Electric Bicycle Research Articles

Exploring the heterogeneous effects of riding behaviours and road conditions on delivery rider severities in scooter-style electric bicycle crashes involving vehicles

Delivery riders are more vulnerable than other traffic participants, especially in vehicle-involved delivery crashes. This study aims at identifying the unobserved heterogeneities in different factors, based on 4251 vehicle-scooter-style electric bicycle (SSEB) crashes. First, some potential factors are selected from seven perspectives, and the spatiotemporal characteristics are analysed. Second, a latent class clustering method is proposed to clarify the optimal number of clusters by maximizing the heterogeneities across clusters. Third, partial proportional odds (PPO) models for the whole dataset and sub-datasets are developed to explore the heterogeneities across various clusters. Besides, marginal effects are implemented to quantify the heterogeneities. The results evidence that there are remarkable heterogeneities across different clusters, especially in riding behaviours and road conditions. Several factors only significantly affect particular clusters but not the whole dataset. The PPO models for the sub-datasets perform better in identifying the underlying heterogeneities. The results also highlight the greater roles of riding behaviours and road conditions in delivery SSEB-vehicle crashes. The top five influencing factors are running red light, using cell phones, vehicle type, reverse riding and bike lane (their maximum marginal effects exceeding +35%). The findings could support to mitigate the related crash losses.

E-Scooter-Related Maxillofacial Fractures: A New Emerging Epidemic During the COVID-19 Period in the Province of Rome, Lazio, Italy: A Monocentric Study Review of 843 Patients Compared With the Pre-COVID-19 Two-Year Period.

Shared vehicles, such as e-scooters and electric bicycles, could potentially accelerate the transition toward sustainable mobility. Focusing on e-scooters, the aim of this study is to show, compared with previous years when e-scooter use was significantly reduced, the increased incidence of maxillofacial bone injuries from e-scooters and the most frequent type of fractures. We conducted a monocentric observational retrospective and prospective analysis during the pandemic, from January 1, 2020, until December 31, 2022, on patients' access for maxillofacial traumas at the San Giovanni Addolorata emergency department, trauma hub center, for Lazio district. A total of 383 patients were included. Data on the causes of traumas, type of injury produced, age, gender, nationality, and helmet use were collected. Especially, we analyzed the e-scooter-related facial traumas that had gained a lot of popularity in this period due to the restriction in mobility because of Covid-19, subsequent reduced use of public transport, and the new benefits introduced by the government for e-scooters or bikes. We compared e-scooter facial trauma with all the other kinds of facial fracture etiologies during this period. In our study, the most frequent causes of trauma were assaults (32.6%), accidental falls (24.2%), and sports activities (7.8%). The percentage of trauma among road traffic injuries was almost 24% of the total; in particular, motorcycle/e-scooter traumas was 7.1%, car crashes was 5.5%, pedestrian hits was 4.2%, and bike accidents was 3.1%. Other causes detected were syncope (5.5%), accidental traumas (1.8%), and epileptic crisis (1.1%). Focusing on road traffic injury access in our emergency department, compared with those between 2017 and 2019, it emerged that e-scooter-related facial traumas in the past two years have had a remarkable rise. In fact, there was a total of 27 patients (52% male and 48% female) instead of 5 between 2017 and 2019. The average age was 29 years. The most frequent types of e-scooter-related fractures were those to the nasal bones (29.7%), followed by mandibular fractures (unifocal 7.4%, bifocal 18.5%, trifocal 7.4%, and condylar 7.4%), zygomatic-maxillo fractures (18.4%), complex fractures (7.4%), and maxilla (3.7%). Among 27 observed electric scooter riders, nobody wore a helmet. Injuries associated with the use of e-scooters are a new phenomenon and mainly affect the craniofacial region due to the dynamic nature of the trauma. Although these vehicles have become increasingly common over the years and accepted within regulatory frameworks, the traffic rules are not ready to integrate e-scooters into the transport systems due to the lack of adequate legislation, and the lack of implementation in the form of facial safety devices or safety skills training for e-scooter riders.

E-Bikes (Electrical Bicycles and Scooters) Related Neurosurgical Injuries in the Adult Population: A Single-Center Experience.

