Single day distance record for ebike w/o pedaling

[WoodlandHills]

The recent post asking about the single day ebike record got me to thinking: always dangerous! Given how much a fit rider can alter the range of an ebike, how about removing his/her input from the equation? What is the range record for an ebike without any pedaling at all? How far on just the throttle.........?

 

[liveforphysics]

Terry did something like 300miles on a charge in his modified zero streamliner at 60-70mph.

 

[nutnspecial]

https://www.google.com/search?sitesearch=endless-sphere.com&q=+terry%20%20+zero&gws_rd=ssl
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/search.php?keywords=terry+streamlined

before I asked (who terry is), I have answered ^

Should I say something like 'best regards' or something now? Nah, hopefully it's implied!

 

[WoodlandHills]

On what planet is a Zero electric motorcycle considered an ebike? Or rather, in what state or country is that considered a bicycle, cause I live in California and that sure doesn't look like any Class 3 I've ever seen......

 

[amberwolf]

What is the range record for an ebike without any pedaling at all? How far on just the throttle.........?

Does this include any record, or just specific conditions?

On just one charge? Or including opportunity charging? Or can it count even with a generator running it so no stopping for charges, or heavy giant battery is needed?

At what speed?

On what terrain, wind, etc?

Which definition of ebike should we use? (the one where the record was made, I assume)

FWIW, the Zero could possibly technically be used as an ebike here in AZ, as long as it is not registered as a motorcycle. Just ride it always under 20MPH, and it fits all the definitions of a bicycle under Title28, AFAICR them (though the "Propelled by human power" part would have to be done by duckwalking it). I doubt the rider would be unharassed by the police, however. There may be other states that have definitions it would meet, as long as they dont' require pedals.

On my CrazyBike2, the range record is over 50 miles including a stop for charging in the middle. Can't recall exact numbers. On SB Cruiser, around 31miles I think it was for a work trip. I think I had a longer one for a shopping trip but I can't remember the mileage and can't find the post right now.

For me it's pretty much all flat terrain, little wind, cruising speed of 20MPH or just under, accelerating to that as quickly as possible from a stop cuz I"m in traffic with impatient drivers.

 

[Kepler]

On what planet is a Zero electric motorcycle considered an ebike? Or rather, in what state or country is that considered a bicycle, cause I live in California and that sure doesn't look like any Class 3 I've ever seen......

I suppose on what planet can a record be called an ebike record if you don't pedal. Just saying....

 

[nutnspecial]

Well, at least in US there are fairly uniform critera defining ebike, pedalcycle, etc. One is normally having fuctional pedals afaik, tho they don't have to be used like in the EU and AU with pas-only rules.

I would say 'in what world' because it may be more accurate than 'what planet', since I'm not yet sure I've ever been on one of those . . . .

As far as a record- 'distance . . ebike . . and not pedalling' seem to be the fuctional criteria in the question. I would assume 14" or 14' and 14# or 14ton (where legally allowed) etc etc are less important.

I know of no examples to share, but maybe goog could help. I imagine the distance would be @ or close to the max speed under the legal definition for 'ebike' for the area. If none exist or you're in a place w/o speed limits, somebody must have done between 200 and 300 miles, and would top out soon after that.
You could take someone that has done long distance with pedalling and subtract a generous constant 150w from their total expenditure VS distance to get an accurate idea or baseline I guess.


----- Wow can ebike/ no pedals even get close to pedals only?? Maybe with 1500-2000wh?

394 miles in one 24-hour period (although it was over the course of 2 calendar days). I'm in total awe of the guys who can top 450. The winner at the Michigan 24-hour this year, which is a hilly course and was run in brutally hot weather, rode 470.2. God-like, I say.

http://www.bikeforums.net/long-distance-competition-ultracycling-randonneuring-endurance-cycling/207127-longest-single-day-bike-ride.html

 

[dogman dan]

Well, in some ways, beats the record for how far you can pedal an ebike, without using the motor any.

 

[cycborg]

On Troy Rank's tour a couple years ago, he routinely did 150 miles per day at 20-25 mph with very little pedaling, a few times over 200. Recharged his 2 kWh pack 3-4 times per day. This post has the numbers.

I don't know where you'd find the record you're looking for, but this gives an idea of what is possible.

 

[WoodlandHills]

On what planet is a Zero electric motorcycle considered an ebike? Or rather, in what state or country is that considered a bicycle, cause I live in California and that sure doesn't look like any Class 3 I've ever seen......

