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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg How long before this can be purchased, I wonder... (msnbc.msn.com/id/29259226/)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/green-wheel.jpgEric Bland - MSNBC (msnbc.msn.com) - Feb. 18, 2009

Several hundred dollars for a PHEV with bluetooth and pedal power? Sweet. --Ed.

The next time you change a bike tire, think about upgrading your power as well. Scientists at MIT are testing a new power generation, storage and propulsion system known as the GreenWheel that will turn any pedal bicycle into an electric hog.

"Just take the wheel off, put a GreenWheel equipped wheel on in its place, plug it in and it should work just fine," said Ryan Chin, one of the GreenWheel designers. "The whole thing has been designed so all the parts except the throttle are enclosed in the wheel."

From the outside, the GreenWheel has the radius of a small dinner plate and is about 2 inches thick. Inside the aluminum frame sits the three major GreenWheel components: an electric generator, batteries and an electric motor.

For now, installing GreenWheel on your own does require a moderate level of technical knowledge or a trip to a bike shop. The GreenWheel can be installed on any bike frame or wheel size, but the original spokes have to be replaced with shorter spokes. Michael Chia-Liang Lin, a master's student at MIT developing the GreenWheel, called his parents in Taiwan, who own a bike shop, to figure out how to respoke the wheel.

For now, installing GreenWheel on your own does require a moderate level of technical knowledge or a trip to a bike shop. The GreenWheel can be installed on any bike frame or wheel size, but the original spokes have to be replaced with shorter spokes. Michael Chia-Liang Lin, a master's student at MIT developing the GreenWheel, called his parents in Taiwan, who own a bike shop, to figure out how to respoke the wheel... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29259226/

That's a sweet little hub motor setup.

If they are going to hand out some freebees, I should sign up..
Being a novice, but older rider who would like a little E-assist when going up steep hills.
(and a retired MIT employee who lives just down the road).

That setup looks a lot better than outboard battery packs hanging on the carrier..
But, I wonder how many Amp hours would a tiny in-hub battery pack could hold??

If the pack size is less than two of those new (high tech) portable drill packs,
It seems like it would be more of a Hybrid and less of a plug-in.
At least for someone in the 200 pound range.. :eek:

What a terrific idea! They may sell millions, if we can get obese Americans out of their cars and onto bicycles.

What a terrific idea! They may sell millions, if we can get obese Americans out of their cars and onto bicycles.


Just because I said 200 pounds, don't be picking on us obese Americans! :p

Every summer, my wife and I are putting more miles on ours bike than our cars.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/Xringer/fanny-1.jpg

And, of course, I promise not to use the motor unless it's a really steep hill! :rolleyes:
Otherwise, how would I get rid of my extra layer of potbelly in the springtime?

A really wonderful benefit of having both the motor and the battery in the hub, combined with wireless throttle, is you can just swap back to the original wheel and take off as a normal bike. No extra weight except the throttle, and it could be removed easily too, if desired.

Therefore, you may as well buy another rim (gotta buy the shorter spokes anyway), and even another tire/tube, and you are ready to go hybrid or human in a flash!

Sure hope this becomes commercial...

I'm hoping to get down to 200...

On the downside, the hub battery means more ratational mass, but I'd still take it.

On the downside, the hub battery means more ratational mass, but I'd still take it.


Check out the mass of these little scooter hub motors.
http://www.kellycontroller.com/shop/?mod=cat&cat_id=16

There is no way to use one of those things of the front wheel of a scooter,
and live to ride another day! :eyebrow:

Be sure to get heavy guage spokes. Don't let a shop put normal spokes on a hub motor, whether GreenWheel or conventional.

Depending on the cost, weight, and implementation of regenerative braking, I'd prefer a version without that feature. If it weren't for traffic safety, most of my rides could be done without brakes. They just slow you down. Virtually all of the momentum I generate goes into propulsion without wasteful conversion back to battery.

Not to quibble...