Electric bicycle

An electric bike (in Swiss German: " electric bicycle ", also electric bike or e-bike ), is a bicycle with an additional electric motor.

The motor is mounted as a hub motor or in or near the bottom bracket as so-called mid-engine in the front or rear. The energy required normally provides a traction battery or a battery pack, which consists of combined battery cells.

In Europe of traffic law and usage habits differentiated as follows:

• The electric motor replaces the usual engine. This electric bicycle to E-bike called a moped, with a greater possible speed a motorcycle.
• Under the restriction to a maximum speed of 20 km / h or 25 km / h such e-bike is a motor bicycle ( moped ).
• An electric bicycle, in which the driver must continue to pedal for the electric motor assists the driving, is called a pedelec bike.

Only the pedelec is the traffic law meaning a bike that mostly to any conditions ( possession of a driving license, wear a safety helmet, take out liability insurance) is bound and exempt from road tax. An exception is the so-called fast pedelec, in which the speed limit is greater than the rule Speed ​​25 km / h. It is for example insurance in Germany and it is a moped driving demands (maximum speed of 45 km / h).

In Europe, Pedelecs are the most commonly used electric bicycles. With them the habit of cycling remains largely intact. The will of its users is to be able to ride a bike just easier not completely switch to an external drive.

In the major cities of Asia, especially China, electric bicycles are used more and more and in large quantities for the sake of clean air and not for reasons of energy saving. With them must not be pedaling normally. They are there treated as bicycles, are in the European sense but motor bikes or mopeds.

• 4.1 Germany
• 4.2 Austria
• 4.3 Switzerland

• 6.1 Terms and experiences
• 6.2 Situation in Asia
• 6.3 System-related problems

History

Predecessor of the electric bicycle were three-wheeled electric vehicles, like the built by Gustave Trouvé in Paris in 1881 Trouvé Tricycle and a little later built Ayrton & Perry Electric Tricycle. At the same time, there were also experiments with single-track electric bicycles, but then failed due to serious battery.

Current Situation

Electric bicycles have become the most successful electric vehicle class. Unlike Europe, the electrically powered bicycle is used in the major Chinese cities to mitigate air pollution: More than 20 million copies are sold there each year, more than 120 million vehicles are already in use.

Distinctions

So far, no single conceptual structure has been established in German-speaking countries. Depending on the type of engine support, the driving power and the design speed, the various terms are used differently and overlapping. For the above criteria are not only found in the countries of the European Union and Switzerland, traffic legal consequences of different types, such as driver's license legal issues, possible to wear a helmet obligations, bicycle or automotive legal regulations, and insurance requirements.

For bicycles with pedal assistance has been established mainly on the German and Austrian market, the term pedelec for the hybrid human- electric motor:

• Electric bike with pedal assistance limited, usually only as a pedelec, sometimes called normal or slow pedelec referred;
• Electric bike with pedal assistance, unlimited, usually referred to as fast pedelec or S- pedelec.

To varying definitions used for electric bikes come with autonomously -working electric drive (without pedaling ) for application:

• Electric bicycles with tretunabhängigem additional drive ( e-bike );
• Electric bike without pedal drive ( sometimes numbered among the e- scooters and e-scooters, and therefore sometimes also referred to as E- scooter or electric scooters ).

Electric bike with pedal assistance

A bike with pedal assistance limited has the property that the electric motor acts only when cranking motion. So he only supports the kicking. This pedelec as vehicles of the EU directive for motor vehicles be excluded if they are limited to an average power of the motor of 250 watts and comes into action to support the engine from 25 km / h. Then they are in the EU countries neither a helmet nor an insurance and driving license obligation and do not require an operating license.

Apart from the higher speed, the bikes with limited ( pedelec ) and unlimited pedal support (fast pedelec / S pedelec ) in the handling and driving characteristics differ only slightly. The difference is in the legal handling.

Electric bike without pedal assistance

There are electric bikes, the drive motor, the vehicle autonomously, ie without pedaling, starts to move. Aside from the legal classifications they can (usually) be equipped with bicycle pedals or without (eg in Austria possible).

Exceed the vehicles the country's legal limits, for example through higher engine output, end, or design speed, they are classified as moped, light motorcycle or motorbike.

A special case is the eRockit that can reach with a power of 9 kW, a top speed of 81 km / h. While there, the electric motor as the pedelec from only when pedaling performance. However, the contact is not so much the forward movement, but rather the motor controller.

Legal situation

Germany

Pedelecs are bicycles within the meaning of the German Highway Code when the motor power assist lasts up to a speed of 25 km / hr. An exception to this definition makes, which have a so-called starting aid: although they work tretabhängig during operation, so that you can speed up directly from the state with a mere twist of the throttle, up to 6 km / h, which, however, for after April 1, 1965 Born prescribes a moped certificate.

