A Comparative Study of 12 Electrically Assisted Bicycles
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Page 0093 World Electric Vehicle Journal Vol. 3 - ISSN 2032-6653 - © 2009 AVERE EVS24 Stavanger, Norway, May 13-16, 2009 A Comparative Study of 12 Electrically Assisted Bicycles Jean-Marc Timmermans1, Julien Matheys, Philippe Lataire, Joeri Van Mierlo, Jan Cappelle2 1Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, [email protected] 2KaHo-Sint Lieven, Gebroeders Desmetstraat1, 9000 Gent, Belgium Abstract A sample of 12 electric bicycles offered on the Belgian and Italian markets was the subject of a comparative quality and performance study. This sample contains electric bicycles of different price categories and with different drive technologies. This paper describes the test program that was used for the study and reveals the differences that were observed between the test samples. The electric bicycles were tested on the road in the Brussels region. An appreciation of the electric traction offered by the bicycle in different situations was given: electrical assistance at start, on a flat road, when riding uphill and when decelerating or braking with the bicycle. The vehicle’s driving range under real driving conditions, was determined for the different electric bicycles. Also the electricity consumption when recharging the traction battery was measured and allowed to make an analysis of the cost for driving an electric bicycle. An environmental analysis (well-to-wheel) was made of the electric bicycles and put against the environmental impact of a thermal moped and an electric scooter. Keywords: light electric vehicle, bicycle; energy consumption, vehicle performance, environment and Italian markets was the subject of a 1 Introduction comparative quality and performance study. This sample contains electric bicycles of different price Light Electric Vehicles (LEV) form a group of categories and with different drive technologies. promising alternative vehicles for both personal This paper describes the test program that was mobility and goods delivery. In particular, used for this analysis and reveals the most electric bicycles are becoming more and more important differences that were observed between popular in Western Europe. In the 1990s, when the test samples. The electric bicycles were tested electric bicycles were introduced in Europe, the in the laboratory and on the road in the Brussels target group of these bicycles was mainly elderly region. An appreciation of the electric traction people. More recently also younger people are offered by the bicycle in different situations was attracted to this product: parents who are given based on the on-road tests: electrical transporting their children on their bicycle or in a assistance at start, on a flat road, when riding trailer or more and more bicycle commuters are uphill and when decelerating or braking the appreciating the electrical assistance on a bike. It bicycle. The vehicle’s driving range under real is clear that the products available on the driving conditions, was determined for the whole European market present different performances. collection of electric bicycles. Also the electricity To evaluate this statement, experimental and consumption when recharging the traction battery scientific evidence is needed. Therefore a sample was measured and allowed to make an analysis of of 12 electric bicycles available on the Belgian EVS24 International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium 1 Page 0094 World Electric Vehicle Journal Vol. 3 - ISSN 2032-6653 - © 2009 AVERE the cost per kilometre for driving the different route. The main characteristics of these test tracks electric bicycles. can be found in Table 1: Table 1: detailed overview of the test tracks of the on- 2 Test Program road tests The test program that was used to make the comparative assessment of the electrically assisted bicycles consisted of different aspects. In this paragraph a brief overview of the test outward 14,8km 155m 12% program is provided. return 14,8km 113m 7% 2.1 General assessment (closed) 10,2km 129m 8% A general assessment of the electrically assisted bicycles was made and resulted in a suggestion outward 14km 140m 10% for the evaluation of: return 14km 134m 7% stability of the bicycle when driving driving comfort of the bicycle In total the different test persons have cycled over driving comfort of the bicycle without 4000km with these test samples. These on road the electrical assistance tests allowed making a general assessment about sensitivity of the electrical drive train to the driving behavior of the different test samples rain (see list of different criteria in paragraph 2.1) ease of use, in particular the human The importance of these different criteria depends machine interface of the electrical drive on the type of usage. When the bicycle is used in train an urban environment with a large number of start For the above-mentioned aspects, dedicated on- and stops (crossroads, traffic lights...), the road