E-bikes (electrical bicycles and scooters) have been increasingly used as a means of transportation, especially among young adults. E-bikers have more accidents, at higher velocities and more severe kinematics, increasing the rate of neurosurgical injuries. Severe neurosurgical injury patterns result in significant morbidity and mortality. We collected data regarding adult patients (>18 years old), who suffered e-bike-related neurosurgical injuries, in a single tertiary medical center in Israel, between July 2019 and June 2020. Fifty-eight consecutive patients were included in this study. The average age was 34.9, and the average Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score upon admission was 13.2 and was significantly lower in operated patients (10.75). Fifty-four patients were riders; 51 (94.5%!) were not wearing a helmet. Fifty percent of patients had multiple types of trauma. Six patients suffered a spinal injury. Sixteen patients required either cranial or spinal surgery. Three patients died, and 1 remained in a vegetative state. Median Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E) score at follow-up was 7.1. Operated patients stayed significantly longer in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in the hospital, and their GOS-E scores at discharge and follow-up were significantly lower. Most spinal injuries underwent surgery. Patients who wore helmets had significantly higher GCS scores and a shorter stay in the ICU and hospital. The unacceptable reality of the careless use of this transportation and the unique kinematics lead to severe neurosurgical injuries, comorbidities, and even mortality. Our results reflect the risks of e-bikes in the adult population. Most of our patients were in the mid-age group, and almost none had used a helmet. The results of this study highlight the potential need for neurosurgical treatment, and the need for long-term rehabilitation and follow-up, reflecting the emotional and financial toll of these injuries. Once again, this study showed that helmets save lives and emphasized the importance of protecting our heads.

Exploring the feasibility of a 6-week electric-bike intervention with behavioural support in Australia.

BackgroundPhysical inactivity increases the risk of non-communicable disease development and healthcare-associated burden. Research suggests electric bikes (e-bikes) can support individuals in meeting recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines. This study assessed the feasibility of an e-bike plus a tailored behavioural support intervention for physically inactive overweight or obese adults. MethodsThis non-randomized single-group pre-post study saw participants provided with an e-bike free of charge for six weeks. Feasibility was assessed across five domains: 1) feasibility of recruitment, 2) participant retention, 3) intervention adherence, 4) acceptability of questionnaires and lab-based outcome measures and 5) intervention acceptability. Participants completed self-reported measures of PA and self-efficacy for exercise. Lab-based measurements were completed pre-and post-intervention, this included blood pressure, body composition [anthropometrics and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)], venous blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and cardiorespiratory fitness. ResultsOur recruitment strategy saw a total of eight participants (three males and five females) complete the intervention (88.9% retention rate). Participants utilised the e-bike for the intervention duration and rode a mean distance of 299.8 km (SD ± 172.2) over the 6-week intervention period. Participants completed all outcomes with minimal data points missing. Participants’ moderate PA levels and self-efficacy for exercise increased post intervention. Lab-based measures showed a downward trend in body fat percentage, fasting blood glucose and brachial diastolic blood pressure. ConclusionThe recruitment strategy, retention, adherence and acceptability of this study support future research. E-bikes are an acceptable way to help people who are physically inactive increase their PA levels. Furthermore, sustained use may contribute to health benefits and improve overall self-efficacy for exercise.

Empowering sustainable mobility in Nigeria: A study of conversion of conventional bicycle to electric bicycle

Amid global efforts towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nigeria's recent decision to eliminate fuel subsidies has amplified the search for sustainable transportation alternatives. In this study, a traditional pedal bicycle was converted into an electric bike (e-bike) in order to explore it as a viable solution to promoting eco-friendly commuting and reducing carbon emissions on Nigerian roads. The conversion cost was 174,500 in Nigerian currency, with the e-bike demonstrating a range of 8.33km per charge, under a load of 136kg on a 36V, 4.8AH battery. At a speed of 15km/h, an estimated 1.44 volts per kilometer were consumed. Notably, the study revealed a 99.49% correlation between voltage depletion and distance covered per kilometer, indicating a highly predictable relationship between energy consumption and travel distance. These insights highlight the e-bike's potential advantages, particularly in terms of cost-effectiveness, presenting a compelling case for the adoption of electric bicycles as a means to decarbonize transportation in Nigeria.

