Can someone tell me: Is it possible to use a bottle type generator to feed charge the battery via a USB port? Say like on a long alpine dissent?

[john peck]

I realize this would be totally counter-productive while using the motor, but what about coasting or pedaling
without power? Is there a way to charge your bike by pedaling it?

Can't believe I spelled descent like that, but I can't fix it.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

It's unlikely you could get enough amps through a USB port to do much good, not to mention you need a lot more than 5 volts. There's probably a way to get some extension of your range with a bottle dynamo but since there's no such thing as a free lunch, you're going to lose more than you gain when peddling, due to friction. In a long alpine descent you have energy to spare, so yeah, if you can figure out a way to it.

All this assumes you're wanting to get power for a bike that doesn't already have a regenerative motor, which is probably the standard solution.

TT

 

[john peck]

It's unlikely you could get enough amps through a USB port to do much good, not to mention you need a lot more than 5 volts. There's probably a way to get some extension of your range with a bottle dynamo but since there's no such thing as a free lunch, you're going to lose more than you gain when peddling, due to friction. In a long alpine descent you have energy to spare, so yeah, if you can figure out a way to it.

All this assumes you're wanting to get power for a bike that doesn't already have a regenerative motor, which is probably the standard solution.

TT

I've one of these on another bike, There's a ribbed strip in the tire that perfectly matches the little gear on the end
of the generator. The friction is next to nothing, but you're right It's not gonna add much. Your last sentence has me wondering,
in coasting/powerless pedaling a bike ought to make juice provided all power drain is cut off somehow. My question arises
from a bike I've recently purchased which seems to use no power if one is pedaling in an appropriate gear. In addition
to the charge bar on display, there's a second bar that moves out or disappears to show how much power is being
used. This is cool because it challenges one to be more physical while rewarding you when you do so.
I'm just speculating. It would be nice to charge one's bike by simply pedaling. Range anxiety is not selling as many bikes
as should be. My new bike is 10 pds. lighter than my CCS & is geared to pedal well without power. I rode the damn thing
around all afternoon without the battery. It was no more difficult than a steel mtn. bike. That capability alone serves
add X number of miles to range, however much one is fit to produce.

 

[Bruce Arnold]

What kind of bike is the new one, John?

 

[john peck]

What kind of bike is the new one, John?

An NCM moscow, Supposed to be a German bike from Hanover with a Chinese frame, Japanese
derailleurs, a German Das Kit motor & controller, It was pretty easy to paint over 'Moscow ' & rename it
'Cheyenne'. NCM names all their bikes after cities, Paris, Milano, Prague,etc. Apparently the Moscow
isn't selling well here,( well duh). I got it For $200 off list & could have had it for $400 off if I'd bought
it on Black Friday. Feels fairly effortless when riding, but like you've had a good workout afterwards.
Half the time when I check the display It says I'm really the one doing most of the work. The CCS is
still faster & more powerful. It has pretty standard Mtn. bike gearing so on the 28T chainring it is
very easy to pedal in '0' mode,( no power), of 6. Instead of being increments of power, modes are based on
increments of speed with 6 being walk mode. 1 would be like eco, 10 to 14 mph, 2 is for 12 to 16.
etc. I've had it to 24 mph. It's more about German efficiency than Detroit power. The 13 Ah battery
gets me twice as far as my 21Ah on the CCS, but there is a price to pay. It makes you work even if
it doesn't feel like it at the time.
This will be my electric touring bike. It has a few things i'm not fond of, like being very goosey
on take off or at less the 10 mph kinda like a spirited horse. Und zo, I use the throttle to start off
instead of the pedal. The battery is the same format as CCS but a bit longer. By molding an
adapter, I can use both my juiced batteries as well. The 8Ah charges in 2 hrs,making it a great little
mid-ride kicker. The Schwalbe 2,25" x 29" Smart Sams are very comfortable, wide enough for all but
loose dry sand, narrow enough to still fit in a bus rack & fast rolling for mtn. bike tires. This bike
was made to climb.

 

[Ebiker01]

Wouldn’t it be better to just extend the charge port on the bike and then run an inverter and whatever other devices are needed In order to collect that energy from pedalling or from the tire rubbing against the generator gear ?

Why a company didn’t made this already ?? The range can slowly by rising be increased greatly. The charge port would need to be either on bottom of downtube or on the top tube.