eBiking all the rage with savvy travelers
Not too far into the future, many people may be riding around in eBikes (electronically assisted bicycles).
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In Europe, riding a bike is a common mode of transportation, not just a high-hype pastime for yuppies. The Netherlands is known to have the highest rate of bikes per population, and Denmark is not far behind. Considering that gas prices are more than double those in the United States, Europeans have a major incentive to use bikes rather than cars whenever possible.
Not too far into the future, many people may be riding around in eBikes (electronically assisted bicycles). The market for electronic bicycles, estimated at more than 18.5 million bikes in 2007, is growing at an annual rate of 25 percent. These eBikes are equipped with a battery pack that frees riders from pedaling and provides assistance, especially when going uphill. Because of their convenience, environmental friendliness, and high performance/cost ratio, eBikes have enjoyed increased demand from bicyclists around the world.
Electronic bicycles also are becoming very popular in Beijing as the 2008 Olympics draw near. To diminish extreme pollution from vehicle exhaust, the Beijing city government and Olympic Games organizers plan to forbid private and most commercial car and truck traffic starting at least two weeks before and during the Olympics. Beijing is a very large city with a population nearing 18 million; getting from one place to the next is typically longer than a short walk. For long-distance travel within the city, eBikes might just be the best way to get around. Companies like Giant Manufacturing Ltd. of Taiwan, one of the world’s largest bike manufacturers, offer “normal” and electronic bikes worldwide.
Intelligent pedaling
Microcontroller technology is playing a major role in eBikes’ success. With more than 10 percent market share in microcontrollers, Infineon, Germany, claims to be the leader in engineering new electric bicycles. The company’s microcontrollers increase battery pack energy efficiency and manage all functions of an eBike control system. An 8-bit microcontroller controls the motor operation and ensures the most efficient energy usage. With one fully charged battery, an eBike with a load of up to 100 kg (220 lbs) can travel approximately 40 km (25 miles) at an average speed of 25 km (15 miles) per hour. Figure 1, courtesy of Infineon, shows a trendy eBike, model PeerLess, which includes a removable battery pack for easy recharging.
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Figure 1: (click image to zoom by 3.5x) |
Equipped with high-performance peripherals, such as high-speed analog-to-digital converters (8 channels, 10-bit accuracy) and dedicated motor control units, the Infineon XC866 family of microcontrollers offers an optimized solution for eBike controllers. The XC866 enables abundant functions to meet various end-user requirements, such as power management, remote unlocking, e-brake, and an intelligent dashboard. The bike operates under severe weather conditions as specified for automotive use from -40 °C to +125 °C. The XC866 also includes a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) serial bus controller for in-vehicle communication and networking between intelligent sensors and actuators.
The next generation of eBike control units will be equipped with a new version of the microcontroller that has more memory. This extended memory capacity will allow for more intelligent operations and eliminate the need for three hall sensors used for the motor position feedback required by the current control algorithm. In addition to providing system cost savings, the sensorless solution will significantly reduce eBike manufacturers’ maintenance efforts, as approximately 80 percent of eBike malfunctions today are caused by sensor failure.
For more information, contact Hermann at hstrass@opensystems-publishing.com.
