Special-Purpose Design of Electric Bicycles.

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ELECTRIC BICYCLES A performance evaluation BY ANNETTE MUETZE & YING C. TAN LECTRIC-MOTOR-POWERED BICY- First, this article provides a systematic, comprehensive cles have been making their way into the classification of electric bicycles that includes an overview U.S. market for about two decades. In the of the state of the art of today’s commercially available United States, such bicycles can be fully electric bicycles (e.g., [1]–[12]). The overview includes powered by a motor. In other countries such as Japan, less commonly considered topics, such as regulatory issues electric-motor-powered bicycles are required to operate in various countries, and different performance require- with 50% human pedal power for up to 12 mi/h, and an ments of electric bicycles. Using knowledge from the field even higher percentage of human power is required above of professional bicycling as a starting point, the findings that speed. Such bicycles are commonly known as “ped- are supported and theoretically expanded. The elecs” (pedal electric cycle). In this article, the term “elec- power requirements in different typi- tric bicycle” is used to describe “electric-motor-powered cal riding situations are also bicycles,” including both fully and partially motor-pow- identified. The results are ered bicycles. Electric bicycles can be used for a variety of confirmed by experi- purposes, for instance, as a vehicle for police or law mentally obtained IEEE INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS MAGAZINE • JULY|AUG 2007 • WWW.IEEE.ORG/IAS E enforcement in cities where parking and traffic are a problem, as a guide bicycle during bicycle races, as a park ranger vehicle, or for leisurely rides and commuting purposes. In the United States, electric bicycles are currently used most commonly for short trips to grocery

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