Lightest E-bike?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North of the 49th Parallel (GPS grid soon)
Posts: 1,766
Bikes: MTB Peugoet Canyon (forgot the model), Nikishi? roadbike, MTB custom build,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Lightest E-bike?
It has been an interest of mine for a e-bike for a while but I'm curious what is the listest e-bike out there? I prefer to pedal 90% of the time and only use the motor for ~5-10% when I'm on a hill. So I would prefer a small battery and a light motor seeing as I may only use the motor 10% of the time. I like the appeal and use of the motor for times when I'm tired after a long ride and it's dark coming home and I've cleared 3 hills on the way home to kick the motor on if some sketchy people are about as I'm coming over the hill and tired from my riding to kick the motor on and speed off.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Thanks in advance for the help.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Fairfield, NorCal USA
Posts: 210
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm also about to make that plunge. I am aiming toward the Tonxin Mini Motor (also called the Nano Motor in England) with a 3.2 amp, 36v DeWalt LiPo battery.
The motor is 180 Watts, but has internal gearing and a freewheel that give it the torque of a 250 watt motor. Weight of the motor is 5 pounds and the battery is 2.5 pounds. Wiring and the controller should keep the total weight under 10 pounds.
I intend to use it on the front wheel of my recumbent where I can easily swap in in and out at will. As you can tell, this is not intended to be an electric motorcycle, just a boost up the small hills I encounter.
Some folks on a different forum reported problems with the company, but over the last several months that I have been watching it, the descriptions and product photos indicate that changes have been made in the motor.
Here is a link to the company (in China). If you take time to navigate, and you can learn a slightly skewed English, there is a lot of info.
https://www.tongxin.net.cn/tongxin1.jpg
https://www.tongxin.net.cn/tongxin2.jpg
The motor is 180 Watts, but has internal gearing and a freewheel that give it the torque of a 250 watt motor. Weight of the motor is 5 pounds and the battery is 2.5 pounds. Wiring and the controller should keep the total weight under 10 pounds.
I intend to use it on the front wheel of my recumbent where I can easily swap in in and out at will. As you can tell, this is not intended to be an electric motorcycle, just a boost up the small hills I encounter.
Some folks on a different forum reported problems with the company, but over the last several months that I have been watching it, the descriptions and product photos indicate that changes have been made in the motor.
Here is a link to the company (in China). If you take time to navigate, and you can learn a slightly skewed English, there is a lot of info.
https://www.tongxin.net.cn/tongxin1.jpg
https://www.tongxin.net.cn/tongxin2.jpg
Last edited by Goatbiker; 12-05-07 at 04:04 PM.
#3
Hooligan
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Base of the Rocky Mountains, Canada. Wonderous things!
Posts: 1,431
Bikes: 2010 Cannondale Hooligan 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I was going to say that the Nano was probably the lightest practical motor you could get, but Goat beat me to it. You won't do much better than that, some of these frame mounted motors come close when you look at how much the motor itself weighs, but they require you to *add* hardware, whereas the Nano is technically removing hardware since you're no longer counting your old hub.
BionX is the other light hub motor choice, although its not as light as the Nano it has more features, and mounts rear wheel instead of front. The 250w motor weighs about 7.5lbs as opposed to the 200w Nano's 5lbs.
Also, there are a bunch of frame mounted options out there that can weigh in pretty light. Some of them might say they have a 6lb motor, but they might also require you to pack on 2lbs of mounting equipment and an extra lb of drivetrain modification as well though. I'd look around though, something might be out there.
BionX is the other light hub motor choice, although its not as light as the Nano it has more features, and mounts rear wheel instead of front. The 250w motor weighs about 7.5lbs as opposed to the 200w Nano's 5lbs.
Also, there are a bunch of frame mounted options out there that can weigh in pretty light. Some of them might say they have a 6lb motor, but they might also require you to pack on 2lbs of mounting equipment and an extra lb of drivetrain modification as well though. I'd look around though, something might be out there.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 316
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
so rather than a like ebike it seems that what you are looking for is a lightweight kit to mount on the bike you have to make it go hmmmmmmmmmmmmm (the sound of a nice environmentally clean motor In your shopping I would also consider how/where the kits need to be mounted - it can make a big difference in the handling of the bicycle.
#5
ebiker
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Bikes: 2 Electric Bromptons
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Lightest E-bike kit
I know this thread is a bit old but I wanted to let you know that Freedom Ebikes have now released the world's lightest 250 watt (EU max power) e-bike kit. The entire kit (hub motor, battery, controller & throttle) adds only 3.2kg to the bike.
