"Poop-poop!" -Toad the Terror

Perhaps there is a niche market for a secondary, small, no-frills BEV kept at a commuter's home for local excursions or to and from commuter rail services. OT it looks like NY State may at (very) long last pass some legislation that will permit some sort of on-road use of electric bicycles. I'm hopeful but not holding my breath.

I wish they would show with some faired trike designs for the longer range vehicles. They could presumably be registered as motorcycles in my state, and 80 mile rides would be a lot more comfortable.

A) "Even at 30 C, which corresponds to a time of 2 min to fully discharge, the capacity was about 90% of that at the 1 C rate, implying that the battery is suitable for high-power applications." B) "Even after 500 charge−discharge cycles at the rate of 1 C (0.2 C every 20 times), 83% (first cycle, 231 mAh/g; 500th cycle, 193 mAh/g) of the capacity of the material was retained"- I'm no expert on battery chemistry or characteristics, and I find these conclusions confusing. Does (A) mean that when they discharged at the 30C rate, they obtained 90% of the work done by a battery fully discharged at the 1C rate? Or are they claiming the cycle life by a battery routinely discharged at the 30C rate is commensurate with that of their 1C test rig (as in (B)?

Algae sounds like a goose that lays golden eggs.

I saw a piece on the beeb website a few years back about a university team that was developing a trike with computer-controlled suspension and a rear-mounted H2 (I believe) ICE. This sounds perfect for such an app. I'll bet it would really fly.

I'm seriously tempted. Obviously as demand grows for diesel fuel the number of vendors will increase. I just hope the engine is reliable. I once had a Checker cab with a GM deisel that broke down and dripped fuel oil onto 6th Avenue until the wrecker arrived.

There is a sign-up on the website mentioned in this PR for a monthly drawing. Winners get a conversion kit!

I don't think $1000 or less is a through the roof price for a well-designed e-bike that may last for years and truly cannot be beaten for economy of operation. The main problem with "market acceptance" seems to be political, at least in New York. http://www.animalnewyork.com/2012/new-york-city-accelerates-its-short-sighted-campaign-against-electric-bicycles/

Too bad E-bikes are illegal in New York. They should be allowed to be registered as mopeds w/ the DMV imo.

I think energy type availability will define the dominant infrastructure for a given region. On the coasts where hydrolysis plants could cheaply produce H2, fuel cell technology could make it to market, and H2 could be exported. In the interior, ethanol/methanol could be a good source. But I think the key will be in a mix of technologies.

I think it looks a little like a penguin. I actually drove a Segway around a mall in Salt Lake City. It was a lot of fun.

" For an operating frequency of 10 MHz, this corresponds to a transfer distance of 2 m." There goes HF communications.

Assuming visible sunlight, which is apparently becoming rarer in Beijing, it seems like a 130 W solar panel would charge an e-bike in a few hours and last for years. The energy used per rider mile is on a scale so much smaller than an ICE powered vehicle.

Finally I can make out some numbers in the graphic above.

A transformer gives up the ghost somewhere... The sound of EB's cherished notions re FCEVs biting the dust.

Probably an uninformed question: Why not simply use FCEVs?

@ 15 cents/kWh, I am guessing a full charge cycle will cost under $5, putting energy operating cost on a level with years ago!

Hope GreenPleases math works out in the real world. Lithium chemistry is pricey. I bought a 8 A-h pack for my bike w/ Samsung cells rated at 3C I believe, but run at 2C discharge max. So far, so good.

Wonderful news. I always thought the economic development zone idea was the best stimulus for a severely ravaged community (disclosure: I went to school in the Bronx), and have personally seen innovative, high tech type entrepreneurs succeeding there, while enjoying some of the best Cuban sandwiches found anywhere in the world. It's a great day for the Bronx.

All that seed $ the gov put into that failed solar outfit, and it seems Ballard had to back out of the US domestic FC biz. Why? No investors? Why can't gov(s) and business stick to a longer range plan?

@HB "I wonder if that's 400 watts total battery, or 400 usable with whatever their depth-of-discharge regime is?" That would be available energy between V full charge and V do not exceed discharge (typically limited in a Li battery by a battery management system pcb). Useable range in my 8A-h 48V battery is 54-41VDC.

Not for nothing, but as described this bike sounds like a lightweight. A motor consuming 250 watts is drawing around 5 amps @ 50 volts, and most modern e-bike controllers are rated from 20-35 amps, and are designed to power more robust hub capable of handling 750-1000 watts intermittently. This is the kind of power necessary to move, say, a 90-100 kg load (eg. strong bike frame, rider and groceries) up a moderate grade. A 400 W-h battery will get you about 20-25 miles if you pedal and only use the power when you need it. Nothing against Bionx gear... it's good quality stuff, just sayin'...

Ok, I think that rear, windowed upper assembly is on sliders and must function as a sort of half-of-the-door/sunroof.

I hope the post-prototype model has a fully enclosed cabin, roll bar etc. Lots of deer around here.