Saliency Ratio-Based Torque Enhancement of Switched Reluctance Motors for Electric Bikes

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) face challenges in achieving high performances in terms of the power factor, torque per ampere, and torque ripples. Although several parameters impact their performance, magnetic saliency has a significant impact. This paper presents a study on the influence of the saliency ratio on the performance of switched reluctance motors. A detailed design procedure for a mid-drive electric motor for a high-performance electric bike is presented. A systematic methodology is adopted to estimate the power rating for desired vehicle performance while considering the vehicle’s mechanical and aerodynamic parameters. Additionally, the paper discusses and analyzes the design of two SRM motor configurations with different rotor poles (6/4 and 6/10) while performing magnetostatic analysis for generated torque validation. A parametric study is performed on the 6/10 SRM design for further improvement in the torque profile while keeping the same fill factor and electrical loading. Furthermore, the transient analysis in Ansys Maxwell 2D for both SRMs confirms the designed performance. The results shows that the SRM with higher rotor poles (6/10) is a better choice.

Effect of helmet-wearing regulation on electric-bike riders: a case study of two cities in China

Abstract Objectives Electric bikes (e-bikes) are widely used for commuting and delivery in China. With the rapid increase in e-bikes on the road, related accidents have become crucial issues threatening the public. This research aims to explore the protective effect of helmet-wearing regulation and to investigate some factors influencing head injury with reference to two case cities in China, obtaining information to protect e-bike riders. Methods The traffic police-reported crash data cover the periods before and after the implementation of helmet-wearing regulations in Taizhou (with data from 2017 to 2019) and Nanning (with data in 2020) of China. Preliminary statistical analysis, logistic regression and chi-square test with a Bonferroni correction were applied in the research. Results A lack of helmets was common among victims in the context of a high helmet-wearing rate among general e-bike riders in Taizhou, indicating that fatality could be avoided to some extent by wearing helmets. Specifically, helmet wearing could reduce the probability of suffering fatal head injury by 6.4%. After the regulation implementation in Taizhou, the proportion of fatal head injuries decreased from 89% to 79%, remaining at a high level, which indicates that other measures in addition to helmet-wearing regulations should be taken. According to the results from Nanning, mandatory regulation worked more effectively than encouraged regulation in terms of reducing head injury. Conclusions Mandatory helmet-wearing regulations are highly recommended to policymakers to reduce head injury among e-bike riders. Measures in addition to helmet-wearing regulation, e.g. enhancing law-abiding awareness and improving road infrastructure, should be considered to further protect e-bike riders.

On the design and structural study of a rear swing arm for an electric bike

As electric bikes continue to grow in popularity, it is important to ensure that they are equipped with well-designed components. One such component is the rear swing arm (RSA). This study deals with the design and structural analysis of an RSA used for electric bikes. This RSA is composed of two swing arms (one on each side of the bikes), a yoke, a suspension block, and bolts or screws. First, an analytical approach was developed to calculate the initial values for the width and shape of the swing arm. Next, experimental data were used to analyze the response of the RSA and determine the final profile for the swing arms and yoke structure. Finally, the finite element approach was implemented to assess the stress, displacement, and fatigue responses of the RSA when subjected to realistic excitations and conditions. The initial results depicted the following characteristics for the RSA: C-channel profile, 43 mm height, and 2 mm wall thickness. These results implied that the maximum shear force would occur in a region representing approximately 15.5% of the total length of the RSA. Further analysis and calculations showed that this region would decrease to approximately 2.85% of the total length of the RSA. For the final design, the mechanical performance of the RSA was observed to remain acceptable despite the relatively high Von Mises stress values around these singularities. This study assumed the use of 7075 T651 aluminum alloy as the primary material for the RSA.

