Analysis of Naturalistic Electric Bike Rider Behavior: Energy and Power Considerations

By Noelani Fishman and Breanna PiercyGraduate Assistant: Kwaku Boakye

Professors: Shashi Nambisan, Chris CherryCenter for Transportation ResearchUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville

Goals

• Determine how much energy is put into pedaling a standard e-bike

• Analyze naturalistic behavior ■Interpret data about

◙Power expenditure◙ user’s energy distribution◙Electric bicycle’s efficiency

• Encourage use of electric bikes

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Introduction• An e-bike is a hybrid between human and

electrical power that uses an electric motor to assist its rider

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❖ UT hosted an on-campus e-bike share program in 2012

❖ Currently, research continues centered around e-bikes at UT

Bicycle/E-bike Share Programs

• are self-serving bike stations in cities■ First 30 minutes free■ Return to other station■ Mainly in Europe and Asia■ Two cities:

◙ Denver◙ New York City

• E-bike share programs rare in US■ Started on UT campus in TN

◙ Ended within a year

• San Francisco plans on creating a program

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Classifications and Parts of E-Bikes

•How electric bikes operate:■Power-assisted■Power-on-demand

•Electric Bike Classification:■Pedal Assist■Throttle on Demand■Speed Pedelic■Moped or Motorcycle

•Three main components of an electric bike:■The Battery■The Motor■The Controller

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Anatomy of an E-bike

We will add a picture of an e-bike right here, and

then use graphics to explain its anatomy. We haven’t done this yet because we are going to use a picture we take ourselves.

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Advantages of E-bikes

Disadvantages of E-bikes

● Promotes exercise● On some e-bikes, can pedal to

power motor● Easier to pedal● More energy efficient for uphill and

against wind riding● Greener form of transportation● Requires greater use of ab muscles

because of weight● Smaller environmental footprint than

regular bicycles

● Heavier than normal bikes● Expensive● Increased crash rates on bike trails● Difficult to steer● Cumbersome due to weight and size● Greater speeds lead to safety

concerns● Not as much exercise as a normal

bike● Government regulations are vague

and restrict usage

Country Experiences and Legislation of E-bikes

• E-bike usage in the United States is limited due to legislation put in place by state governments

• Limits put on e-bikes include:■ Speed limit■ Must follow regular bicycle regulations■ Must have pedals■ Weight restrictions■ Motor wattage

• E-bikes have increased in popularity globally■ In 2012, 29.3 million e-bikes were sold globally

• E-bike popularity has boomed in China and the Netherlands

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The Process

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Data we don’t yet know

Equation we use to figure out power used by each rider

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Data we don’t yet know

This would be a chart to explain the differences between electricity-free riding and full electricity riding

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Data we don’t yet know

Conclusion of data and the result we got

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BibliographyBehrendt, Frauke. "Using Electrically-assisted Bikes: Lazy Cheaters or Healthy Travellers?" The Guardian. N.p.,

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported primarily by the ERC Program of the National Science Foundation and DOE under NSF Award Number EEC-1041877.

Other US government and industrial sponsors of CURENT research are also gratefully acknowledged.

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Questions and Answers

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