“Everything else on the bike operates the same,” he said. “When you want to use the electric motor, you just turn the switch on the handlebars.”
This was the final project for the advanced placement engineering class. In addition to converting the bike, the students had to evaluate how the energy went in and out, and how long they could travel on it before they had to recharge, utilizing the various engineering and physics principles used by the bicycle.
“The bike is 50 percent efficient, unlike cars that are from 2 to 5 percent efficient,” the teacher said.
The electric bike can travel approximately 20 mph and can be ridden for about two hours before the battery is exhausted.
Mr. Connell said the only parts to fix on the bike are the motor, the battery and the transformer unit, while a car uses so many different parts now that it is almost impossible to maintain a vehicle yourself.
In an attempt to show his students and others that the bike is a viable commuting option, Mr. Connell is riding the bike back and forth to school.
If you find an image of this bike please contact us
