The Difference in Motor Power – 250w 500w 750w

[Lock]

Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) Founder, Ed Benjamin, explains what it means in terms of electric bike performance

This is not a simple subject. But I will offer my advice:
Most 250 watt systems are satisfactory for pedelecs (where the rider is pedaling and thus adding in his energy / effort).
For throttle-controlled, or power-on-demand systems where the rider is not pedaling, 350 to 500 watt systems are a better choice.
750 watts seems attractive, but this requires a big battery – and the combination of cost and weight is not that attractive. This combination will get better as technology improves, but at this time, 500 watts may be a better choice in many cases.
Climbing hills on any of these will require the rider to add in some muscle power – but not a lot.
In all cases, the rider will enjoy the ride, sweat a lot less, and have less fatigue and go farther, faster.

Full article/original URL here:
http://www.electricbikee.com/electric-bike-hub-motor-power-difference-200w-500w/

tks
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[liveforphysics]

That guy has never ridden an E-bike perhaps?

750w means too much battery required? Like 1 tiny LiPo pack can't handle 750w effortlessly? lol Does he know 750w means 1hp?

I would add an extra zero onto the end of each of those wattage numbers.

 

[Lock]

hehe... AFAIK Ed's a suit that attends a lot of conferences... he means well :wink:

 

[liveforphysics]

750 watts seems attractive, but this requires a big battery – and the combination of cost and weight is not that attractive.

This is one of the most funny quotes I've seen on this forum. This guy has evidently never seen ES, or perhaps lives on another planet.

I agree though, I do think he means well. It's a shame he can't be a little better informed though if he is a suit trying to lobby for EV rules and things. lol

 

[dogman dan]

Well, give the guy a bit of a break. Clearly he's discussing ebikes that are street legal in some places. So he's limiting his comments to 750 watts and below.

Fortunately these days in the US, most motor division cops could give a shit what power you run as long as you don't look like a scooter. So strap 2000 watts on the bike and let er rip as long as you don't terrorize the bike trail with it.

But on the battery, heh heh, he's clearly not experienced even a lame 36v ping. Let alone a123's or hobby king lipo. He must think $600 for a battery is a lot of money, rather than a lot of value. And hell, for shorter ranges, with lipo, the battery is may be cheaper than sla's for the same range. Two 18v 5 ah lipos and a charger costs what, $150? Three good 12 ah sla's and a charger will cost at least $175-200.

 

[Ypedal]

I think Ed is well informed, he's at interbike and all those big shows, his comments are likely a generalization. ( assuming SLA being still used in ALOT of ebikes, unfortunately.. ).

My A2B Metro is considered " 500w " ebike, and i would agree that pedaling is required on big hills to make the bike and battery last, but the CA says this controller peaks at 900w :wink: .. the definition of watts for the ebike industry is all over the map.

I don't think Lipo ( aka: cobalt ) is endorsed by the industry, guys like us here on ES who understand what a volt is can and do use this chemistry but.. LiMn and LiFePo4 are the latest tech in ebike mass market..