot]

Hey Freddie! Thats pretty darn good efficiency! How much do you + trike weigh?
otherDoc

1) Efficiency, 8.5-10 Wh/Km
2) Speed, 35 kph cruise, max about 42 kph with pedaling.
3) Gradient, up to 10% for my commute.
4) Pedaling, moderate.
5) Homebuilt tadpole trike
6) bafang rear brushless, geared. 20" wheel.
7) ??? Std, 36v, 14.8 A
Ping LiFePo4, 36v/10AHr

Doc,
I haven't weighed the trike in quite a while, and it has gone through some mods!
Original weight was 22Kg, add 3 Kg+ for the Bafang motor, and 3.5 Kg for the Ping battery. Maybe a 2-3 kg in rack/panniers guards? I weigh less than 75 Kg, so I'm guessing 110-120 kg all up? I am running narrow high pressure front tyres, and a similar tyre on the back. I think that helps.
I also think the lowish Amp rate of the controller helps a lot too!
With my riding style, I tend to avoid adding power from a standing start, and I pedal whenever I can, especially going uphill! There are even times, like on a downhill run, or slow speeds in traffic, when I don't even engage the power.
Hmm, maybe I should weigh her again? Dunno, but I'm actually thinking about a new, lighter frame. My new trike is 16.5 Kg bare, but that one was built for a different purpose, i.e. group/rando rides.

[docnjoj]

Hmm........I guess in my case the bike weight is not the problem! 104 kilos! Thats me!
otherDoc

[avsmith66]

1. Efficiency: 30wh/mi
2. Speed: 20-27mph
3. Gradient: 3% One small hill
4. Pedaling effort: Light
5. Bike Type: Bridgestone MB-2
6. Motor Model: WE Brushless BL-36 Front
7. Controller Model: WE Sensorless 50v 20a
8. Battery: 48v6.0ah NiCad
9. Daily Route Distance: 2.3 miles


AVS