Indiegogo e-bike question

[Nicolas]

I wanted to know what anyone thought of this Indiegogo campaign for what seems like a well specced e-bike.

https://www.indiegogo.com/project/preview/75e7e3dd#/

The fellow calls his bike a 30c3 because it weighs 30 lb, does 30 MPH and has a 30-mile range, thus 30 cubed. The price is not bad for a street e-bike, $1250 with shipping.

Specs:
Motor assisted bicycle mode 20 mph max speed
Moped mode 28 mph max speed
Motorcycle mode 33 mph speed (Turbo Porsche mode)
1000 watt 3 kg motor.
52v10, 520 watt hour battery.

He seems like an interesting character. I'm not sure what he means by "60T front chain ring."

Any thoughts, pros and cons? Thanks, Nicolas

 

[Al P]

IMO, the bike is ugly and the guy has a bad attitude.

 

[J.R.]

All too often with crowd funding, the truth gets stretched way beyond reality. The campaign claims the proposed bike is EU and California (US) compliant, and it isn't.

Text copied from campaign:

The 30C3 has 4 operating modes

1. All compliant: Unpowered road bike max speed rider dependent

2. EU compliant: Motor assisted bicycle mode 20 mph max speed

3. California compliant: Moped mode 28 mph max speed

4. Non compliant: Motorcycle mode 33 mph speed (Turbo Porsche mode)

Design elements.

The design includes many minor items to make easy transportation.

1. Light weight still a road bike.

2. 60T front chain ring.

3. 1000 watt 3 kg motor.

4. 52v10 520 watt hour battery.
_____

The EU has a 250 watt limit on power and 15.5 mph max assisted speed. California allows 750 watts and max throttle speed of 20 mph and PAS to 28 mph. Adding a UI control to turn the speed or power on, off or down doesn't legalize the bike for any public right of way. As far as I'm aware (good or bad), the only place this bike is legal is private property, off road.

 

[Nicolas]

IMO, the bike is ugly and the guy has a bad attitude.

Yes, he seems to have a bit of an attitude. The bike is no beauty prize, but the specs are not bad at all.

 

[Nicolas]

All too often with crowd funding, the truth gets stretched way beyond reality. The campaign claims the proposed bike is EU and California (US) compliant, and it isn't.

Text copied from campaign:

The 30C3 has 4 operating modes

1. All compliant: Unpowered road bike max speed rider dependent

2. EU compliant: Motor assisted bicycle mode 20 mph max speed

3. California compliant: Moped mode 28 mph max speed

4. Non compliant: Motorcycle mode 33 mph speed (Turbo Porsche mode)

Design elements.

The design includes many minor items to make easy transportation.

1. Light weight still a road bike.

2. 60T front chain ring.

3. 1000 watt 3 kg motor.

4. 52v10 520 watt hour battery.
_____

The EU has a 250 watt limit on power and 15.5 mph max assisted speed. California allows 750 watts and max throttle speed of 20 mph and PAS to 28 mph. Adding a UI control to turn the speed or power on, off or down doesn't legalize the bike for any public right of way. As far as I'm aware (good or bad), the only place this bike is legal is private property, off road.

Thanks JR, I was wondering where he was quoting this stuff and it didn't fit with my limited understanding of the e-bike legalities.

 

[J.R.]

Thanks JR, I was wondering where he was quoting this stuff and it didn't fit with my limited understanding of the e-bike legalities. I've been putting off a call I'm supposed to make to him. We'll see.

He's a member here (not active) and posted about his 30/30/30 ideas, probably 2 years ago. Smart and talented guy, just not accurate about the legalities.

 

[Nicolas]

He's a member here (not active) and posted about his 30/30/30 ideas, probably 2 years ago. Smart and talented guy, just not accurate about the legalities.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[Joe Remi]

It's a weirdly negative campaign with no clear picture of what looks like a kitted road bike, but otherwise seems great!

 

[Deleted member 803]

Specs are meaning less without sufficient engineering. This looks like a kit project where they are attempting to marry a standard road bike with a large motor. This is a recipe for disaster. I'd stay as far away from this as possible and pay the monies for a ground up engineered eBike. Plus, eBikes require factory support for warranty issues and most startups are woefully short on post sale support.

 

[Nicolas]

Exactly Joe. I'm not sure why he so negative but maybe a little help and a more positive approach could get that campaign on a better trail.

 

[Nicolas]

Specs are meaning less without sufficient engineering. This looks like a kit project where they are attempting to marry a standard road bike with a large motor. This is a recipe for disaster. I'd stay as far away from this as possible and pay the monies for a ground up engineered eBike. Plus, eBikes require factory support for warranty issues and most startups are woefully short on post sale support.

That's also a good point. I think in this case, he's appealing to budget-oriented folks. There is no mention of warranty.

 

[Deleted member 803]

90 days parts and labor according to the info on the site. I am not opposed to crowd funding projects. In fact Faraday started that way and produce some of the most wonderful eBikes on the market.

 

[Nicolas]

90 days parts and labor according to the info on the site. I am not opposed to crowd funding projects. In fact Faraday started that way and produce some of the most wonderful eBikes on the market.

Oops, I missed that. I like crowdfunding projects. There are jewels to be picked for close to nothing if you look well.