StuartO Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 My OH is incapable of riding a two-wheeled bike so she would need an electrically assisted trike. I wonder if anyone has experience of using one? Recommendations for makes and models? And as a secondary question, is there a solution to charging the batteries of electric bikes when you’re not on Mains power, i.e. a step-up transformer or equivalent digital device to allow you to charge from your MH’s 12v system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Re charges from your 12 volts, available here www.powatechnic.com Brian B. ps They do chargers for 24 volt or 36 volt batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 For charging the battery, that depends on the make, if it's Bosch then an inverter is needed, we use a cheepo Aldi 300w. For other batteries you may get a 12v charger as per above link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bounty hunter Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Stuart Martin Bushnell, who took over A&N Caravan repairs from Allan, can supply 12 volt chargers for electric bikes. You have to let him know details from your 240 volt charger and I think the cost is £80-90 Email address is mail@martinbushnell.co.uk John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barryd999 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Long thread on FACTS about it. Sandra bought one but as far as I am aware she never got away with it (least not yet) https://forums.motorhomefacts.com/20-motorhome-chitchat/232842-three-wheeler-electric-bikes.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnval Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I have used an inverter to charge two e bike batteries for the past six years. They have carried us for over four thousand miles. I charge them while driving so as not to discharge leisure batteries too much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Hello out there. See my post below Stuarts about chargers from Powa Technic at Sheffield. I have a 36 volt one, works fine. Brian B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 thebishbus - 2020-04-28 2:10 PM Hello out there. See my post below Stuarts about chargers from Powa Technic at Sheffield. I have a 36 volt one, works fine. Brian B I've looked at their website but they only seem to do mains chargers; what I asked about was a charger which would input 12v power and output at the higher voltage required by the bike battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Stuart,when on their website, go onto battery chargers ,at the bottom of their list click onto 12 volt car cigarette lighter socket. Brian B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyExsis Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Hello Stuart. My daughter -in - law has had a Di Blasi R 34 electric trike for two years - they are folding ones . Prior to that she had a non powered version for two years. They live abroad and when they return in the summer it is great for family cycling on cycle tracks, we have some good options near where we live that involves little road work. She has not been able to ride a bike since her teenage years because due to a leg condition in one leg is unable to bend it properly or move it to the ground for support. It was a groundbreaking moment when my son came up with the trike solution. We have been on two holidays with them in the motorhome - we have folding conventional bikes with 20" wheels. On longer trips in the New Forest she was unable to keep going on the manual version , but my son used to tow her. Comical to hear her say whilst being towed " Oh I do love cycling". The other benefit is that she was able to fold the bike up and put it on the bus and in a taxi on one occasion.....no need to now as she can just keep going with the electric one and my wife and I being in our 70's just can't keep up on any incline - my wife says its a push bike and just pushes. It folds away almost as easily as a Brompton and much easier than our Dahons and surprisingly is hardly any bulkier although a little heavier, noticeably the electric one - but the battery easily disengages. There is a slight handling characteristic, but my D-I-L doesn't really notice because she doesn't have anything to compare. Camping as a family we choose a campsite with EHU and facilities, but the battery has easily coped with a 20 mile ride - but we avoid hilly terrain. Hope this gives you an insight Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 thebishbus - 2020-04-28 6:18 PMStuart,when on their website, go onto battery chargers ,at the bottom of their list click onto 12 volt car cigarette lighter socket. Brian B. Got it; they do 24v and 36v versions. Very helpful, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJB Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 Not yet purchased but this AS Trike seems to get the best reviews:- Width of 400mm when folded. I have installed a 600w PSW inverter for charging our bikes and it also gives the option of other 240v uses for the price of a different charger! https://www.asbikes.co.uk/electrotrike---now-in-stock-52-p.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 I came across a You Tube review of a Raleigh Tristar iE Electric Trike, which has a crank motor and looks extremely well designed and specified - but its an American review and I can't find any evidence of this model being sold in UK. UK models seems to be modified non-electric trikes which simply have a front wheel hub motor - and I remember reading on hear post from an experienced electric biker that hub motors were distinctly inferior. Is that the case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocsid Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 With our 12 V DC recharging of E-bikes what is unavoidable is the relatively large amounts of energy that is required, in comparison with what LA batteries can store. ie they can take a big bite out of what we carry. If the E-bike has say a 500Watt-h battery, then even with the most perfectly efficient set up that will to fully recharge, drain 42 Ah from our battery(ies), in reality with real world inefficiencies quite a lot more. Now that is all there is sensibly available from a fully charged 110 Ah LA battery. The issues can be mitigated by more modest amounts of topping up of the bikes battery, so giving time for the likes of solar to replenish the LA battery, or as suggested limit recharging to whilst driving, where the vehicle's alternator can supply the power to give the energy required. My own conclusion after wishing to recharge my wife's E-bike off an EHU, is that it was not going to be viable for us. My solution is cycle with her charger in a pannier and if needed, top whilst having a coffee or meal out where one could gain access to a mains feed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 I think you might be right and carrying your mains charger while you’re out with bike if necessary sounds like a good plan, even as a routine contingency. It’s not as if you will need to charge them every time you park up your MH either unless you want to be on your bike all the time, which we’re unlikely to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 StuartO - 2020-04-29 9:52 AM UK models seems to be modified non-electric trikes which simply have a front wheel hub motor - and I remember reading on hear post from an experienced electric biker that hub motors were distinctly inferior. Is that the case? The main advantage of a crank drive is the power goes through the gears, I have thousands of miles experience of hub drives, and for most of the time they do the business, but unless they are a high torque motor(p.s. or small wheeled) they can struggle on steep hills, I now have hundreds of miles experience of crank drive and for me with a dodgy hip it's a much better option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted April 30, 2020 Author Share Posted April 30, 2020 Very helpful, thak you. I have two artificial hips and carry far too much unsheddable weight so I think that if I'm going to get one of these things I'll have to go for a proper one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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