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Pedelec
A Pedelec (from pedal electric cycle) or EPAC (electronically power assisted cycle), is a type of low-powered electric bicycle where the rider's pedalling is assisted by a small electric motor. However, unlike some other types of e-bikes, pedelecs are classified by road authorities in many countries as conventional bicycles rather than as a type of electric moped. Pedelecs have an electronic controller that cuts power to the motor when the rider is not pedalling or when a certain speed – usually 25 km/h (16 mph) or 32 km/h (20 mph) – is reached. Pedelecs are useful for people who ride in hilly areas or in strong headwinds. While a pedelec can be any type of bicycle, a pedelec city bike is common. A conventional bicycle can be converted to a pedelec with the addition of the necessary parts -- motor, battery, etc.
Many jurisdictions classify pedelecs as bicycles as opposed to mopeds or motorcycles. More powerful e-bikes, such as the S-Pedelecs and power-on-demand e-bikes (those whose motors can provide assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedalling) are often classified as mopeds or even motorcycles with the rider thus subject to the regulations of such motor vehicles, e.g., having a license and a vehicle registration, wearing a helmet, etc.
A patent (US 3,884,317) for the principle of the pedelec was awarded to Augustus Kinzel in 1975, and suitable legislation for these appeared in 1983 in the UK. Yamaha invented its PAS Power Assist System in 1989 but did not sell any until 1994, its model AX1.
In 1989, Michael Kutter, founder of the Swiss company Velocity and later Dolphin E-bikes, designed and produced his first pedelec prototype. The first market-ready models from Velocity were available in 1992, later under the name Dolphin.
In 1995 the Swiss company BKTech sold its first model under the name Flyer. After some years, the name Flyer became a synonym for e-bikes in Switzerland due to heavy promotion initially in senior-citizen and tourist rental markets.
In 1997, Alan Abbott co-founded a company to sell the first pedelec in the US, under the name Charger. He had already co-developed the pedelec principle in 1988, but then used a gasoline engine, as his motivation wasn't mainly environmental, but to promote exercise.
Up to 2018, the Canadian company BioniX produced an easy-to-install pedelec kit with a gearless hub motor complete with rear wheel, that also became popular in Europe.
As of 2012[update] there were about 600,000 pedelecs on the road in Germany. Growth has been spectacular: the year before, 310,000–340,000 pedelecs were sold in Germany and this in turn was 55% more than in 2010. In fact, in Germany sales have gone up by more than 30% every year since 2008.[timeframe?] In comparison, there were around 70 million conventional bicycles in Germany in 2011 according to ZIV, the German Bicycle Industry Association.
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Pedelec AI simulator
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Pedelec
A Pedelec (from pedal electric cycle) or EPAC (electronically power assisted cycle), is a type of low-powered electric bicycle where the rider's pedalling is assisted by a small electric motor. However, unlike some other types of e-bikes, pedelecs are classified by road authorities in many countries as conventional bicycles rather than as a type of electric moped. Pedelecs have an electronic controller that cuts power to the motor when the rider is not pedalling or when a certain speed – usually 25 km/h (16 mph) or 32 km/h (20 mph) – is reached. Pedelecs are useful for people who ride in hilly areas or in strong headwinds. While a pedelec can be any type of bicycle, a pedelec city bike is common. A conventional bicycle can be converted to a pedelec with the addition of the necessary parts -- motor, battery, etc.
Many jurisdictions classify pedelecs as bicycles as opposed to mopeds or motorcycles. More powerful e-bikes, such as the S-Pedelecs and power-on-demand e-bikes (those whose motors can provide assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedalling) are often classified as mopeds or even motorcycles with the rider thus subject to the regulations of such motor vehicles, e.g., having a license and a vehicle registration, wearing a helmet, etc.
A patent (US 3,884,317) for the principle of the pedelec was awarded to Augustus Kinzel in 1975, and suitable legislation for these appeared in 1983 in the UK. Yamaha invented its PAS Power Assist System in 1989 but did not sell any until 1994, its model AX1.
In 1989, Michael Kutter, founder of the Swiss company Velocity and later Dolphin E-bikes, designed and produced his first pedelec prototype. The first market-ready models from Velocity were available in 1992, later under the name Dolphin.
In 1995 the Swiss company BKTech sold its first model under the name Flyer. After some years, the name Flyer became a synonym for e-bikes in Switzerland due to heavy promotion initially in senior-citizen and tourist rental markets.
In 1997, Alan Abbott co-founded a company to sell the first pedelec in the US, under the name Charger. He had already co-developed the pedelec principle in 1988, but then used a gasoline engine, as his motivation wasn't mainly environmental, but to promote exercise.
Up to 2018, the Canadian company BioniX produced an easy-to-install pedelec kit with a gearless hub motor complete with rear wheel, that also became popular in Europe.
As of 2012[update] there were about 600,000 pedelecs on the road in Germany. Growth has been spectacular: the year before, 310,000–340,000 pedelecs were sold in Germany and this in turn was 55% more than in 2010. In fact, in Germany sales have gone up by more than 30% every year since 2008.[timeframe?] In comparison, there were around 70 million conventional bicycles in Germany in 2011 according to ZIV, the German Bicycle Industry Association.