stereoearth
1 µW
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Messages
- 2
Hi there,
I'm new to ebikes and I'm in sponge mode soaking up data before I buy / build my bike(s). I'm sure there's people on here who've looked into all this so I thought I'd post some resources and look for comments / suggestions.
First off, I found this video on youtube:
[youtube]sM0o5CwJ4qU[/youtube]
After watching this video, I was like WOW - THATS WHAT I WANT... This sent me down the road for the past 6-months trying to get info from Horizon on their fuel cells, no response, but they've changed their website multiple times since then, so they're doing something over there. Well, I checked again today and they've released some new products, and their 3kw cell looks perfect for a high performance power supply for e-bike. They have a range of products and was wondering if anyone else managed to get ahold of them for pricing or maybe even have gotten a hold of them to run some tests...?
Website is: http://horizonfuelcells.com/
If you peruse their site, you'll see some really neat stuff. What really got me was the RC kit they have that allows you to recharge a solid state fuel cell at home. Its their PEM technology if you are looking for it. Can't they make a big one for e-bikers...? They also have the portable power systems up to several thousand watts and even portable cells which can give you 120 or 240 volts. Couldn't this be a game changer? AC motors, really? Anyone played with AC motors on bikes?
Secondly, check out this hydro powered pedego: http://www.physorg.com/news205599186.html
These technologies have been out for a couple years now - where are they? Seems like e-bikes are in a spot between automotive and r/c, but I would love to put something like this in as my power source, LION batteries are expensive, so I don't mind paying even 2-5x more for something I could refill myself and have a greater range, maybe build a larger vehicle.
Finally, one more technology I want to post about is from A123 technologies, a well known and publicized company. They had an R/C line that now looks defunct. Anyway, of interest to me was two things: 1. their 20Ah prismatic pouch cell they call "nanophosphate" which is some type of LION derivitive, but holy crap, look at their form factor...! It seems to me you could make this to fit within a bike frame or bike rim with very efficient space utilization, maybe even find a way to manufacture them in other shapes..? who knows...
Additionally A123 claims to have streamlined a technology that allows for super quick charging of LION based systems, read this to be blown away: http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/11/100-fold-lithium-ion-battery-breakthrough/
So I know this technology is expensive, but it surely seems worthy to watch and if not invest in prototyping for when portable hydro power and new battery technology develops and can work its way into a better price point.
To sum up, i'm looking for comments and thoughts from you OGs out there who are way more advanced with electronics and more experienced than me in this area to help me wrap my head around it. Thanks in advance for sharing and thanks for everyone who posts here I really appreciate this forum.
CHEERS
I'm new to ebikes and I'm in sponge mode soaking up data before I buy / build my bike(s). I'm sure there's people on here who've looked into all this so I thought I'd post some resources and look for comments / suggestions.
First off, I found this video on youtube:
[youtube]sM0o5CwJ4qU[/youtube]
After watching this video, I was like WOW - THATS WHAT I WANT... This sent me down the road for the past 6-months trying to get info from Horizon on their fuel cells, no response, but they've changed their website multiple times since then, so they're doing something over there. Well, I checked again today and they've released some new products, and their 3kw cell looks perfect for a high performance power supply for e-bike. They have a range of products and was wondering if anyone else managed to get ahold of them for pricing or maybe even have gotten a hold of them to run some tests...?
Website is: http://horizonfuelcells.com/
If you peruse their site, you'll see some really neat stuff. What really got me was the RC kit they have that allows you to recharge a solid state fuel cell at home. Its their PEM technology if you are looking for it. Can't they make a big one for e-bikers...? They also have the portable power systems up to several thousand watts and even portable cells which can give you 120 or 240 volts. Couldn't this be a game changer? AC motors, really? Anyone played with AC motors on bikes?
Secondly, check out this hydro powered pedego: http://www.physorg.com/news205599186.html
These technologies have been out for a couple years now - where are they? Seems like e-bikes are in a spot between automotive and r/c, but I would love to put something like this in as my power source, LION batteries are expensive, so I don't mind paying even 2-5x more for something I could refill myself and have a greater range, maybe build a larger vehicle.
Finally, one more technology I want to post about is from A123 technologies, a well known and publicized company. They had an R/C line that now looks defunct. Anyway, of interest to me was two things: 1. their 20Ah prismatic pouch cell they call "nanophosphate" which is some type of LION derivitive, but holy crap, look at their form factor...! It seems to me you could make this to fit within a bike frame or bike rim with very efficient space utilization, maybe even find a way to manufacture them in other shapes..? who knows...
Additionally A123 claims to have streamlined a technology that allows for super quick charging of LION based systems, read this to be blown away: http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/11/100-fold-lithium-ion-battery-breakthrough/
So I know this technology is expensive, but it surely seems worthy to watch and if not invest in prototyping for when portable hydro power and new battery technology develops and can work its way into a better price point.
To sum up, i'm looking for comments and thoughts from you OGs out there who are way more advanced with electronics and more experienced than me in this area to help me wrap my head around it. Thanks in advance for sharing and thanks for everyone who posts here I really appreciate this forum.
CHEERS
