Go Farther, Faster on Sanyo's Electric Hybrid Bicycle
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden 
on 12. 2.08
Electric bikes have never seemed appealing or beautiful enough to warrant their prices - they have always looked like what they are...a bicycle with an afterthought motor.
Japanese riders are pretty enamored of electric bikes, however, with the market estimated at nearly 300,000 electric bikes last year. Sanyo's new electric-hybrid Eneloop bike has two features going for it: the frame looks pretty good (if a bit girly), and the motor works on the front wheel to give the rider triple the pedal power compared to a non-motorized bike. And the price is right in the middle of the spectrum: 136,000 yen ($1,430 dollars) when it hits Japanese stores next February.
Regenerative braking
Eneloop is supposed to triple a rider's pedal power with a forward-wheel motor and a system Sanyo describes as a 1:2 power assist ratio - this means around 30% of the power is generated by your own legs while 70% comes from the motor. It will go up to 100 kilometers on a single (3.5 hour) charge of the bike's 25.2v, 27Ah lithium-ion batteries (in Auto mode). Eneloop has three speeds and is a third more powerful than Sanyo's last electric bicycle model, the Enacle.
On uphill stretches, an Eneloop rider can press a small switch on the left handlebar to shift the bike into Auto mode, which automatically determines when the motor should kick in, or "Power Up" mode which provides twice the force of regular pedaling. The electric assistance is increased for speeds between 0 and 15 kilometers per hour, Sanyo said, and decreased during speeds of 15 and 24 kilometers per hour. There's a "Loop Charge" function so that the battery recharges both when the wheel is spinning during a downhill coast and/or when the left brake is applied. Sanyo says this charge-as-you-go is fine for top offs but doesn't replace recharging. A small indicator light on the back of the bike shows when Loop Charge is working. Sanyo has no firm plans but says it will eventually sell the Eneloop in markets other than Japan. Via: AFP
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Look how tiny that hub motor is! Nice...
Very stylish! I definitely can see myself riding this to work.
nice, but there are wayyy cheaper alternatives to this... OK it doesn't come finished like this ofcourse, and neither does it have a recharge capability, but it does give 25kph for around 45km per charge of the battery... It's an electric motor and car battery (I think) fitted onto most cycles with a rear carrier..
Japanese bikes are all designed with frames like that. There is no male/female distinction. The way it should be really. I'd love to punch the idiot who thought up the idea that guys bikes should have a bar whose sole purpose to to crunch my nuts.
----author replies ----
you've got a point, there.
Comparing a car battery- electric motor DIY hack to this beautifully complete bike is not fair, and kinda meaningless There are cheaper electric bikes too, but not with the performance features of this motor and controller, and the battery is a LOT lighter and more expensive than 30lb lead acid repurposed car battery. I doubt you can buy that motor and chip set direct from Sanyo or through another reseller.
There are also more expensive electric bikes that do not have the same performance and features.
Also- check out the Monty electric bikes- they have a good power range and are affordable.
Hybrid? Maybe, but in the popular vernacular, this is a buzz word that means a gas/electric vehicle. A pedal/electric bicycle is an electric motor driven assist.
I'm all for the greening of the transportation industry. I don't seem to find any info on electric vans for wheelchair transport
Dan, I don't think there are such a thing outside of Europe but I'll check.
No e-bike post would be complete without a mention of China. China produced 20 million e-bikes last year, and you can pick one up here for under US $200. You should do a post on China's e-bike explosion...here's some background: http://live-from-beijing.blogspot.com/2008/11/highlights-from-baq2008-chris-cherry.html
The bars wasn't added to a girls bike to endanger the family jewels. the girls bike was a modification to the standard bike so women could ride the bikes with long dresses and, it was unlady like to hike their leg over the seat to get on the bike
----Author asks-----
thanks for the info, but you don't quite explain why there's a cross bar in the first place. do you know?
Well, there's a cross bar (top tube) to hold all the other tubes together properly and step-throughs are a compromise on that. A proper diamond frame is stiffer and lighter than a step through, both good things in a bike.
To resolve the crossbar issue, I tend to carry my road bike upstairs to my apt and find the crossbar very useful to lift and place on my shoulder, I can even carry it without using either hand, tho the front wheel does rotate a bit. I'm sure it also makes the frame stand up better if crashed hard, is more economical to produce, and better for adding accessories like multiple water bottles, etc. when road touring, or racing.
The crossbar's intention is to give the bike a high level of strength. Triangles are the perfect shape for strength. No matter what angle you come in at with force, a triangle will hold its shape.
Can you picture mountain bikes with the lower beam in a step-through design? I can. The footage is an easy candidate for Funniest Home Videos. I can seeing bending or snapping now.
Getting back to the article at hand, I think the bike is a great idea for those that want assistance with their riding. The recharging feature while braking is nice even though it's only a top up, not a full charging method.
I'd ultimately like to see some modern designs as it seems the trend for these genre of bikes is 1950's styling. And the colours they pick aren't the most provocative or inspirational. In a modern society, looks generally come first. When people buy things, the look is what encourages them to give it a chance. Then all the other important bits and details win you over.
Looks matter, you can argue against it all you want. Good looks on first impressions equals a consideration.
I have to ask the dumb question now. What purpose does a power assisted bike have? Sure it makes cycling easier, but the majority of people that choose cycling over other modes of transport do it for the value and the environment. Strapping a battery to a bike is going the wrong direction for me. That's my opinion anyway.
SteveC
The power assist is great when you are also carrying 1 or many times two children with you on the bike and need to get up and over hills, bridges, etc. I live in Tokyo Japan and I see them everywhere. Two kids and groceries with the mom peddling away will still dressed to the 9's.
The power assist is great when you are also carrying 1 or many times two children with you on the bike and need to get up and over hills, bridges, etc. I live in Tokyo Japan and I see them everywhere. Two kids and groceries with the mom peddling away will still dressed to the 9's.
I pay through the nose and out my a** to drive a car and am extremely fed up with the nonsense. Between the registration, insurance (which they hike after an accident), maintenance, gas, dmv fees, court fees for simply minding your own business etc etc etc, you need to have a job just for your car alone. I am very near buying something outright and driving it completely illegally-not paying anything but gas and maintenance.
I would relish an electric assist to my Specialized bike but not one that costs $1500. I am sure there are ways to use a proper li-ion setup without paying what amounts to a down payment on a car, maybe not.
As far as why most bikes have a straight cross member?: Lame question at best when you realize that ANY bicyclist worth the time of day, male or female, does NOT use a 'girl's' frame.
I like the lines on the bike, and I'm wonder how much more battery life you might get from the "Loop Charge" function so that the battery recharges both when the wheel is spinning during a downhill coast and/or when the left brake is applied. Sanyo says this charge-as-you-go is fine for top offs but doesn't replace recharging. ??
I like the lines on the bike, and I'm wonder how much more battery life you might get from the "Loop Charge" function so that the battery recharges both when the wheel is spinning during a downhill coast and/or when the left brake is applied. Sanyo says this charge-as-you-go is fine for top offs but doesn't replace recharging. ??