I suppose on what planet can a record be called an ebike record if you don't pedal. Just saying....

Because the ebike record is essentially a much lighter weight class. Anyone can load up a heavyweight motorcycle chassis with enough batteries and set a record. But a Class 3 ebike is built under a different set of rules, for one thing the top speed is under 35mph.

For another: it's a BICYCLE whether it's pedaled during the record attempt or not. Does anyone think that Terry would have appreciably been able to extend his range at 60mph if he was also pedaling? Just because a test of the electrical and aerodynamic efficiency of an ebike requires that it be ridden as an ultralight motorcycle, it does not stop being a Class 3 legal ebike and transform into a motorcycle.

Besides that, I posted on an ebike forum, I really don't care what happens on an electric motorcycle. It's great that some people seem to, but that wasn't my question. Had I been interested in the accomplishments of electric motorcycle enthusiasts, I would have posted my question on their forum instead.

 

[WoodlandHills]

What is the range record for an ebike without any pedaling at all? How far on just the throttle.........?

Does this include any record, or just specific conditions?

On just one charge? Or including opportunity charging? Or can it count even with a generator running it so no stopping for charges, or heavy giant battery is needed?

At what speed?

On what terrain, wind, etc?

Which definition of ebike should we use? (the one where the record was made, I assume)

FWIW, the Zero could possibly technically be used as an ebike here in AZ, as long as it is not registered as a motorcycle. Just ride it always under 20MPH, and it fits all the definitions of a bicycle under Title28, AFAICR them (though the "Propelled by human power" part would have to be done by duckwalking it). I doubt the rider would be unharassed by the police, however. There may be other states that have definitions it would meet, as long as they dont' require pedals.

On my CrazyBike2, the range record is over 50 miles including a stop for charging in the middle. Can't recall exact numbers. On SB Cruiser, around 31miles I think it was for a work trip. I think I had a longer one for a shopping trip but I can't remember the mileage and can't find the post right now.

For me it's pretty much all flat terrain, little wind, cruising speed of 20MPH or just under, accelerating to that as quickly as possible from a stop cuz I"m in traffic with impatient drivers.

If one is going to compare the aero and electrical efficiency (range) of various ebikes you need to remove pedal input from the equation. And to simplify things limit it to onboard batteries only with no recharging and no hot swapping. Strava should be able to tell us if a given test was mostly downhill! You would want any course to double back upon itself to try to equalize climbs and descents. Limit the test to Ebikes as defined under CA law, since that's a regulation that is going to influence the OEMs and their products in the years to come, as well as other states.

 

[liveforphysics]

Anyone can load up a heavyweight motorcycle chassis with enough batteries and set a record. But a Class 3 ebike is built under a different set of rules, for one thing the top speed is under 35mph...


...Had I been interested in the accomplishments of electric motorcycle enthusiasts, I would have posted my question on their forum instead.

Then you've already answered your own question if you can already see that to go for distance you need more battery, and to carry more battery you need a robust frame. Where you draw the line (or let someone else draw the line for you) is purely arbitrary.

What you may not yet know about this forum, is that many here choose to make there own decisions as to the nature of safe, ethical, sustainable, practical, and useful transportation solutions, no matter what some corrupt petroleum-lobby-purchased judge writes down in a book to try to cripple/delay inevitable mass LEV adoption at the cost of ~7 Million human lives per year lost to breathing poisoned air.

 

[dogman dan]

Back to the first post questions.

In general, a typical somewhat fit rider can put out 100w all day. I'm in worse shape myself, so I tend to put out 100-150 briefly, but then settle back to a steady 75v.

I know this, by how much more watts my bike draws when I take a short break from pedaling. Sometimes I find I'd been only faux pedaling. Still good for my health, but not adding any range.

Really fit riders, race class, can put out 200-250w all day. And a hell of a lot more in a sprint. Those guys will leave an ebike that only goes 25 mph behind.

So doing the math,, 100w for 5 hours, same as adding a 500wh battery to the bike. Unless you are race class, likely you will poop out in about 5 hours.

What percentage of the amount used to go a given distance is that? That depends entirely on your speed. At 15 mph, using 200w total, pedaling up 100w could be doubling your distance. At 30mph, using 1000w, only adding 1/10th of your distance.

My personal best day only 80 miles, but at 18 mph I have about 100 miles of range, with 48v 40 ah.