Hybrid Wind/PV E-Bike Charging Station: Comparison of Onshore and Offshore Systems

The concept behind this research article is advancement towards utilizing renewable energy sources of wind–solar to generate electrical energy for E-bike (electric bike) charging stations. To optimize the design and operation control of the wind–solar E-bike charging station system, the development of modelling this hybrid power generation system, consisting of solar and wind energy combined with battery storage, is proposed and will be studied in this paper. A university campus setting is utilized for the case study by comparing offshore (Huangdao) and onshore (Laoshan) sites. The proposed research will focus on annual energy production (AEP) and system cost analysis. The proposed work’s main objectives are to analyze the wind/solar properties of the installation’s location using the last 20 years’ data, calculate the AEP for wind turbines and solar PV, and estimate how many E-bikes can be charged day/year with reliable operation. We have calculated that the hybrid power available is 27.08 kWh/day offshore and 22 kWh/day onshore. This research study concludes that on average, based on AEP, in the case of offshore, 5110 E-bikes can be charged per year and in the case of onshore, 4015 E-bikes can be charged per year. We have also calculated the COE (cost of energy) for 20 years for the proposed project, which is $0.62/kWh onshore and $0.46/kWh offshore.

Investigation of the driving characteristics of electric bicycles by means of multibody simulation

Electrically assisted bicycles lead to a change in the driving characteristics compared to conventional bicycles because of the additionally attached masses of motor and battery. In order to describe the resulting interaction of the electric drive components on the driving characteristics, this paper examines simulations of the driving behavior of bicycles with different positions of battery and motor in open- and closed-loop tests. The integration of human driving behavior by control loops allows the evaluation of driving characteristic under more realistic driving conditions compared to the existing studies of the eigenbehavior. The results are analyzed using characteristic values that describe the system behavior in a suitable way. Furthermore, a design of experiments is performed to classify the influence of the presented research results in relation to other system parameters, such as different types of bicycles and different rider postures.

Assessing Cycling Accessibility in Urban Areas through the Implementation of a New Cycling Scheme

Cycling’s integration into the intricate facets of urban design, together with walking and public transportation, offers an effective solution to the mobility issues plaguing urban spaces, and is critical to the sustainability of modern cities. In this context, in this research urban cyclists’ needs and preferences are analyzed through questionnaires, and bicycle accessibility to urban areas is assessed using multicriteria analysis. The public’s familiarity with the integration of novel mobility solutions (e.g., e-bicycles) that support accessibility and inclusiveness is tested and analyzed by recording cyclists trajectories on bicycle routes. The European hub of Patras was selected as the case study for a pilot scheme in this analysis. Similar to many medium-sized European cities, several mobility obstacles, including urban topography, hinder bicycle accessibility in the city, especially between the Modern and Old City areas. The research findings indicate that, addressing these obstacles, electric bicycles can substantially increase bicycle accessibility in the city center. The public usage of electric bicycles is encouraged in the pilot study, and the results indicate that it can increase accessibility to urban areas while reducing restrictions related to age, physical condition, and disabilities. Providing citizens access to e-bicycles can increase the number of daily bicycle users, leading to positive impact in urban cohesion, resilience, and sustainability.

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF ELECTRIC MOTOR CYCLE CHASSIS FRAME

Our undertaking centers on the plan and creation of an electric scooter's chassis frame, underlining execution and security. Using progressed computer aided design and FEA apparatuses; we enhance plan boundaries like material choice and burden dissemination. Fabricating joins conventional and current strategies for mechanical effectiveness and simplicity of creation. Thorough actual tests approve load-bearing limit and strength. Our work adds to feasible metropolitan transportation by making a lightweight, strong body Chassis (frame), improving electric motorcycle (scooter) well being and proficiency. The design process consists of several steps, including: ➢ Defining chassis requirements ➢ Doing data analysis of existing chassis models ➢ Creating a quantity design concept ➢ Choosing the best design concept ➢ Select Finite Element Analysis of Design (FEA) ➢ Chassis fabrication The final design is an incredibly light and strong chassis that meets the requirements of the power plant. The final analysis results show that the chassis can withstand the expected loads during normal operation. The chassis is made by a combination of welding and machining. KEYWORDS: An unnatural weather change, Electric Bike, Case, Triangulation, Ansys.

