E-Bike Conversion Kit FAQs
Q. What is an ebike conversion kit?
A. An electric bicycle (ebike) conversion kit allows you to convert a conventional bike into an ebike that uses an electric motor to assist the rider.
Q. Can I install the ebike conversion kit myself?
A. If you are mechanically inclined and have some basic knowledge of bicycles you should be able to install this kit on your bicycle. If not, it is advisable for you to have an authorized dealer install the kit for you.
Q. What are the running costs for a Rayben electric bike?
A. The average cost per full charge is about 10 cents per charge. If you charged the battery 200 days a year, it would cost you about $20.00 per year.
Q. How far will a Rayben electric bicycle (ebike) take me?
A. This all depends on a few factors. Cycling on pedal assist along a straight road under normal conditions the battery should last about 30-50 km. Cycling up steep hills will obviously take more energy out of the battery and factors such as road surface, wind resistance, weight of the rider and tire pressure will affect your range.
Q. Can I ride an electric bicycle in the rain?
A. Rayben electric bicycles (ebikes) can be ridden in the rain, however, under no circumstances should the bike or power supply be subjected to immersion in standing water.
Q. Can I ride up hills and against headwinds on my Rayben electric bike?
A. Yes. One of the main advantages of cycling on a Rayben electric bicycle is that it literally flattens hills and increases your average speed going up hills. Weve tested our kit on Cypress Mountain, Vancouver. See our video on this website.
Q. Do I need a driving license, insurance or registration?
A. No, you dont. The electric bicycle is treated the same as a regular bicycle. Depending on laws in your area you may be required the wear a helmet.
Q. Do I need to pedal an electric bike?
A. No but it helps to prolong battery life. The motor on our bikes is throttle controlled, allowing you to decide how much power you desire.
Q. What happens when I use the brakes under powered assistance?
A. Our bikes can be equipped (optional equipment) with brake levers that have an inbuilt safety switch that automatically cuts off the motor power under normal braking conditions. This not only ensures a safe stopping feature, but also protects the motor under braking conditions so that it isnt working against the brakes
Q. Electric bicycles (ebikes) are a bit expensive arent they?
A. Its true that electric bikes have a higher initial cost but this expense is clearly offset by the savings from not using your automobile. If you forego using your automobile (even for a few months) you will likely save on money on gas, insurance, car repairs and parking. The other benefits of an Electric bicycle will be the environmental benefit of no carbon emission and the inherent health benefit of using a bicycle on a regular basis. That is Priceless!
Q. Are the bikes light enough to be lifted without help?
A. In the past, electric bikes were very heavy due to their steel frames and lead acid batteries. Rayben electric bikes are made with aluminum frames and lithium ion batteries. This reduces the weight considerably to approximately 50 lbs (23 kgs).
Q. What is the service life of the Lithium battery?
A. Unlike the hazardous nature of the earlier chemistry lithium battery types, lithium iron phosphate batteries are extremely stable and safe to use. This safety combined with their light weight has found wide use for these batteries for military applications and now for the emerging electric vehicle market. They are in fact even safer than lead acid batteries and do not suffer from some of the problems which are inherent to lead acid batteries such as, thermal runaway, sulphation when left in a discharged condition and high rates of self discharged if not used. A great advantage of LiFePO4 batteries is their extremely long life. For a standby power application such as battery could be expected to have a life of up to 20 years. Lead acid batteries generally have a life of only a few hundred deep charge cycles while a quality LiFePO4 battery can typically be charged in excess of 2000 times and there are LiFePO4 cells which are currently under test at the US Department of Energy Laboratories in New Mexico which have recently passed 7000 cycles and are still working.
Q. How do I know when the battery is low?
A. All the batteries have independent indicators on them so you always know how much power is in each one. The bicycles also have easily visible light indicators located on the handle bars that show the amount of power left. You will be able to monitor the battery power at all times.
Q. Do I have to wait for the battery to empty before I charge it?
A. No. The batteries we use are Lithiumion batteries which do not suffer from memory effect. This means that there is no need to discharge a battery completely before you recharge it again. You can partially recharge the battery at any time without reducing its voltage or lifespan.
Q. How long will it take to charge the power supply?
A. Depends. Our Electric bicycles (ebikes) are equipped with a smart charger which monitors the charge of the battery and automatically turns off when it is fully charged. There is no concern for overcharging.
Q. Do electric bikes recharge (regenerative power) when freewheeling or coasting downhill?
A. No. The bikes do generate current when freewheeling, but generally speaking the amount of power produced is little more than a trickle and you would have to coast or freewheel for long distances to have any noticeable effect.
Q. Why does Rayben use Brushless Motors on all of its bikes?
A. Rayben uses the best and most technically advanced components in all their bikes. Electric bicycles (ebikes) with brushless motors are generally smaller and lighter with superior performance, and lower maintenance.
If you have any other questions, send it to sales_raybenmotors.com