tests with the 12 test samples were assistance at start becomes an important criterion. organized and the subjective feedback of the test If the bicycle is used in a hilly environment the persons was collected. These tests also permitted behavior of the assistance when driving uphill, is determining the driving range of the bicycles very important for the users' comfort and with electrical assistance. appreciation. The general assessment also included an Based on the findings during the test trips an evaluation or valuation of the following aspects: assessment of the electrical assistance was given in exchangeability of the battery pack, the weight of four different situations: assistance at start, the battery pack, the quality of the user’s manual, assistance on a flat road, when driving uphill and recharging the battery (complexity of the when decelerating or breaking. An overview can procedure, indication of charging, charging time) be found in Table 2. and the presence of (electronic) theft protection. If available, the following information was 2.3 Integration of the electrical collected: availability of spare parts, delivery motorization time, information about the life time of the battery pack, purchase cost of the complete The way the electrical assistance system is bicycle and cost of a battery pack replacement. In integrated in the bicycle frame differs from model Figure 1 the purchase price of the electric bicycle to model. The ergonomics of the different and of a spare battery pack are shown for the 12 subsystems and the interaction with the bicycle is test samples. Significant differences in purchase very important. Special attention was paid to the price can be observed: ranging from 738 € up to exchangeability of the battery pack, accessibility 2219 € for the complete bicycle and ranging from of the connector to charge the battery pack, the 198 € up to 630 € for a spare battery pack. matching of the gear system with the electric motor system and the integration of the lights in the electrical system. Also the weight of the 2.2 Assessment of the electrical complete bicycle (including the battery pack) and assistance the weight of the battery pack as such were The electric bicycles were tested on three determined and are shown in Figure 2. different test tracks. Three different test persons drove with all bicycles, each following a certain EVS24 International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium 2 Page 0095 World Electric Vehicle Journal Vol. 3 - ISSN 2032-6653 - © 2009 AVERE Figure 1: Average purchase cost of the complete bicycle and of a spare battery pack Figure 2: Weight information of the different test samples among which the following: (Article 2.15.1.) "Non 3 Legislative framework motorised vehicle": each vehicle with two or more wheels, which is propelled by means of pedals or handgrips, by one or more of the users and which In order to be able to consider an electric bicycle is not equipped with an engine, such as a bicycle, a as a “normal” bike from a legal point of view, it tricycle or quadricycle. The presence of an needs to fulfil certain conditions. However, if electrical assistance motor with a nominal rated one of the conditions is not fulfilled (e.g. the power of up to 0,25 kW, of which the traction maximal vehicle speed with electrical assistance force is gradually reduced and finally interrupted is higher than 25km/h), insurance compensations when the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h, or might be denied to the victim in case of an sooner, if the cyclist stops pedalling, brings no accident. In the Belgian road legislation for modification in classification as a ‘non motorized instance, (see also http://www.wegcode.be) vehicle’. The above definition contains the several definitions have been incorporated, EVS24 International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium 3 Page 0096 World Electric Vehicle Journal Vol. 3 - ISSN 2032-6653 - © 2009 AVERE description of a bicycle with electrical assistance legislation and traffic regulations of many motor in conformity with the definition European member states and is thus effective on according to the European directive 2002/24/EC. public roads. However some `electric bicycles' do Most of the electric bicycles offered on the not comply or at least not completely, with these European market comply with this restriction, restrictions and thus don’t fit in this category. This however not all of them do. With some electric means that these `vehicles' can no longer be bicycles the electrical assistance motor continues considered as an ordinary bicycle from a legal to provide traction force at speeds higher than point of view. Moreover, a type approval becomes 25km/h. However, in these cases the motor compulsory and the vehicle could be classified in power generally remains below 0,25kW. The the category of mopeds or motorcycles (situation typical maximum speeds obtained with this type differs from country to country). of electric bicycles are around 38 to 40 km/h.