Distance per charge (Range) This
is one of our most difficult questions because of the number of variables.
Consider these things:
1) Speed and range are inversely proportional. The faster you go, the less
distance you will go on a charge.
2) Smooth tires will give better range than knobby tires.
3) High pressure tires will give better range than low pressure tires.
4) Hills, especially long and/or steep ones, use a lot of power.
5) Temperature affects range. Cold batteries shorten range.
Please see our range chart for some specific motor/battery combinations.
Recharge Time
The amount of time it takes to recharge a battery pack can be roughly calculated
by dividing the capacity of the pack in amp hours by the current supplied by the
charger. A 12AH pack being charged by a 3 amp charger would take 12 / 3 = 4
hours to recharge. This assumes a "dead" pack. Recharge time will be
shorter if the pack is not completely exhausted.
Better Batteries
We define "better" as lighter and able to store more power for a given
mass. Of course, the battery must be able to deliver enough current to run our
systems without destroying itself, and that seems to be the main problem at this
writing. ElectricRider has invested a huge amount of money in more dense battery
chemistries and so far, no manufacture has been able to meet our requirements
for performance, reliability, and serviceability.
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Batteries
There is no NiMH battery we have tested that is able to deliver the current we
require and not destroy itself in just a few recharge cycles.
Sizing Your Batteries
SLA batteries are very constant about size, weight, and storage ability. That
is, double the capacity means double the size and weight. The largest battery
most bikes and riders can comfortably handle is 12AH.
Car Batteries
They will work, but do NOT use them. A moving vehicle
can find itself on a side or upside down. If you find yourself in this
position, the last thing you want to deal with is battery acid. Use larger
SLA / AGM batteries, not flooded cell batteries.
DeWalt, A123, or other brand Power Tool Batteries There
are a number of people using them. Reports are that they are happy with
results at first, but over a few recharge cycles, they become frustrated
at the loss in range. Power tool batteries are very low capacity, so it
takes several wired in parallel. When you put them in
parallel, you defeat the Battery Management System. The BMS keeps the
batteries from overheating on discharge. Overheating can lead to fire
and/or explosion, tho we have not heard of that happening with DeWalt
batteries. The BMS also manages equalization during charging. Defeating
the BMS means the human must monitor those things manually, balancing the
individual cells. For these
reasons, the manufacturer, A123, and does NOT recommend using power
tool batteries. ElectricRider's position is that as long as the voltage is
correct for the controller, we do not care what battery chemistry is used.
Low Voltage Cutoff When most types of batteries are at rest, their voltage will climb to nearly their fully charged level. However, when a load (something that makes the battery produce current) is applied to the battery, the voltage will drop substantially if the battery is discharged. Our controllers have a circuit called "low voltage cutoff" (LVC). When your batteries are discharged, you'll see a green light on the throttle and a voltmeter will show that the voltage is normal -- until you twist the throttle. When you apply throttle, the controller draws current from the battery causing the voltage to drop below the LVC voltage, which causes the controller to shut off. Releasing the throttle allows the battery to recover voltage above LVC and the controller comes back on. The more throttle you apply, the more current is drawn and the more the battery voltage will drop. You might find that you can run less than full throttle without dropping the battery voltage below LVC. That might get you home, but it's a good idea to get your batteries on the charger immediately. Leaving batteries discharged shortens their life.
Phone Hours
Mon-Fri
9AM - 5 PM
Central Time
Local: 325-227-6903
Toll Free: 866-807-4337
Email: sales@electricrider.com Service Dept: 325-227-6903 Go green with a company who will back
you up! Buy with confidence, we'll be here when you need us!
ElectricRider
1301 Pulliam Street
San Angelo, TX 76903
In our 10th year of service to the electric bike and LEV community