Add it to a 11.5kg Brompton and you have the world lightest folding electric bike.
Its based on the tonxgin (Nano) super mini motor mentioned earlier in this thread but uses the latest nano-technology lithium ion batteries and a number of other weight saving improvements.
I have been riding the proto-type almost every day for the last 18 months in a lot of hilly locations.
It eats up the hills and provides amazing acceleration to cruising speed (25kph).
Check it out at: www.freedomebikes.com
Add it to a 11.5kg Brompton and you have the world lightest folding electric bike.
Its based on the tonxgin (Nano) super mini motor mentioned earlier in this thread but uses the latest nano-technology lithium ion batteries and a number of other weight saving improvements.
I have been riding the proto-type almost every day for the last 18 months in a lot of hilly locations.
It eats up the hills and provides amazing acceleration to cruising speed (25kph).
Check it out at: www.freedomebikes.com
#7
Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That is excellent marketing. Sell someone the lightest, therefore smallest capacity and cheapest battery along with a small motor and charge a premium price because it's light. Li-ion or LiFePO4 are limited to a certain energy density. There's no magic, it's just a small battery. 91Wh so likely 24V and less than 4Ah.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 69
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That is excellent marketing. Sell someone the lightest, therefore smallest capacity and cheapest battery along with a small motor and charge a premium price because it's light. Li-ion or LiFePO4 are limited to a certain energy density. There's no magic, it's just a small battery. 91Wh so likely 24V and less than 4Ah.
#9
ebiker
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Bikes: 2 Electric Bromptons
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The Freedom E-bikes kit is a 250 Watt system using a 36V motor. This is the max allowed in the EU & UK anyway.
Its not just because of the battery that it is the lightest. The motor only weighs 2kg and the controller 100gms. In most other ebikes the hub motor alone weighs more than the whole Freedom Ebike kit!
Its also not a premium price. At £470 pounds (US$790) for the basic kit (incl hub motor in wheel, battery, throttle & controller) its substantially cheaper than most of the competition. Even if you add another 2 battery packs (£200 for two extra packs) to bring the capacity to 273 W/hr, its still slightly cheaper than the competition.
But frankly, e-bikes are about functional transport, not long distance recreational riding and who really commutes more than 30km (2 battery packs) on an ebike?
Batteries are a big part of the cost of an ebike kit and the Freedom E-bike kit gives the consumer the choice of how much battery capacity they need and want to pay for.
Its not just because of the battery that it is the lightest. The motor only weighs 2kg and the controller 100gms. In most other ebikes the hub motor alone weighs more than the whole Freedom Ebike kit!
Its also not a premium price. At £470 pounds (US$790) for the basic kit (incl hub motor in wheel, battery, throttle & controller) its substantially cheaper than most of the competition. Even if you add another 2 battery packs (£200 for two extra packs) to bring the capacity to 273 W/hr, its still slightly cheaper than the competition.
But frankly, e-bikes are about functional transport, not long distance recreational riding and who really commutes more than 30km (2 battery packs) on an ebike?
Batteries are a big part of the cost of an ebike kit and the Freedom E-bike kit gives the consumer the choice of how much battery capacity they need and want to pay for.
#10
Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In retrospect I was a little harsh before. I agree it is a good concept to add batteries as required rather than just having a 1 size fits all as is generally available. At the end of the day there's nothing wrong with making a reasonable profit if you offer a good product and good service. Best of luck to them, they have been creative and found a niche.
#11
ebiker
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Bikes: 2 Electric Bromptons
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Lightest E-Bike (Brompton SL2-X with E-Freedom Kit)?
Thanks Lynchy. I appreciate your comments.
I've subsequently heard that its possible to spread titanium Brompton forks (see this month's AtoB magazine) so were looking to fit the Freedom Ebikes kit (3.2kg) to a Brompton SL2-X (9.8kg) to create what must surely be the lightest ebike (and folding ebike) - 13kg incl battery.
I've subsequently heard that its possible to spread titanium Brompton forks (see this month's AtoB magazine) so were looking to fit the Freedom Ebikes kit (3.2kg) to a Brompton SL2-X (9.8kg) to create what must surely be the lightest ebike (and folding ebike) - 13kg incl battery.
#12
Newbie
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Lightest hi-capacity folding electric bike
That is excellent marketing. Sell someone the lightest, therefore smallest capacity and cheapest battery along with a small motor and charge a premium price because it's light. Li-ion or LiFePO4 are limited to a certain energy density. There's no magic, it's just a small battery. 91Wh so likely 24V and less than 4Ah.