I think I want to add a LiIon or NiMH battery pack over the rear wheels of the IZip Trails Enlightened ($1150 US)
The salesman at TheSuperkids.com told me that is impossible which we know is not true =). Jes wonderin how it hooks up, and if LiIon can be put in parallel with the NiMH system?
The new IZip Trekking LiIon bikes are not yet available most places and cost ~$2500 US though they have the greater range that I want. The range of the Trails Enlightened is probably going to be about 15 miles max (24 km) for a 220 lb man pedaling hard.
Also this bike has the PTS pedelec system I think I want. Might change the human power to a 26" NuVinci wheel/hub that I see is on EBay for $500 but I guess that would wipe out the PTS :-\
It's generally a bad idea to mix chemistries, but if the voltages match close enough, you can parallel two packs. Placing a diode between both packs and the controller would prevent one pack from discharging into the other one.
Plan B would be to have a big switch to switch between packs and only run one at a time.
I think that bike has a rear hub motor, so if you install a NuVinci hub, there won't be room for the motor.
You're around Tiburon? I'm in San Rafael. We should hook up sometime.
you could just stop using your old battery pack and use a lithium pack instead. otherwise, yes, you can use some strategy or other that will prevent one pack from running current/power into the other pack as mentioned by fechter. (there is also the possibility of using one pack til it runs out, and then disconnecting it and connecting the other.)
You're correct, fechter. the website says it is a geared hubmotor.
http://www.mailordercycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m17b0s168p6103