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Review/Background on Giant LeFree
Date: 12/29/99 9:08:24 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: bike-valets@sfbike.org (Kash)Electric bikes come in two flavors; motors controlled entirely by switches or throttles, most of the add on kits are in this category, and motors that operate only when the pedals are turning. The most advanced of these use a torque sensor to deliver power to the drive train at some multiple of the pressure on the pedals. The LaFree and the Charger are the second type. The LaFree uses a handlebar twist throttle to modulate power output. All of the reasonably powered electric bikes have a governor that cuts the motor at 20mph to comply with vehicle code restrictions.
It is basically a Charger with most of the Charger's flaws fixed. Unfortunately, in going for the novice market, the makers also designed in some features that make it unacceptable for a serious rider.
First, the good. The rep says they water tested it and it doesn't short out. There are exposed wires and cutoff switches in the brake levers and the motor housing vents line up with the front wheel spray line, so I'll have to see it in hard core winter use before I trust it. I doubt it handles hub deep puddles well.
It has a 400 watt motor so it should pull any reasonable trailer and it uses standard bike parts for the drive train so you could lower the gearing if you needed to tow an adult up Mount Diablo. Unfortunately, it has only seven speeds. They used standard rear cogs on the front though, so modification is relatively easy and you could carry a spare cog with you.
The other really good feature is that unlike hub and wheel mounted motors, the motor and pedal power go into the drive train before the gearing happens. This means that when you change gears, you are also putting the motor into the best gear. This is more efficient and keeps the power delivery even across the entire range.
They claim it has a 20 mile range, which is pretty standard for the batteries and motor size, but you can get up to a 15 to 1 power output, so I bet you could drain the batteries a lot quicker if you try. They also say they're getting a 6 pound lighter NiMH battery in a few months, but I'll believe it when I see it; the folks at EVGlobal claimed the same thing about the E-Bike last year.
It has a center stand which keeps the rear wheel off the ground and prevents runaways if you brush the pedal in the garage. It also makes it easier to change gears at a stoplight.
There are some drawbacks. While well tucked away, the motor housing is made of a hard plastic guaranteed to crack under hard use. The seat is really soft and puffy and the seatpost isn't standard. Same with the rack. They're custom because the battery slides up between the rack stays for removal and the seat is mounted on a bracket that flips it up and out of the way. If you install your own seat and post you'll change the geometry and make it hard to remove the battery pack. The plus is that the rack isn't just strong, it's seatpad and footpeg strong.
The major problems seem to be designed in. If there is a way to reprogram the electronics, they are all easily fixed. The first is that they set the threshold high so that you really feel it when the motor comes on line. The throttle doesn't seem to go from zero to maximum power, but from 50% to max. They admitted that they did this as a marketing ploy because Americans want to feel the motor. The other problem is that the motor stays on a full three seconds after you back off the pedals. It's pretty obvious that this was done so that once a riders have the timing down, they can just rhythmically tick the pedals and cruise along rather than really pedalling. For anyone used to controlling their speed by easing up on the pedals, it's genuinely disturbing.
Giant is a big company and they claim to be marketing a version of the LaFree in Europe and Asia where a market for mopeds already exists, so they may stick with it longer than all the other wankers who got cold feet and pulled out. If serious riders start demanding a few modifications, they've got a winner.
Comments from Ed Benjamin, a partner with Cycle Electric International Consulting Group, which tracks the electric vehicle industry from its offices in Pocatello, Idaho:
The Lafree was awarded recognition as the best electric bike tested by Extra Energy V.i.G. A solid, well-thought-out bike by one of the world's best bike builders. It incorporates a 400W continuous (about 900W peak) DC motor, 24V/12AH (gel-cell/lead acid/quick-release) battery pack, and smart 1-3A charger. The LaFree is of a ground-up design, a "pedelec" ( i.e. primary power control is through the pedals) that weighs 70 lb. It comes in standard (or slope) frame, and step-thru models. Torque/speed sensors allow the motor to match the rider's input. If the rider is willing to pedal briskly, he or she can travel fast with great range. Another mode is achieved with the LaFree's twist grip Variable Power Control, which progressively shifts the burden away from the rider and on to the motor. Efficiency, hill climbling ability, and motor protection are all enhanced with the motor actually driving the rear wheel through seven gears. The motor assists up to 20 mph (maxium legal speed). Many comfortably ride10-15 miles (including hills), and some report up to 30 miles on leasurely rides (on flat terrain) per full charge.