6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
I've been working on an interesting experiment this season comparing PAS assist with a throttle cruise control device. I discovered using cruise control improves my battery range by an average of just over 14% under controlled conditions.
I made a series of 10 rides in the +/-40 mile range on a smooth, level, packed gravel surface. I used the same 48v 15ah battery, charged to 100%, with the bike weighted exactly the same. The tire pressure was set at 45 psi before each ride. All rides were done in the morning with the temperature between 65 and 75 degrees. I compensated for wind by riding in two directions.
5 of the rides were done using PAS 2 while maintaining 12 mph (the motor cutout speed). On the other 5 rides, I used the cruise control & throttle with the speed set to 12 mph. For all 10 rides, I used a consistent, moderate but comfortable cadence and amount of pedal pressure.
I used an ammeter & volt meter which reads to a hundredth of a volt. I rode until the battery depleted to exactly 20% of capacity and noted the mileage for each ride. The PAS rides averaged 42 miles and the throttle rides 48 miles for a net gain of 6 miles.
I realize it is difficult to judge the amount of muscle energy contributed to each ride but I made a conscious effort to maintain constant pedal pressure & cadence with the same number of no pedal rest periods. I believe the difference is due to improved efficiency by maintaining a constant speed as is the case with automotive cruise control.
On the PAS rides, I noted the motor current would surge occasionally when the motor worked harder to get back to the 12 mph PAS 2 cutout speed. This would occur after a brief rest period with no pedaling or variations in pedal pressure. The throttle, on the other hand, would maintain constant motor current during these brief variations with no surging.
Obviously, these results will vary with different bikes, riders, terrain and style of riding. In my case, a 6 mile per battery increase isn't all that significant but I thought it worth noting.
I made a series of 10 rides in the +/-40 mile range on a smooth, level, packed gravel surface. I used the same 48v 15ah battery, charged to 100%, with the bike weighted exactly the same. The tire pressure was set at 45 psi before each ride. All rides were done in the morning with the temperature between 65 and 75 degrees. I compensated for wind by riding in two directions.
5 of the rides were done using PAS 2 while maintaining 12 mph (the motor cutout speed). On the other 5 rides, I used the cruise control & throttle with the speed set to 12 mph. For all 10 rides, I used a consistent, moderate but comfortable cadence and amount of pedal pressure.
I used an ammeter & volt meter which reads to a hundredth of a volt. I rode until the battery depleted to exactly 20% of capacity and noted the mileage for each ride. The PAS rides averaged 42 miles and the throttle rides 48 miles for a net gain of 6 miles.
I realize it is difficult to judge the amount of muscle energy contributed to each ride but I made a conscious effort to maintain constant pedal pressure & cadence with the same number of no pedal rest periods. I believe the difference is due to improved efficiency by maintaining a constant speed as is the case with automotive cruise control.
On the PAS rides, I noted the motor current would surge occasionally when the motor worked harder to get back to the 12 mph PAS 2 cutout speed. This would occur after a brief rest period with no pedaling or variations in pedal pressure. The throttle, on the other hand, would maintain constant motor current during these brief variations with no surging.
Obviously, these results will vary with different bikes, riders, terrain and style of riding. In my case, a 6 mile per battery increase isn't all that significant but I thought it worth noting.
