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Electric Bicycle Terms

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If you will ever come across a term which you don’t recognize, you will probably find it in this page. The terms are organized in an alphabetical order.

The aim of this page is not to give a full and detailed explanation on every term but instead giving just a short and to the point description. If you want to find out more, each term (will) have a link to relevant pages in this website (or other websites) that consists of a much broader explanation.

I didn’t want this page to be too detailed because an explanation which is out of context will not yield such a good understanding. Instead, the link next to each term will take you to a relevant page that will help you see the big picture and gain better understanding.

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2WD - Two wheel drive

A

A - Amperes, measurement of the electric current

AC - Alternating current.

Ah  - Amp hours.

AGM - Absorbed glass mat.

ATB - All terrain bicycle

AWD - All wheel drive

B

BEV - Battery electric vehicles

Bikeways - A bicycle lane or path

BL motor - Brushless DC motor- synchronous electric motors powered by direct-current (DC) electricity and having electronic commutation systems

BLDC motor - Brushless DC motor - synchronous electric motors powered by direct-current (DC) electricity and having electronic commutation systems

BMS - Battery Management System.

Brush DC - An internally commutated electric motor designed to be run from a DC power source.

C

C -

Carbon Zinc -

Chain Drive - A transmission system in which power is transferred to the wheels by means of a chain

Continuous Power - The ability of the motor to output its power continuously for a certain period of time

D

DC - Direct current.

Deep Cycle - A rechargeable battery that was fully discharged.

Dicycle - Two closely-spaced unaxial drive wheels side-by-side at the centre-point of a vehicle.

Discharge Rate - The decreasing rate of the battery’s amp-hour.

DIY - Do it yourself.

DOD - Depth of discharge.

E

E2WV - Electric two wheel vehicles

EBMX - Electric bicycle motocross

EC motors - Electronically commutated motors

ECM - Electronically commutated motors

EV - Electric vehicle

E-Bike - Stand for Electric Bicycle. Usually means that motor power is independent of pedaling, usually used with a twistgrip throttle.

E-Ped - Stands for electric bicycle

Electrathon - Three or four wheels electric vehicle with no pedals.

Eve Belt -

Energy Capacity -

Energy Density -

Efficiency -

EMC - Electro magnetic compatibility.

EMF Back Voltage -

EPAC - Electrically pedal assisted cycle.

EVB - Electric vehicle battery.

F

FWD - Front wheel drive.

Fly Wheel - Rotating wheel has a significant moment of inertia which can be used as a storage device for rotational energy.

Fuel Cell - Generation of electric power by direct chemical conversion of fuel.

Freewheel -

Friction Drive -

G

Gas Zinc -

Gears Ratio -

Gearing -

GEL Cell - Sealed lead acid battery with gelled acid electrolyte.

H

Hub Motor -  

HPV - Human Powered Vehicle

Hp - Horsepower. 1 Hp = between 735.5 to 750 Watts

Hybrid - This can be a confusing term because it is used to refer to different cases. Usually, it means one of the following three explanations1. Combination of a fuel engine with an electric engine.2. Combination of a mountain bicycle with a road bicycle.3. Combination of an engine with human power.

I

IBS - Integrates bottom bracket system.

ICE - Internal combustion engine.

Induction Motor -

IMT - Intermediate means of transport.

INM - International non-motorized.

Instantaneous Power -

J

J-Belt -

K

KMS - An improper symbol for kilometres, which should be "km".     

L

La - Lead acid battery.     

LDV - Light duty vehicle.

LEV - Light electric vehicle.     

Li-Ion - Lithium Ion battery.

LiFePO4 - Lithium phosphate battery.

Life Cycle - Total cost of ownership the electric bicycle over it’s complete lifetime.

LSM - Limited speed motorcycle.

LSV - Low Speed passenger vehicle.

LPA - Light pedal assistance.

M

MBB - Motorized bottom bracket.

MEM - Micro electro mechanical.

Moped - Low-powered motorcycle that can be also equipped with pedals.

MVSR - Motor vehicle safety regulations.

MOT - Ministry of Transport.

Multiphase Motor -

MTB - Mountain bicycle.

N

N.m -

NiH - Nickel hydrogen battery.

NiCd - Nickel cadmium battery.

NiMH - Nickel metal hydride battery.

NiZn - Nickel zinc battery.

O

Ohms - Measure of electrical resistance.

P

PA - Power assist.

PABs - Power assisted bicycles.

PAS - Pedal assist.

PbA - Lead acid battery.

Peak Power - The capability of the motor to produce maximum power with maximum effort for a short period of time without overheating.

Pedelec - Motor power available to the bicycle only when you pedal.

PET - Pedal electric tricycle.

PINO - Pedals In Name Only.

PMDC - Permanent magnet direct current.

PWM - Pulse width modulation.

Power - Equals volts times amps. Measured in watts.

Power Density - Power capacity of a battery in relation to it’s weight.

Power On Demand - Electric bicycle that not require pedaling.

PSI - Pounds per square inch.

Q

R

R/Min - Round per minute.

Recumbent - A bicycle that place the rider in a laid-back reclining position.

ReGen - A method for converting part of the braking energy into a useful form of energy instead of dissipating it as heat.

Regenerative Braking - A method for converting part of the braking energy into a useful form of energy instead of dissipating it as heat.

Recoverable Energy - A method for converting part of the braking energy into a useful form of energy instead of dissipating it as heat.

RMB - Rack mounted battery.

RMS - Root mean square.

RPM - Revolutions per minute.

RWD - Rear wheel drive.  

S

SCiB - Super charge ion battery.

SBV - Self balancing vehicle.

Scooter -

SEGWAY -

Self Discharge - Reduction of the battery stored charge in an idle state.

Solar - Photovoltaic cells to charge a battery or power an electric motor.

SLA - Sealed lead acid battery.

Step Through

Stirling - A heat engine that operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas.

Storage Battery -

Super Capacitor -

Synchronous Motor -

Specific Power - Power capacity of a battery in relation to its weight.

T

Three Phases Charging -

Tire Friction -

Traction Battery - A battery designed to give power over long periods of time. There fore, it has high Ah capacity and usually deep charge characteristics.

Traction Motor - A motor that provide a big rotational torque to the bicycle. Usually used to with heavy work loads.

Torque - The tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis.

Turn-key - An e-bike kit which is sold in a read-to-use condition.

U

Ultra Capacitor -

V

V - Volts, measurement of the electric potential.

VOM -Volt Ohm Meter. An equipment for electrical measurements.

Voltage Reduction -

VRLA - Valve regulated lead acid.

W

Worm Gear Reduction -

W - Watts, measurement of the power.

Wh - Watt-hour, measurement of the total energy of the battery.

WOT - Wide open throttle.

WPC -

X

Y

Z

Zinc Air -

ZEV - Zero emission vehicle.

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