Field Oriented Control Implementation on BLDC Motor Controller with PI and SVPWM using STM32F103C8T6

Brushless direct current (BLDC) motor are high power density motors with a wide scope for use in electric vehicles, home automation, and industry. But the motor performance degrades due to improper control actions. This is caused by uncontrolled BLDC motor torque currents. Field Oriented Control (FOC) method is a solution for controlling BLDC motor, because it has the advantaged of overcoming torque ripples at low speeds. This paper presents the implementation of FOC on BLDC motor using STM32F103C8T6, which is high speed and low cost microcontroller. STM32F103C8T6 has been applied to handle FOC algorithm calculation and data processing. In order to validate the FOC algorithm system and assess the performance of the STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller, a 350-watt BLDC motor on an electric bicycle was tested and compared with a Universal controller. The tests that have been conducted proven that the FOC controller makes power more efficient, rotates BLDC motor at low speeds, and reduces torque ripple.

Motosiklet veya Elektrikli Bisiklet Kazalarında Binicilerin Özellikleri ile Yaralanma Modelleri Arasındaki İlişki

Aim: Many risk factors have been reported to be responsible for morbidity and mortality in motorcycle and electric bike (e-bike) accidents. This study aims to determine the associations between the demographic features of motorcycle or e-bike riders and clinical outcomes.
 
 Material and Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study conducted in an academic emergency department (ED). All adult patients admitted to the ED due to motorcycle or e-bike accidents were included.
 
 Results: A total of 358 patients were included in the study. Of the patients, 100 (28.1%) required hospitalization where 58 (16.3%) required surgery. Injuries were related with the upper extremities (15.4%), head and neck (14.8%), and lower extremities (11.2%) in the patients. Nighttime accidents, alcohol use, and lack of protective equipment were related to multiple injuries, need for hospitalization, surgery, blood transfusion, and mortality (p0.05).
 
 Conclusion: Nighttime accidents, alcohol or drug use, and lack of protective equipment could lead to multiple injuries, need for hospitalization, surgery, blood transfusion, and mortality. Moreover, the risk of poor outcomes is similar between the motorcycle and e-bike riders.

How does brand equity influence the intent of e-bike users? Evidence from Chennai city

E-bikes, a rapidly developing hybrid technology, threaten the notion of leisurely, non-motorized riding. This empirical study aims to determine the connection between brand equity, brand value, and electric bike purchase intention in Chennai. The descriptive research strategy was employed to collect the data from 151 respondents via questionnaire using judgment sampling, and hypotheses were tested using multiple regression. The consequences showed that the coefficient for brand loyalty was 0.643, and a one-unit increase in brand loyalty resulted in a 0.643% increase in purchase intent. The study’s results help managers better understand how to create a post-brand equity marketing strategy for long-term success in the market. An improved understanding of brand equity’s effects would help the auto industry gain consumer loyalty and enable long-term partnerships

NdFeB Permanent Magnet Uses, Projected Growth Rates and Nd Plus Dy Demands across End-Use Sectors through 2050: A Review

Rare earth element (REE) permanent magnets (NdFeB) are a critical element in a vast and growing number of industrial applications. In consumer electronics, a broad category encompassing computer, CD, and DVD hard drives, in addition to the ubiquitous cell phones, the nominal NdFeB magnet content may be small, but the global market share for this sector accounts for almost 30% of NdFeB demand, due to a large and continually increasing consumer base. It is estimated that wind turbines that primarily employ permanent magnets will add roughly 110 GW annually of on- and off-shore capability over the next few years. Electric vehicles (EVs) and E-bicycles (EBs) equipped with permanent magnet motors comprise the transportation contribution. Permanent magnet motors have garnered nearly 100% of the market share among EV manufacturers worldwide. Industrial, professional service, and personal robots, most using permanent magnets, are also included in the projected global need for rare earths, particularly Nd and Dy. The sector projects significant growth of approximately 10% across robotic categories. In this paper, we calculate the future demand for Nd and Dy through 2050 across these sectors using a compounded annual growth rate coupled with magnet weight and rare earth content. Uncertainties in the estimates, such as the true global production of Nd, a range of end-product scales and/or unit types in each sector, varied magnet compositions, and the variety of uses within a sector, are all considered.

