Steamwork Cycles

Steamwork cycles: Home of The Electric Woodie

If Jules Verne designed a bike for Phineas Fogg, it might look something like this. The very latest technolohy batteries mounted between hand finished Brazilian Rosewood boards, an abundance of custom machined parts, well thought out and executed instrumentation and an overall style second to none.

I built this bike from design to the last wire tie.

I can build one for you too.

Efficiency, Equivalent Energy Cost

Lets say an average charge gives you 40 miles, that's about what I get.

It takes about 1 Kilowatt-hour to charge the pack, in Eugene, OR, that's 12 cents, as long as the rate holds.

$0.12 / 40 miles = $0.003/mile or 3.33 miles per penny.

Over the summer I had a great time putting 1500 miles on this bike.

$0.003 * 1,500 = $4.50.

To get that 1,500 miles I put 37.5 full charges on the bike. 

37.5 full charges * 12 cents per charge = $4.50.

With $4.50 as a base point price for gasoline, this bike gets 1,500 miles per gallon.

At $4.00 it's 1,333 miles per gallon.

At 6 bucks, like currently in California, it,s an even 2,000 miles per gallon.

Basic Specs

 

  • 1,000 Watt hub motor from Conhis motors
  • 15 Amp-Hour battery pack from Headway Headquarters
  • The frame on my personal bike is that of a late model Schwinn Sting Ray. I have  Super Fat  frames from US Cycles for full size people ( I'm 5'6" and weigh 140 lbs)
  • Range is 30 miles in full crank and go mode. Pedaling off stoplights and up hills will increase range considerably. 
  • Best range is 52.42 miles
  • Speed is 31 miles per hour
  • Weight is 100 pounds
  • Charge time is 3 hours
  • The battery pack takes one kilowatt-hour to charge, in Eugene, OR. that's 12 cents

 

The batteries

The batteries are the latest technology LiFePO4 cells, protected by the best battery management system available from Headway-headquarters.

At 48 volts and 15 amp-hours, this pack will propel the bike up to 52.42 miles while still able to maintain 48 volts while pulling a 3 amp load. That's my best distance.

The Headway LiFePO4 40152 cell is one of the few single cells that have a continuous discharge rate of 10C (150 Amps), and maximum pulse up to 17C (255 Amps), all with a very low resistance, high capacity, and screw terminals. Screw terminals make it much easier to connect the cells in series and/or parallel into larger packs. With the screw terminals instead of a welded or soldered tab connection, pack maintenance becomes much easier.

Recommended uses for these cells include; electric bikes, electric motorcycles, electric cars, electric boats, electric golf carts, electric lawn mowers, etc, and also stand-by storage batteries for solar power systems.

 

 

Headway 40152(15AH)
No.        Item                                                                                Specification
 1          Normal Capacity                                                                 15 Ah
 2          Normal Voltage                                                                  3.2V
 3          Internal Impedance                                                            <8m ohms
 4          Maximum Charge Current                                                    2C, (30 Amps)
 5          Maximum Charge Voltage                                                    3.6 to 3.7 Volts
 6          Maximum continuous discharge current                                10C, (150 Amps)
 7          Minimum discharge Voltage                                                 2.0 Volts
 8          Diameter                                                                           40mm, 1.603"
 9          Length                                                                              152mm,
 10        Weight                                                                              480Grams, 1.06Lbs
 11        Work Temperature                                                             15 to 115 Deg.F
 12        Store temperature                                                             15 to 100 Deg. F   
 13        Cycle life                                                                            1500 cycles at 100% capacity
                                                                                                    2000 cycles at 80% capacity                     
 

***INSTALLATION OF SCREW ENDS: Tighten to 3Nm (26 inch lbs.) and do not exceed 4Nm (35 inch lbs.)***

***DO NOT EXCEED MORE THAN 6mm OF THREAD INTO CELL***

 

Repairs & Maintenance

These bikes are the best I can build with the parts I can scrounge, buy or make.The result is a fairly low maintenance rig.Most maintenance can be performed by any qualified bicycle mechanic.

The electrical maintenance can be performed by someone familiar with electric bikes or any qualified electrician.Primary maintenance will be replacement of the brake pads and the rear tire.

 

Left: Detail shot of a .560" wide dropout I designed for my first bike. The dropout is made of stainless steel with a machine finish. There are 3 mounting bolts about 3 inches apart, one under the stoplight, another about 4 inches higher on the Schwinn dropout and the third goes through the original wheel mounting slot. The new dropout is .315 thick behind the Schwinn dropout. Note the rear edge of the .315 section just visible at the leading edge of the Schwinn dropout. In the rear of this edge the dropout is .560 thick. Plenty wide enough to twist the axle to failure without harm to the bike.

For instance if 50 horsepower were transmitted through that axle, it might not last very long and the failure point would be the axle itself. 

If the axle didn't fail, 50 horsepower applied to that bike might wheelie-slam my head on the pavement before I could let go of the grip, but the bike would be ok.

Put it this way, the dropouts will last longer than the bike.

 

There are no modifications at all to the original Schwinn frame, all components are either Clamp on or bolt to pre-existing holes.

The copper coils around the crankshaft sprocket.

When the rotating assembly was rebuilt, it was out of balance by several Inch*ounces. The copper coils are there for balance.

Notes on Electric Bicycles

Electrically assisted bicycles enjoy a number of privileges and exemptions. This bike pushes the legal parameters of "Electrically assisted bicycle" to every conceivable limit. Your bicycle will be programmed to comply with your state laws when it is delivered.

 

A breakdown of state by state laws can be found here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_bicycle_laws 

 

Laws specific to Oregon can be found here.

http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/814.405 

Status of electric assisted bicycle

An electric assisted bicycle shall be considered a bicycle, rather than a motor vehicle, for purposes of the Oregon Vehicle Code, except when otherwise specifically provided by statute. [1997 c.400 §4]

 

Please tell me you live in Florida so I can build you a no holds barred 60MPH road rocket.