June, 2009
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Electric Recumbent Bike
1/9/2010 12:19:22 AM
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 To date, this is the most fun I have had installing and testing an electric bike kit. This is E-Biking at its best on a sleek, well built, electrified recumbent bike. The two wheel trike front design, combined with the electric motor on the rear 20" wheel, provide for a high powered ride up any hill. What really fascinated me and the customer was how well it simply coasts along on flat ground without any motor assist. Give it some juice and it feels like it could easily compete on a gocart track, minus the noise of course; this machine is silent! Check back to see comments from the customer about their electrified recumbent bicycling in Elk Grove, California. |
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The Electric Allant
12/19/2009 6:25:09 PM
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 Very well made bike that is now also a smooth riding, very nice looking, electric vehicle. The young lady that owns this wanted to exert a little less energy when riding up hills near the Stockton, CA area. This is the perfect Electric Bike Solution to do just that and much more! The fun part is will the other bicyclists she cruises by even know that it is electrified! |
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Lakeport, CA Cruiser
11/20/2009 9:18:35 PM
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 Here's a fun ride! This is the same motor as you get with the 36 volt battery electric bike kit, except it has an upgrade. The motor also works well with 48 volts, which the customer installed himself. Note the creative rear cargo box; this is built to not only carry the battery, but the controller and battery charger as well. Did I mention the torque and power? Well, you'll want to try it for yourself! |
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The Jelly Belly Factory Commute
10/30/2009 12:50:19 AM
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 Here's a Jelly Belly Factory employee saving the environment and gas $ by making his 15 mile commute on his recently installed electric bike kit. This is the solution for avoiding commute hour traffic and the gas station. He also likes to add some peddle power for exercise as he recently made it to work averaging 20 miles per hour. GoCarLite can provide you with the electric bike kit solution that best meets your needs! |
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Rio Vista Style
10/22/2009 3:49:40 PM
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 This is simply the best design on the market right now at the best price. The owner of this sleek machine is 90 years young and loving it; he also gave me a few tips during installation. Note the integrated rack/battery setup with room for a bag behind the seat to hold the controller. The long lasting Headway battery also includes a gauge/lights on top of it to show charge levels. This is the best value motor and battery combination that also comes with a one year warranty. Look out Rio Vista, CA! |
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Golf Cruiser
9/22/2009 7:26:31 PM
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 Retirement at its best on this Schwinn Jaguar cruising around the golf courses near Yuma AZ. They are the first on the block to have an E-Bike in the Foothills of Arizona where their winter retirement fun awaits. Sign me up for this plan! |
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Car Lite in Vacaville on a Townie
8/14/2009 1:09:15 PM
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 Nice looking bike here cruising around Vacaville, Ca with a recently installed electric kit. The owner opted to use a set of existing SLA batteries he already had (in bag on the rack) until they wear out. Lots of choices when it comes to getting out of our automobiles and saving money, the environment, and our health! |
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Don't Buy Until You Try!
7/16/2009 10:53:04 PM
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| Most people would not buy a car, motorcycle, scooter, etc. without test driving it. An electric bike should be no different. After all, for most of us it is still a chunk of change to shell out. There certainly are getting to be enough places around the San Francisco Bay Area to go try one if you live in this area. And of course, you can come visit me and test drive both a 36 and 48 volt, 500 watt model kit and/or a complete 250 watt ready-made electric bike. At a minimum, give the business from which you intend to buy a call and get all your questions answered. Ask them, which model they personally ride and why. If you call me and I do not immediately pick-up, I will give you a call back ASAP to discuss the ideal solution for you! The $avings and benefits of being Car Lite will just keep adding up! |
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Another GoCarLite Enthusiast
7/8/2009 6:52:37 PM
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 Installed a 48 volt 500 watt motor kit on the Electra Bike pictured the other day. Click on comments below to view the owner's statements about the kit. This is a nice comfortable bike that, while very light, is also very sturdy. The electric kit does quite well on this bike. There is another very happy person in Sacramento saving a bundle of $ by going Car Lite! |
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Updated Pricing and Focus
6/28/2009 8:34:33 PM
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| Those that check this site periodically will note that prices and product offerings are adjusted on a regular basis. This is done in order to always offer the best value for your dollars. Like most things, as the EBike technology and market evolve, so does pricing and products. Going forward, I will continue to support requests for help with finding a complete, ready to go, electric bike for those that request it; however, my primary focus has become the installation of electric bike kits on existing bikes. The reason for this is that I have found in all cases that a much more powerful and durable kit can be installed on what is usually a higher quality bicycle for significantly less than a ready made electric bike. As a matter of fact, if you can find one, the cost to purchase a ready to go 36 or 48 volt lithium battery, 500 watt electric bicycle will be more than a couple thousand dollars. With a kit, however, this can be done for less than one-thousand dollars on a nice bike of your choosing. The time has definitely come to Go Car Lite! |
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Price and Quality Matter
6/20/2009 11:39:18 PM
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| Prices will continuously fluctuate (normally downward) as the E-Bike market continues to expand. At GoCarLite I am always looking for opportunities to lower prices and increase quality. For the Electric Bike Kits, I use a combination of two suppliers that I researched extensively. Between the two I can offer any combination of kit from 350 to 500 watts, and 36 volts to 48 volts, that you desire for the best possible price. I do this by keeping overhead low and staying primarily within the western region of the US. Both suppliers are on the East coast, so I do not compete with them, I supplement them. My advertised prices are the lowest for the type and quality of kits offered, but please, call me to discuss your specific needs as we may be able to determine an even better price solution for you! |
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Has the EBike's Future Arrived?
