The Copenhagen wheel

[User]

 

[jhawk]

I do believe it has. And no, yes, but far too pricey.

 

[slowmotion]

Will it work? I don't know. Will some people who need a computer in their hand all day buy it? Almost certainly.

 

[raindog]

Wonderful technology. If that gets more people out on bikes, I'm all for it.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

After watching 'Weeds' and Andy Botwin's efforts to import/sell the thing, I never realised this was a real product.

 

[Ganymede]

It's been entered for the James Dyson award so I think it might well be real:

http://www.jamesdysonaward.org/Projects/Project.aspx?ID=1119

 

[PpPete]

Your friend is probably better off buying a regular e-bike.
The way this stores energy seems not dissimilar to that employed by hybrid cars.
How much more mpg does one get out of a hybrid car? 10% ? 20% ? 30% ? I don't know exactly - but AFAIK in real life they certainly don't go twice as far on a gallon of 4* as a regular petrol or diesel car.
Now translate this use of petrol to the energy you put in from pedalling.

 

[James10]

lazy

 

[PpPete]

Thanks Pete. Unfortunately he already has an electric bike but is finding it isn't as useful as the sales person made it sound (surprise surprise). there is no 'clutch' facility so he has to pedal with great difficulty to get the motor to kick in. .

This is, I suspect, a product of the legislation rather than the technology. Electric "assist" to pedalling means that it isn't subject to the same rules as a moped.
The stuff on the super predestrian website also implies that this is the case with the Copenhagen wheel.

 

[PpPete]

lazy

Which bit of this post did you not read?

I'm asking because a friend who has a disability is getting all excited about this and it's not clear to me whether it's even really feasible.

 

[cosmicbike]

I think it's great idea. The whole thing, self contained in a wheel. I would reckon on it making cycling more accessible for those who feel they do not have the health to get started, or even for those on recovery.
Once you've built a bit of fitness you simply swap out for a standard wheel, simples

 

[Amanda P]

I can't help feeling that building it all into a wheel, batteries and all, is going to make it rather heavy, and that the rotating weight seems likely to offset any efficiency gain from being able to store any energy. A bike is within a whisker of 100% efficient anyway in the hands of a competent rider.

Also, there's no reaction arm, so the propulsion torque must be resisted only by friction in the wheel nuts or by a flat-sided axle. That's not going to be man enough for any sort of noticeable assistance, or not for long.

 

[Pale Rider]

Thanks Pete. Unfortunately he already has an electric bike but is finding it isn't as useful as the sales person made it sound (surprise surprise). I can't remember the make of it, but it's very heavy and (his main gripe) when you set off going uphill there is no 'clutch' facility so he has to pedal with great difficulty to get the motor to kick in. His needs are a little unusual in that he's very short - his normal bike is a child's one - so the e-bike has small wheels. I think he could have done much better with the amount of money he paid.

It is possible to get an ebike with a twist throttle and the 'automatic' pedal assist.

Thus for pulling away, you give it a handful of throttle which will stand the bike up nicely on all but the steepest of hills.

Throttle bikes are rarer because they are all but illegal in the main ebike markets of Holland and Germany.

As regards the Copenhagen wheel, they have never really caught on.

It's difficult to pack in enough batteries and a big enough motor to give decent power and range.

Also, I'm told by someone who ought to know, batteries don't really like the inside wheel environment, so they are better mounted on the frame or on a carrier.

 

[cyberknight]

Yes its been mentioned
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/copenhagen-wheel.145608/#post-2822974