Wow, a lot going on here. My ideas-
Interesting how Promovec is approaching the market. A very European, authority-driven approach. Looking at their motors and solutions throughout their web site, its filled with low power 250w/36v systems. Their cargo motor with "immense power" (their words) is a 54Nm geared hub. Between that and the fact they try to control what bikes their products are installed into, I wouldn't think they have much of a future with direct retail. Maybe into shops on a wholesale level, for the few shops who would choose to go that route with a 36v low power product.
Having built powerful geared hubs and a nearly identical follow-on bike instead outfitted with a mid drive, the superiority of a mid in hills was obvious. Just like a human, the motor performs more readily, more comfortably and more efficiently when there are gears to change available. My hub motor was capable of doing it. But I could hear it laboring and felt it lugging as it slowed its ascent up a given hill.
I pedaled past three riders in rented Rad Wagons this morning on Sunset just past Asilomar and 17 Mile Drive, who had to pull over and reassess their plans to go up the hill. Not sure what they were doing on rented cargo bikes coming up from the beach. I was taking the long way from making a bank deposit on mine and was only midway up my rear cluster in back. Probably a 12 mph ascent. Last week some poor girl up ahead of me on a Rad Runner had to abandon her trip up Prescott.
Everything has its place. Nothing is suited for everywhere.
On the bold, I agree. I've been down this road with conversions and production bikes too. A 1000w geared hub motor is pretty capable, but that much power in a mid drive is even more capable.
Too, when it comes to climbing power, people loose track of the idea so much of this ability is not just about motor power/wattage, it's about weight!!! My wife can go anywhere I can with her 500w geared hub bikes. I'm 300lbs+ and the bikes I would use in the hills are 2-3 times that much power! Weight makes a huge difference, and if the bike is going to be effective when climbing, it needs to be in play. No if's to it. Point being, if you're 125-135lbs, geared hubs will work pretty decent in the hills, as long as they are allowed an occasional cool down period....
Clearly not all are going to be cut out to do a good job on a conversion. There's the mechanical/electrical abilities required, and on top of that, the amount and type of power needs to be researched and understood. There's a LOT of room for error here. These factors in mind, the bikes all bunched up in the 1500. to 2000 range, might start looking good for a lot of people. There's a bunch of bike manf's grouped up here, and there's some pretty good value. Some, RAD for instance, might be judged as a very good value. Don't forget to consider warranty, support and resale value.....
All that in mind, there are still going to be people looking for very special bikes. Those guys need to be lurking through this conversion stuff to see if they can find something of interest....
Speaking for myself, any more I don't care for the looks of a strap on battery. I prefer the much cleaner look of a built in. Disk brakes are a must here too.
And last, there's not going to be a best or right answer here the way I see it. It's going to be all about YOU. -Al
www.bicycleretailer.com
. Seriously though, I put this together specifically to help people who haven't done it before wrap their heads around an actual bike/ebike build and everything it takes to make one happen. I know my first one was overwhelming as I discovered one thing after another I hadn't figured on.
