How to build your own electric bicycle

Since each brand of kit/motor is mounted somewhat differently, and bicycles are also built differently, there really is no one size fits all guide to converting them. Just follow the directions included with the kit you buy, and ask here if you have any questions not answered in the instructions.

Some things that apply to all kits that include hub motors:

a) Hub motors should never be mounted on aluminum front forks. Aluminum forks aren't strong enough.
b) Hub motors usually don't work out well, when mounted to front forks that have shocks built into them.
c) Front wheel hub motors are many times easier to mount, than are rear wheel motors.
d) Always mount your batteries as low as possible. The preferred place to mount batteries is inside of the 'triangle', usually hanging from the horizontal bar that the seat post's vertical bar attaches to. Lower is always better.

Where to buy a pre-built electric bike:

There are so many brands of electric bicycle and electric bicycle kit(s) available that it isn't really possible to recommend one, since they all have different strengths and weaknesses. You'll first need to answer a few questions honestly: what is my primary goal for this bike, speed or distance? How much can I afford to spend? How much of the labor am I willing to do, or am I able to do? Do I have the space, tools, time, to do most of the labor myself? Once you've answered these questions, which direction you should go will become much, much clearer.

How to convert a trike into a solar trike:

Build your own solar powered trike

General electric bicycle info, including laws:

US federal electric bicycle law
The same law, easier to read, with a good suggestion about laminating.
Clarification of the US federal bicycle law- along with all 50 state laws below
Gas savings calculator
Lots of battery info @ batteryuniversity.com


Like the other stickies, this FAQ will have relevant links added to it on an ongoing basis. If you feel that you've found a link that deserves to be added, post it here.

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On this site, 99.999% of all underlined words are links.

A watt saved is better than a watt generated, since it always costs less than 10% as much, and can cost as little as 1%.

V=volt, A=ampere, Ah=ampere hour, Wh= watt hour, VOC=open circuit voltage, ISC=short circuit current, VMPP=voltage @ max power, IMPP=current @ max power, BTW=by the way, your=belongs to you, you're=you are, too=in addition to, two=1+1, to=towards

Reserved for future use.

__________________
On this site, 99.999% of all underlined words are links.

A watt saved is better than a watt generated, since it always costs less than 10% as much, and can cost as little as 1%.

V=volt, A=ampere, Ah=ampere hour, Wh= watt hour, VOC=open circuit voltage, ISC=short circuit current, VMPP=voltage @ max power, IMPP=current @ max power, BTW=by the way, your=belongs to you, you're=you are, too=in addition to, two=1+1, to=towards