Fast Pedelecs (S- Pedelecs ), however, are insurance and it is a moped license, but no helmet required. Bicycle routes may be used with these vehicles only if the paths are also released for mopeds ( by adding characters " mopeds free" and always out of town ). Cycles with pedal assistance are unlimited mopeds with less power in the strict legal sense of the term.

Bicycles with independent drive ( e-bike in the broad sense ) and usually acceleration by handle fall in Germany to 45 km / h under the legal concept of the moped. However, reaching them with a limited to 500 W power motor has a maximum speed of 20 km / h, they are within the meaning of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations as lightweight motor and cause up to this speed neither a motorcycle nor a bicycle helmet. However, a license and an insurance identification are required.

Austria

In Austria one electrically driven bicycle is considered, as far as its own power reaches a maximum speed of 25 km / h and by a motor with max. 600 W is driven fully as bicycle, which therefore also subject to the provisions of bicycle equipment regulation. It may be electric bikes with or without pedal assistance, also fall under the legal concept bike but also electric bikes without (bicycle ) pedals.

Electric bikes, their performance exceeding the above-mentioned, are in Austria - so they do not meet the requirements for motor vehicles - neither approval- nor insurable. They also can not be used as motor bicycle ( moped ) permitted or insured under current legislation. The operation is therefore on roads with public transport not permitted, either on bicycle facilities still on the road. This therefore also applies to the so-called "fast" pedelec (S- pedelec ) that provide a pedal assistance up to 45 km / h.

How to apply normal (only human-powered ) bikes while driving the relevant road traffic regulations such regulations, including the use of mandatory cycle track [NB 1] with single-track bikes.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, electric bicycles apply any kind under Article 18 VTS as motor bikes. Bikes, however, are vehicles with at least two wheels which are driven solely by the muscular energy of the persons seated thereon (Art. 24 para 2 VTS). (Only ) electric bikes with pedal assistance limited to a maximum of 25 km / h and a maximum output of 500 watts ( normal or slow Pedelecs ) are considered light -moto bikes.

The allocation of e-bikes to categories motorbike and light motor bike is moored to the following conditions since May 1, 2012:

Light motor bike:

• Engine power up to 500 watts
• Design speed: 20 km / h
• Top speed with pedal assistance: 25 km / h

Motor bike:

• Engine power between 500 and 1000 watts
• Design speed: 30 km / h
• Top speed with pedal assistance: 45 km / h

A crash helmet has applied since 1 July 2012 for those e-bikes, which are classified as motor bike for light motor bikes is only issued a recommendation.

The minimum age for operating all electric bicycles is 14 years. Bike paths and bike lanes must be used ( with a maximum rated power of the electric motor but only with single-track vehicles ). A passage in " ban on motorcycles " is allowed with the engine off. By the end of 2011, electric bikes, had to be like any bike until then, liability insurance, indicated by the attached to the bicycle bicycle vignette.

Vehicles up to a maximum of 45 km / h most often called e-scooters or electric scooters category F and accelerates like a moped by the handle. Pedals are not present. There are helmet, license plate, driver's license and insurance required. Some of the many available small electric scooters are approved at lower speeds, but most do not, except on private property.

A tabular summary of the complex Swiss rules for electric bikes has the bfu - Council for Accident Prevention in their bfu Fact Sheet No. 4 issued.

Electric drive

The electric motor is of the principle components of an electric motor, battery and the electronic module to the motor control, the same for all electric bicycles. What is different is the control technology that the performance of the engine, -. , If available - speed-dependent electronic current limiting and, depending on the design of the electric bicycle, the tretunabhängigen (self-propelled ) or tretabhängigen drive as it comes in so-called Pedelecs to use controls, From the type of control depends on whether the respective electric bike in the country in which it is placed on the market is considered as a bicycle or below the national ( possibly simplified ) falls automotive or traffic regulations.

An existing bike can be upgraded with the help of nachkaufbaren components for electric bike, what happens at the end user or in a bicycle repair shop. Some manufacturers go ahead so bring by the same basic model with or without additional electric drive on the market. The disadvantage of this approach is that not all bike frames are suitable for it. The measures introduced in the framework forces can lead to frame fractures. Therefore, the scope of the currently available current electric bicycles is already generally designed constructively to the electric drive.