Analysis of Interest In Using Electrical Bicycles in Palangka Raya

Every year the number of population growth is increasing, therefore the use of transportation is also increasing. With the existence of environmentally friendly transportation products, it is hoped that more and more people will contribute to using them to reduce the impact of global warming. One of the environmentally friendly transportation products is an electric bicycle. This study specifically aims to analyze the characteristics of electric bicycle mode selection and analyze the electric bicycle mode selection model in the city of Palangka Raya. The development of electric bicycles in anticipation of depleting reserves of fuel oil has begun. Palangka Raya City is one of the cities where the use of electric bicycles is gaining popularity. The Logit Binomial model was used to analyze the data from the sort of survey employed in this research, which was based on respondents' expressed preferences. According to the findings of the research, it was shown that what influenced interest in choosing the mode of electric bicycle use were the variables age (X1), gender (X2), family structure (X3), motorcycle ownership (X11), long distance traveled (X15), education/school (X22), spending per month (X24) it is obtained that the overall model prediction rate variable is 79%.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on use and perception of shared e-scooters

Micro-mobility, such as electric scooters (e-scooters) and bicycles, has gained attraction in recent years by offering reduced emissions, decreased congestion, and improved public health. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel behavior and mode choices have changed. As such, shared micro-mobility are likely more vulnerable to these changes, as a relatively new mode, with less habitual riders and their shared nature perceived as a higher risk. The objective of this paper is to understand how preferences and perceptions of micro-mobility changed before, during, and potentially after the pandemic, and relative to quarantine behavior. Shared e-scooter trip data (N = 2604) before and during the pandemic, and survey data (N = 134) during the pandemic, were collected in one small- to mid-sized US city. Number of e-scooter trips decreased while duration of trips increased during the pandemic. People who only left their houses for essential activities and/or work reported using public transit and transportation network companies (e.g., Uber) significantly less during the pandemic, but there was no association between their use of micro-mobility and timeframes of the pandemic. People who left their houses similar to before the pandemic did not significantly change their mode choices during the pandemic. Most respondents were neutral in opinion about sanitary levels of shared micro-mobility, suggesting an opportunity to attract riders through new hygiene initiatives. Micro-mobility operators and jurisdictions can use these insights on perception and use of shared transport modes as travel behavior adjusts post pandemic.

Ebike Sharing vs. Bike Sharing: Demand Prediction Using Deep Neural Networks and Random Forests

Background: Conventional bike sharing systems are frequently adding electric bicycles. A major question now arises: Does the bike sharing system have a sufficient number of ebikes available, and are there customers who prefer to use an ebike even though none are available? Methods: Trip data from three different bike sharing systems (Indego in Philadelphia, Santander Cycles in London, and Metro in Los Angeles and Austin) have been used in this study. To determine if an ebike was available at the station when a customer departed, an algorithm was created. Using only those trips that departed while an ebike was available, a random forest classifier and deep neural network classifier were used to predict whether the trip was completed with an ebike or not. These models were used to predict the potential demand for ebikes at times when no ebikes were available. Results: For the system with the highest prediction accuracy, Santander Cycles in London, between 21% and 27% of the trips were predicted to have used an ebike if one had been available. The most important features were temperature, distance, wind speed, and altitude difference. Conclusion: The prediction methods can help bike sharing operators to estimate the current demand for ebikes.

Safety, health and environmental impacts of commercial motorcycles in Sub-Saharan African cities

ABSTRACT In Sub-Saharan Africa, vulnerable road users make up approximately 50% of all traffic fatalities. Despite the dangers of using motorcycles for transportation, the usage of motorcycles—and more recently, motor tricycles—for both personal and commercial purposes has increased exponentially in most Sub-Saharan African cities. The study sought to study the safety, health and environmental impact of commercial motorcycles in Sub-Saharan African cities. Two cities—the national capital and a secondary city—were selected in each of our five study countries: Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Using a mixed-methods approach, motorcycle taxi operators were surveyed and key transport stakeholders were interviewed in these ten cities. In Ghana, where both motorcycle and motor-tricycle taxis are officially banned but continue to operate, we also surveyed motor-tricycle taxi operators. The results indicated variability in accident occurrence across countries for both minor and major road traffic collisions (RTCs) among motorcycle/tricycle taxi riders. Apart from Liberia, motorcycle/tricycle taxi unions in our study countries contribute to improving the safety of their riders. Interest in electric bikes is low amongst riders in all five countries, with education and infrastructure provision required to cause a shift from conventional bikes to electric bikes.