200km range ebike build - which Bafang BBS?

[Autocycle]

Hi All,

I thought I'd start a general thread about my new build where I could ask questions and share the outcome. I'm ordering the motor and batteries in the coming days.

Based on my 250W 36V experience, if I have two 36V 20ah batteries (40ah) I will achieve 200km on ideal terrain with my fairly active input and normal (which is to say careful) use of power (sometimes at 100 per cent, sometimes at 75 or even 50 per cent). The obvious thing is to get the same kit again https://pirez.com.au/bbs01b-36v250w-bafang-mid-drive-kit/

However it occurs to me that it might be an idea to get a kit that I can use at lower power but generally, but call on for higher assistance when my distance is less but the mountains are...well...mountainous! For example a 500W kit https://pirez.com.au/bbs02b-36v500w-bafang-mid-drive-kit/

Or maybe a 750W 48V kit utilising a fraction of its power https://pirez.com.au/bbs02b-48v750w-bafang-mid-drive-kit/ I guess the other thing that springs to mind, given I'll be doing some long days, is the potential greater robustness of the bigger kit?

Does anybody have any advice? My aim is distance above all, and robustness. Am I wrong in thinking that just using less power - say, running the 500W at half power to equal a 250W drain and even less as I often do - will maintain the frugality I need for range? Am I right in thinking the bigger kits are more robust?

Ps I'm pretty settled on this bike, in fact I'm looking at it tomorrow and expect I'll buy it. https://www.reidcycles.com.au/granite-1-0.html This build will be coming together quickly in the coming weeks and then ridden on some long tours, I'll keep you updated with the outcome.

Regards,
Matt

 

[dogman dan]

To put it the most simply, if you run a 250w bike at 200 watts, you will use 200 watts. If you run a 1000w bike at 200 watts, you will use 200 watts.

The catch 22 is can you run the 1000w bike at 200w, in reality? Very easy to use more, particularly on the steep hills, big wind, etc. IMO,, you want the extra power when the weather turns nasty or the hill is a mountain, regardless of the effect on your range.

But you can easily select a low power level assist for most of any ride, and keep your range nice and long. When I was touring some, I ran a 2000w cargo bike, but 99% of the time I used less than 300 watts. This meant I was going under 20 mph of course, typically about 15 mph if I needed more than 60 miles per charge, with a battery of 48v 30 ah. You can do better than that if you are healthy. at 300w, you should be easily able to pedal up 100w or more of that 300w total power.