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Charger bikes compared with other electric bikes.
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The Charger is superior to most e-bikes for a number of reasons. Many bikes have neither top grade components, wheels, tires, light weight cro-moly frame, nor the sophisticated electro-mechanical system to provide power for steeper hills and longer assisted rides.
Less riding range for the competition is partly the result of drive train designs that don't tie the motor to the pedal gearing. Motors on these bikes cannot possibly operate as efficiently to produce the power and speeds possible with a multi-gear transmission.
The Charger bike's 7 speed hub extends the motor's abilities significantly, producing as much torque and high-end speed as a higher power hub motor...but with less weight!
Electric bikes that are offered with expensive internal gearing normally come with 3 or 4 speeds only, and it's rare to find these hubs connected to the motor.
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A notable exception is the MERIDA bike, which uses a frame mounted 250W motor tied to a 4 speed internal gear hub (the Charger ties a larger 375W motor to a 7 speed internal gear hub.) Both bikes extend the power and efficiency of smaller motors...the Merida to be quite acceptable in terrain that's not too severe...and for riders not apt to ride as fast as the Charger.
The MERIDA uses a different type of torque sensor "ped-elec" motor controller to provide power assist. On start-up or when dropping your cadence level in any of the 4 gears, you'll feel a decent boost. When your momentum picks up, the power fades to conserve a smaller battery...though the overall weight of the bike is only a pound or two lighter than the Charger.
The gearing on the MERIDA is such that maximum assisted speeds in 4th gear are about 15 mph...unless the rear 21T cog is replaced with a 16T for ~20 mph (thereby lowering climbing ability with the higher over-all gear ratio). Unlike the Charger, the MERIDA cannot use the SPEED DRIVE to add another gear ratio. The MERIDA's motor is an integral part of the bottom bracket.
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On other bikes that allow you to accelerate rapidly with no pedal power assistance, both battery range (and battery life) are reduced.
Besides a long battery life, it's common for Charger riders to get as much as twice the assisted riding range and twice the pulling power up hills compared with other bikes...making them a favorite for riders not only wanting a great price, but a fun-functional e-bike! Since the power pack pops off in 2 seconds to charge at any convenient outlet, this allows for extending your riding range even further (or extending the life of batteries by not having to discharge them as far to get back home). The quick and easy power pack removal also makes for easy mounting on car/bus racks, and moving the bike up stairs.
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When comparing motor power with other bikes, make sure you compare SUSTAINED and PEAK peak power ratings. Compare apples with apples... Most foreign bikes provide only 200 Watts of sustained power (400 W peak), with only 10 to 15 mph top assist speeds...compared with the Charger bike's 375 Watts of sustained power (874 Watts peak), and 20 mph assisted speed. For off-road use, many have modified the governor of the Charger for faster speeds...but we advocate this for off-road use or on public roadways with higher e-assist speed limits.
Finally, since the Charger bike's motor connects to the pedal transmission, even if other bike motors are rated as powerfull, this doesn't mean they're as efficient...meaning the Charger is able to generate higher torque, higher top end speeds due to mechanical gearing. The light weight cro-moly frame is stronger and more flexible than an aluminum equivalent, so this could be another consideration for riders wanting something sturdy and long-lasting.
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--CALIFORNIA MOTOR VEHICLE PROJECTIONS FOR 2020...scary !!!
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CO2 COMMENTS...posted on www.treehugger.com :
One must wonder how a gallon of gasoline that weighs about 6.2-pounds can possibly put 19-pounds of cabon dioxide out of the exhaust pipe. Most of the carbon from a gasoline engine is in the monoxide form as well. From where does the additional mass come?
Posted by: Ken Hughes on 03/28/07 at 12:04 PM
When gasoline burns (oxidizes) it adds 2 atoms of oxygen to each carbon atom producing carbon dioxide (CO2). The thirteen pound increase from the gasoline to CO2 is accounted for by the added oxygen atoms resulting from the combustion.
Posted by: mike on 03/28/07 at 2:40 PM
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