6/16/2009 11:19:52 AM
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| The Electric Bike has had some starts and stops; this Article gives some examples of this. The bottom line is that sales of electric bikes are growing exponentially around the world, and that it is really gaining ground here in the US. Big Box stores are beginning to offer them and longstanding bicycle companies like Schwinn have rolled out electric bicycle lines. Most garages have at least one bicycle in them and most of those bicycles will accommodate an E-Bike Kit. For us Baby Boomers it is a great time to pull out that old bike that we never ride, put a kit on it to make the hills and overall ride much more enjoyable, and realize the ultimate benefits this technology will provide. Once you try it, you will realize how easy it will be to save yourself thousands of dollars per year while saving the environment and your health! |
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Electric Bike Kit Price Variables
6/9/2009 2:57:25 PM
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| In looking around one will see a wide range of prices for electric bike kits spanning anywhere from a few hundred to near one thousand dollars. While the wattage of the motor, quality of the kit, kit amenities, and local technical support available all play a role, the most significant cost difference is due to the type of battery. A sealed lead acid type battery will save hundreds of dollars during the initial purchase, but leave the buyer needing new ones in less than a fifth the time of a Lithium (LifePO4) battery. So the heavy SLA batteries will need to be replaced many times when compared to the LifePO4's. In addition, the Lithium batteries are going to take you 50% plus further (often much further) on a single charge vs. the SLA's. All of this said, however, the sealed lead acid battery is a viable place to start if one is not sure about the technology and wants to start off investing a minimal amount of dollars. In the long run it will cost more and make for a heavier bike that goes a shorter distance per charge, but it is a place to start. One final thought on batteries: it stands to reason that the higher the voltage and amp hour rating the more power and distance one will get. So what is optimum? Depends on the rider, but in most cases 24 volts will leave you wanting, 36 volts with at least a 9 AH rating and at least a good 350 watt motor will provide the torque, speed, and distance to satisfy most riders; while 48 volts will be fun and fast...possibly a little too fast if it propels a 170 lb. rider faster than 20 mph on flat ground with just the motor (without pedaling). See Federal Electric Bike Law. |
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Best Buy Offering E-Bikes; Look before Buying
6/5/2009 10:22:33 PM
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| Best Buy is beginning to offer Curry Electric Bicycles. This should say a lot about how quickly this technology will move into the main stream and I am glad they are promoting them. However, it is important to look closely at what is being purchased. Most notably the battery, the critical component of an electric bike, is marginal at best for the bikes they are offering. Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) technology does not provide the long lasting durability and power of a more modern lithium iron phosphate battery (LifePO4). Combine the SLA battery with just a 24 volt output and this will leave the buyer wondering if that is all there is! They do offer a 24 volt lithium battery in a much more expensive bike ($1899). This is much better than the SLA technology, but again, the 24 volt output will just leave one wanting. Make sure to test drive and price a 36 volt LifePO4 battery, 500 watt motor, electric bicycle/kit before jumping in...you will be glad you did! |
| 14 items total |
Promoting an Automobile Lite Lifestyle with an Electric Bike Kit