When do you expect ev bikes to become practical road bikes.

[dorkburger]

Over the last two years I've been on two jobs where rooftop solar panels started a fire, both causing heavy damage but not a total building loss. These were large commercial installs on big flat warehouse roofs. I never heard of the cause, but it was enough to make me think. With all of the solar panels I've seen on commercial buildings I'd guess the fires are outliers. I asked the last solar solicitor that knocked on my door about fires and he had no answers on the subject and immediately asked who installed it and hinted at poor workmanship.

 

[rphillips]

I remember roughly 20 or 25 yrs ago several homes around town getting 2 solar panels installed on the roofs, rumors were for water heaters. I thought it was a coming thing, but as time has passed, I don't remember seeing any new ones installed in several yrs. Have seen larger, more commercial, solar banks but not seeing the ones on the homes. The going thing around here these days, many homes are installing generators.

 

[wyly]

I've had people come out for placing solar panels on my house and barn, but the 100 foot tall beautiful trees, which give my property beautiful wonderful shade would have to come down. I would rather have the trees. At best, I would not live long enough to recover the investment, and at this stage of the game, I just don't really care too much. I live on the side on a hill, between two lakes, and I have probably 1 of the 3 flat properties on this hill. If the town would let me put up a Windmill, I' be most interested. The town has zoned them out though. I live in a very short sighted town. There are cylindrical turbine windmills that are silent vertical tubes, with a few solar panels to supply voltage to aim them, in the even a battery went low, these windmills would supply much amperage. The industry it stuck on panels though, so it is what it is.

You could top the trees that cast shade on the barn roof, doesn't hurt the tree, encourages lower branch growth and the tree is less likely to be toppled in a storm.

I don't understand the opposition to turbines maybe there's a noise issue but on a rural setting that shouldn't be a problem, can't be noisier than my neighbour and her dogs.

It's ironic there are complaints about unsightly turbines while our cities are dotted with cellular towers. Ask a cellular provider to put it's gear on top of a cylindrical turbine:smug:

But yes the age vs cost is a factor, will you recoup the expenses in your lifetime? You'd need to really crunch the numbers.

Where I live electrical rates are unregulated and rising fast so people are switching to producing their own power, it's quickly becoming feasible. My bro-in-law did and now sells back to the grid, I don't know what the payback time is, he's got way more money than me and he's younger too. Many new home builds here are now constructed solar panel ready, the owners can add them at a later date.

 

[wyly]

I remember roughly 20 or 25 yrs ago several homes around town getting 2 solar panels installed on the roofs, rumors were for water heaters. I thought it was a coming thing, but as time has passed, I don't remember seeing any new ones installed in several yrs. Have seen larger, more commercial, solar banks but not seeing the ones on the homes. The going thing around here these days, many homes are installing generators.

Local prices may have something to do with it, once the home electrical bills become a burden people will begin looking for other options. When I was in Hawaii I was amazed at how many homes already had solar panels. Without major rivers to dam electrical 80% of its power comes from imported coal and oil I would think that's very expensive.

 

[Rob S.]

Many new home builds here are now constructed solar panel ready, the owners can add them at a later date.

Like the 82-83 11E - ready for an oiler cooler. Plug & play.

There's a parkway up in Connecticut where the cell towers are disguised as pine trees. Ugly pine trees.

 

[RichDesmond]

Jumping in without reading the whole thread (I hate it when people do that!! ), but for me the biggest current hurdle is charging infrastructure. The bikes themselves still aren't quite there, rangewise, but a doubling of battery energy density would be enough, IF there are convenient places to recharge. And not just in larger towns and along interstates, but also in more rural areas.

I rode a Zero SR/S last fall, and really liked it. From what I've found online the real world range is 70-100 miles. If that goes to 150-160 AND there are charging stations in backwoods West Virginia and similar areas, then I'm a buyer.

 

[rphillips]

I don't know how it could be changed, but if somehow those ZEROs could evolve into being fast charged from a 110V outlet, the infrastructure problem for them would be fixed. Hard to find anyplace where there isn't a 110V available.

 

[RichDesmond]

I don't know how it could be changed, but if somehow those ZEROs could evolve into being fast charged from a 110V outlet, the infrastructure problem for them would be fixed. Hard to find anyplace where there isn't a 110V available.

"Fast" and 110v household outlets are mutually exclusive. Less than 20 amps available from one. So 2k kilowatt-hours per hour, at best.
Now, for guy who does only day trips of less than 130 miles or so (and that's a LOT of riders) when range gets to be greater than that he's fine, an overnight charge will be plenty fast enough for him.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

"Fast" and 110v household outlets are mutually exclusive. Less than 20 amps available from one. So 2k kilowatt-hours per hour, at best.
Now, for guy who does only day trips of less than 130 miles or so (and that's a LOT of riders) when range gets to be greater than that he's fine, an overnight charge will be plenty fast enough for him.

