And then two months later... the Electric EZ-3!!!
This was just supposed to be a little boost to Penny's delta trike, her EZ-3. Well, a little boost is the understatement of THIS month. This piece of wizardry comes from Electroportal in California, via their manager Sam Wonderly.(see details at http://www.electric-bikes.com/betterbikes/e-4.html).

Maybe this series of pictures explains it best..

This is the battery pack, packing two gel-sealed lead acid 12V batteries, and lashed to the seat supports by a clever 5 point system of Velcro straps. The bag/case contains a lockout keyed switch and a connector to attach to the battery trickle charger that also comes with the kit.




The 24V electric motor, complete with one drive gear and one ratched gear gets interposed about where the long-chain idler used to be. The long chain is split into a front chain going forward to the crankset, and a back chain going back to the rear cassette. It took me longer to figure out how to break and then rejoin a bike chain than it did to lash all of the other bits to the lower frame member of the EZ-3.

The motor is operated from a "thumb lever" that you goes on the right handle bar above the brake and the shifter. It has lights that indicate the level of charge the exists on the battery pack. In theory, the system should be able to propoel a 175 pound rider about 15 miles (25 or so kilometers) at a speed of about 20 miles per hour (about 30 kph), and that's if you don't pedal at all. With pedalling the range is obviously greater.

The whole rig is easy to install, pretty inconspicous on the bike, easy to recharge.... and goes like a bat out of you know what! I love seeing the look on people's faces the first time they hit the thumb lever... pure amazement every time.

This will make longer trips possible for Penny and me. She can now negotiate sharp hills with ease, railway crossings and major street crossing or anywhere else where time is of the essence are no concern. And we don't really have to worry about fatigue wrecking the end of a longer trip.

The other day we got caught about 4-5 kilometers from home and a windstorm came up... a real blast with about 50-60 kilometer winds and blinding dust to boot. I was having trouble fighting the cross-wind and staying on the highway. Penny was able to kick in the motor and was actully making better headway into the wind than I could. Had a tough time calling to her to ease up and let the old man catch up.

Just too much fun...