E Van- the future?
- Thread starter CXRAndy
- Start date
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Ah, so not yet legally compliant. Those naughty Gimp Cheesecake Nibblers should turn themselves into the dibble for driving a motor vehicle in a public place.
N0bodyOfTheGoat
Über Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
What are the courier firm shown in the vid, that have been using them most of this year and plan to put another two on the road (to a total of six?) ahead of the Xmas madness, going to do?
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
They should report to the nearest police station and hand themselves in for a good pistol whipping, then proceed on foot with the presents in a hessian sack over their shoulder.
classic33
Leg End Member
I preferred the Velove Armadillo, similar style, but came as a flatbed design which could take an industry size container.
They also had a hydrogen fuel cell version, as well as the standard battery powered version.
If a company the size of DHL trials these vehicles, the Armadillo being the third they've trialled, why are they finding them unsuitable.
They had everything in place, charging, storage and warehousing, and yet they've never seemed to get past the trial stage.
They also had a hydrogen fuel cell version, as well as the standard battery powered version.
If a company the size of DHL trials these vehicles, the Armadillo being the third they've trialled, why are they finding them unsuitable.
They had everything in place, charging, storage and warehousing, and yet they've never seemed to get past the trial stage.
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
Here's a thread about DHL trialling CityQ e-bikes
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/i-want-to-work-for-dhl.301070/
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/i-want-to-work-for-dhl.301070/
Perhaps they haven't found them unsuitable. Perhaps they want to trial multiple competing vehicles maybe? Although these trials are spread over a long time. so probably not
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Jameshow
Guru
Why would the batteries be an issue it's the motors wattage that's the issue surely??
classic33
Leg End Member
They had half a dozen Armadillo's* in one of their local depots, but I can't recall seeing them outside of the retail park.
*No longer available new.
classic33
Leg End Member
The motor wattage for the UK market, but without certified batteries, who'd use them?
Without a battery, would it still work. There's no direct link from the pedals to any of the four wheels. Making the battery certification a priority, before renting or even selling them.
classic33
Leg End Member
Well the range per battery is 30 miles, with every spare battery costing an extra £1,700. I've to take that as pending their batteries getting approval.
It's also a six hour recharge time, when the battery is discharged, not part discharged. Pedal by wire means after the 30 miles you'll be going nowhere for six hours. It's looking less attractive the more it's spec is checked.
It's also a six hour recharge time, when the battery is discharged, not part discharged. Pedal by wire means after the 30 miles you'll be going nowhere for six hours. It's looking less attractive the more it's spec is checked.
Lightning CycleQueen
Supervisor
We need Jeremy, Richard and May back! It's a shame they are getting on abit.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Indeed. Even ignoring the lack of legal compliance plate/decal its looking a bit dubious as to how legal they really are. It takes a bit more than a vague mumble of "250 watts" as the salesman casually waves his hand in the vehicles direction to make it legal.
classic33
Leg End Member
I'm assuming that the 30 mile range wasn't done fully loaded, or in any hilly terrain, and that should the battery die on you, you're stuck.
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
Both the Vok bike in the video and the CityQ bike from an earlier thread are chainless. Vok call it pedal by wire, CityQ call it software based drivetrain.
You pedal a generator and the generator powers the motor (a bit like a diesel-electric loco). There's no mechanical connection pedal to wheel. The bike's power management system keeps an eye on your output and chips in with assist as and when necessary.
How often does it decide that no assist is necessary I wonder. Not very often I suspect. How practical is it to ride it with no assist? Very hard I would guess, especially when loaded. In fact ...
To be an EAPC it must "be fitted with pedals that can propel it". So I suppose technically it's an EAPC (provided it also has max continuous rated power <=250W and cuts out at 25kph) , but I imagine it would be very slow and very tiring to actually use those pedals alone.
It seems like it's sneaking in on a technicality.
You pedal a generator and the generator powers the motor (a bit like a diesel-electric loco). There's no mechanical connection pedal to wheel. The bike's power management system keeps an eye on your output and chips in with assist as and when necessary.
How often does it decide that no assist is necessary I wonder. Not very often I suspect. How practical is it to ride it with no assist? Very hard I would guess, especially when loaded. In fact ...
To be an EAPC it must "be fitted with pedals that can propel it". So I suppose technically it's an EAPC (provided it also has max continuous rated power <=250W and cuts out at 25kph) , but I imagine it would be very slow and very tiring to actually use those pedals alone.
It seems like it's sneaking in on a technicality.