Uses

There are various use areas with different requirements:

• Professional use: postal services ( mail delivery agent ), police ( in restricted traffic areas ), company fleets, commuting to work ( commuting ).
• Tourist use: rental stations at railway stations and tourist hubs. In resort or resorts.
• Personal Use: For everyday use within the home, especially for less-experienced and / or older, or for performance- impaired persons, or generally in accordance with hilly or against wind-rich areas.

An electric bike cost 2013 in Germany an average of about 2000 euro. In Germany there are more than 1.3 million e-bikes (as of mid 2013). 2013, about 430,000 are deducted.

Terms and experiences

Achieve electric bikes - depending on the power of the engine, the running man and the approval - speeds of 25-35 km / h and more. It shows that average people with a fast electric bike reach about the performance of non-motorized bicycle athletes, but are far less with the usual batteries (without replacement). The average speeds of fast electric bikes are mostly between 25-30 km / h, making them shorter distances to the average urban fastest cars ever.

The tentative acceptance for electric bikes is mainly due to the history of battery technology. Does the bicycle technology as a mature, as the long time it was not for the battery technology. Battery of short-range, sharp decline in battery, memory effect, etc. hinder the popularity in the low- price segment. As mainly European manufacturers long had the target group of over-50s in mind, only in accordance designed wheels have been placed on the market. This led to today's " Granny wheel" image of the electrically assisted bikes.

Modern electric bikes today have traction batteries NiMH batteries, lithium polymer batteries or lithium iron phosphate ( LiFePO4 ) batteries, which have proven themselves in use ( great range and service life, no memory effect). In particular, available since around 2006 LiFePO4 batteries exhibit a higher power density and reliability, shorter charging cycles using powerful chargers. Pricewise this is in the range of other lithium - ion batteries.

A battery must be designed for the short-term maximum power consumption of the motor. This is the case of modern batteries in NiMH technology and LiFeP04 batteries but basically ensured. In older lead-acid batteries, it was only given when trying to use special high-current drive batteries. In the past, numerous e-bike batteries kept the high current carrying capacity in the long run not because the cells used were not high current, which is particularly led to overload when electric bikes were frequently driven on slopes.

Electric bicycles have limited the capacity of the battery range. This is the shorter, steeper the road profile and will run faster. The electric drive is especially designed for Pedelecs as a " tailwind ", not as the exclusive drive. It can not be played " full tank " like a gasoline-powered vehicle within a few minutes, a battery charging cycle process should take several hours. Unlike motorcycles with engine speed electric bicycles, however, silently and contribute locally not contribute to ozone and smog formation.

By recuperation of braking energy, the range can be increased significantly in city traffic. In independent tests, the range has been increased by 11%. In the future, higher values ​​are possible through further development of the controller or the use of regenerative inverters.

Situation in Asia

In recent years, e-bikes in China have, in Western countries so far largely unnoticed, revolutionized personal transport. Were still bikes a few years ago dominant in the streetscape Chinese cities, many millions of e-bikes have now been added. Driven by legislation, ie approval ban on motorcycles with engine in many large cities, an industry has emerged with a production volume of an estimated 20 million e-bikes per year. A variety of local vendors are flooding the market and lead a fierce price war. Prices range from 200 to 300 euros per bike only slightly above the material value. The typical Chinese e- bike is in appearance more like a scooter such as a Vespa for a bicycle modeled. The speed is limited to 25 km / h and a pedal drive is usually provided only for emergency operation or the slope of help. Energy storage are in the majority of cases, lead-acid batteries, Li -ion batteries are used only in a few high-priced models are used.

A similar explosive growth is not observed in other populous Asian countries like India or Indonesia. There is dominated by gasoline-powered mopeds, since no entry restrictions exist.

System-related problems

The accumulator is full after a certain number of charge cycles or the range is reduced below a required level. The number of cycles depends on the chemistry of the battery and the quality of the used control and Ladelektronik. With NiCd battery is expected to 1000 cycles, NiMH and Li-Ion 700 with 500 cycles. When lithium iron phosphate battery and cycle numbers greater than 1000 are possible with good design of battery and electronics. After that he must be replaced or recycled.

Advanced battery management concepts with conditioning of individual cells in operation increase the lifetime, they can be found in particular in high-quality lithium -based batteries. By recuperation of braking energy, the range can be increased at least by 15% in city traffic. It should be remembered, however, that the associated electric motors can not have a freewheel and operating without a battery, such as when this is exhausted, the engine as a conventional dynamo needs to be moved more power consumptive, even if the energy recovery is turned off.

Organizational structures

In 1994, a non-profit organization called Extra Energy eV was founded, have in the technology-oriented "power Biker" joined forces in Germany. The association publishes a magazine, the Extra Energy magazine, with regular test reports and global news on this topic. The website is multilingual (English / German / French / Chinese / Korean).