I wonder when the good motels will really start buying into the infrastructure. I know a few bigger hotels have.

 

[rphillips]

Rich, you're thinking about what we have now, I's thinking of somebody coming up with some kind of new technology that may be able to charge the batteries quick and still just require the 110V. Stranger things have happened, heck not too long ago, nobody was walking around with a little box that had a TV, computer, and telephone inside it.

 

[Cipher]

Rich, you're thinking about what we have now, I's thinking of somebody coming up with some kind of new technology that may be able to charge the batteries quick and still just require the 110V. Stranger things have happened, heck not too long ago, nobody was walking around with a little box that had a TV, computer, and telephone inside it.

cant you magically join two 110 circuits to get 240 volts? I man its 240 from the mains anyway. So a dangerous sketchy workaround is not required.
Personally im all for splicing in before the meter. That'll make it really pay.

 

[rphillips]

Are you bragging about doing that job??? or making fun of it???

 

[Cipher]

Are you bragging about doing that job??? or making fun of it???

There's greater horrors than this out there this was mexico. When I did lineman safety the instructor showed vacation photos that would truuly shock uou no pun intended.

Is there any benefit to be had to putting less powerful motors in the bikes. I mean they are ungodly fast for the most part and that selling point if it detracts from range is counterproductive.

Never owned me a moped but god they were everywhere once upon a time.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

This 50 mph (80 km/h) eRockit electric motorcycle has pedals... but why? (electrek.co)​

 

[bccap]

This 50 mph (80 km/h) eRockit electric motorcycle has pedals... but why? (electrek.co)​

I'm just guessing but I'd bet a pint of beer that there are places where if it has pedals you can classify it as a bicycle . You can't where I live. Anything over 500 watts is classified as a motorcycle requiring license, registration, and insurance but I'll bet there are a few places you can ......

 

[wyly]

Jumping in without reading the whole thread (I hate it when people do that!! ), but for me the biggest current hurdle is charging infrastructure. The bikes themselves still aren't quite there, rangewise, but a doubling of battery energy density would be enough, IF there are convenient places to recharge. And not just in larger towns and along interstates, but also in more rural areas.

I rode a Zero SR/S last fall, and really liked it. From what I've found online the real world range is 70-100 miles. If that goes to 150-160 AND there are charging stations in backwoods West Virginia and similar areas, then I'm a buyer.

Infrastructure is growing quickly it's only a matter of time and momentum. Doubling of range would be great but I think even a 50% improvement would do it depending on which bike we're talking about. My bro in law is looking for a fuel up at 100 mi with his HD and there are other ICE bikes with similar problems, they have a mature fuel infrastructure to support them. A solid state battery would solve ev bike range issues but so far they're only being developed for cars. A Chinese battery maker says they aiming for a 5-10 min recharge time.

Manufacturers time line for EVs is 2035, I think they'll arrive before then. If I were to guess I'd say 2030 before we have a quick charge, acceptable range bikes with a fully supporting infrastructure.

2030? I may be downgrading to Vespa by then, 2035 and ev chair.

 

[RichDesmond]

Infrastructure is growing quickly it's only a matter of time and momentum. Doubling of range would be great but I think even a 50% improvement would do it depending on which bike we're talking about. My bro in law is looking for a fuel up at 100 mi with his HD and there are other ICE bikes with similar problems, they have a mature fuel infrastructure to support them. A solid state battery would solve ev bike range issues but so far they're only being developed for cars. A Chinese battery maker says they aiming for a 5-10 min recharge time.

Manufacturers time line for EVs is 2035, I think they'll arrive before then. If I were to guess I'd say 2030 before we have a quick charge, acceptable range bikes with a fully supporting infrastructure.

2030? I may be downgrading to Vespa by then, 2035 and ev chair.

Agree, it's coming. I just think it'll be pretty slow in the more remote places I like to ride.

Really, there's 3 parts to it. Range of the battery, charging locations, and recharge time. I can live with less range, but only if there's a charge station were I need it and the rechange time isn't too much longer than my normal 10-15 minute gas/pee/water break. A 40 minute recharge every 100 miles won't cut it, even if the charger is there.

Your original question was "When do you expect ev bikes to become practical road bikes". The piece that leaves out is, "for who". For a small number of people they're practical right now. For the group of typical day riders I mentioned earlier, probably 2-4 years. For me, likely 5-7. For a very small subset of people, 10-15.

​

 

[Suzukian]

Like the 82-83 11E - ready for an oiler cooler. Plug & play.

There's a parkway up in Connecticut where the cell towers are disguised as pine trees. Ugly pine trees.

Extremely, they aren't kidding anyone Fake trees. There should be a Charlie Brown Christmas special about them.

 

[Rob S.]

Extremely, they aren't kidding anyone Fake trees. There should be a Charlie Brown Christmas special about them.

I never eat December snowflakes. I prefer January.

 

[Suzukian]

Something "Commercial" about December's snowflakes.