eZee Bike Conversion Kit Now Available

eZee Kit

In April of 2007 we had a visit from Mr. WaiWon Ching, owner of the well-reputed eZee bike company, about a possible hub geared motor kit designed for the North American market. Our first sample arrived in the summer and it has caught the eye of pretty much every walk-in customer to date. We are now pleased to say that it meets all the criteria we would want for a dependable pre-packaged conversions kit, and after a very succesful trial run we now have these in production and in stock.

Installation and User's Guide

Our Version 2.0 install guide for the new 2008 eZee hub motor system is available for download.

We still have available the original install guide for the eZee hub motor system that was written for the 2007 version of this Kit.

Highlights

Geared Drive

The 5:1 planetary gear drive in the eZee hub motor makes it possible to have a high torque output without all the bulk and weight of a direct drive machine. The eZee motor weighs just 3.8kg, compared to 6kg for a comparable 400 series crystalyte motor. Both the sun and ring gears are steel. The planets are Nylon, and easily replaceable should they ever wear out.

Freewheel

As with most geared hub motors, the hub itself can spin freely in the forwards direction without any motor drag. With no cogging torque, you can rest assured that the presence of the hub won't interfere with the rideability of the bike when you aren't using electric assistance. It spins freely just like a regular bike wheel.

Disc Brake

The hub design is narrow enough to accomodate a disc on the front wheel, something we haven't seen from any of the other motor manufacturers. Each wheel comes with a 180mm rotor.

Rim, tube, and tire

The hub motor is pre-built in a black alloy double-walled eyelet rim, with quality 13 gauge stainless spokes, and a pre-inflated tube and tire to boot. All that is required for installation is removing the original front wheel, replacing it with the eZee wheel, and connecting the wires.

Side saddle battery bag

The 37V 9.6Ah lithium ion battery comes with a custom battery bag that hooks on the side of the rear rack. Unlike most kits that come with a conventional trunk bag, this arrangement leaves the top of your rear rack available for strapping cargo. The bag also includes a pocket for the controller and a flap to access the charging port and on/off switch.

Waterproof

And from our perspective, one of the largest deal cinchers was the considerable attention that eZee has put into keeping water from damaging any part of this rig. The motor cables are completely sealed where they come out of a hollow in the center of the axle. The motor controller circuit is not only treated with a waterproof conformal coating, it is also potted and sealed with a black rubber material inside the aluminum housing. Lastly, the battery is mounting inside a rigid plastic case that itself fits inside a covered bag.

Cycle Analyst Compatibility

Our eZee motor controllers are now compatible with our direct plug-in (CA-DPS) Cycle Analyst device. There is a 6-pin connector on the controller that plugs into the supplied 3-LED battery indicator. If the Cycle Analyst upgrade is purchased for the kit, then the CA can plug in here instead to add a range of additional functionality.

Drawbacks

As with any freewheeling setup, it is not possible to use the hub for regenerative braking. As well, if you apply the throttle when going faster than the unloaded motor speed, the motor will continue to spin and draw power inside the hub while providing no useful torque to the rider (the unloaded current draw is approximately 1.6A). So on fast downhill you should be in the habit of letting go of the throttle to reduce unnecessary battery consumption.

One additional consequence of gearing is that you can hear the gears spin inside the hub. In volume it pales compared to traffic noise, but for those used to the absolute silence of a direct drive motor, it is noticeable.

FAQ

How fast does it go?

The motor Volts/RPM is designed so that it can deliver the legal limit of 32 kph or 20 MPH on the flats with included stock 37V lithium battery. That makes it road legal in both Canada and the USA as supplied. For performance at different voltages or wheel sizes, we have added a preliminary model of this geared hub motor to our online simulator: http://www.ebikes.ca/simulator

Can I get just the hub?

At the moment, the eZee setups are only being offered as complete kit package with the controller, throttle, rim, tire, and tube. We do not sell just the hub alone. It is possible however to get the kit without the lithium battery, charger, and battery bag for $750.

Can I get it with another battery?

Yes, it is possible to run the kit with just about any 36V battery pack, and we can offer a package deal with the NiCad or NiMH in our store if you would prefer less expensive or longer-range option than the included 9 Ah lithium. The new eZee kit controllers have a 20V hardware low voltage cutoff, and can be used with 24V to 48V battery. A custom low voltage cutoff can be set to any value using the Cycle Analyst if desired.

Will it work with a Crystalyte controller?

Yes, this hub motor can be powered with a Crystalyte motor controller. However, the hall sensor connectors and motor power leads would need to be replaced with mini-XLR and andersons, respectively.

Can I get more speed with it at 48V?

Indeed, for people who want assistance in the 40 kph (25mph) speed range, you would want to use this hub at 48V. We cannot sanction use at voltages beyond this, given the load and demands that that would place on the planetary gear set and the motor windings.

Is there a rear option available?

No. The eZee hubs are only in a front wheel drive. We believe that there is a strong case to make for a rear wheel option as well, and will do what we can to make those available in a future shipment.

What if I don't have disc brakes on my fork?

All of the eZee hubs have a 180mm rotor installed. If your bike doesn't have mounts for a disc caliper, then you are free to either unscrew and remove the disc, or simply leave it on but ignore it.

Does it come with disc calipers?

At the moment, no. Not all brands of calipers will fit in the space between the rotor and side cover. The caliper recommended by eZee is the shimano BR-M545, and we intend to stock this in 2008.

Warranty

The hub motor and controller are both warranted against failure for 2 years when used with a 36V battery pack. The lithium-ion battery has a 1 year warranty.

Pricing of Sample Kits

• Complete kit with 37V 9 Ah Lithium-Manganese battery: $1250
• eZee kit with 36V 8Ah NiCad battery: $1000
• eZee kit without battery: $750