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Rivian's TM-B electric bike

(www.theverge.com)
190 points hasheddan | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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justinator ◴[] No.45676303[source]
Pedaling to make energy to store in a battery that then runs an electric motor seems to get around the best thing about bicycles: their efficiency.

No one is going to do that. It's an electric motorcycle in disguise. Don't even play.

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dfltr ◴[] No.45676373[source]
If only there were some way to take all that work of pedaling and efficiently translate it into torque on the rear wheel, right?
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justinator ◴[] No.45676570[source]
like a... drive train or something?

science fiction my good dude.

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_whiteCaps_ ◴[] No.45677486[source]
Wouldn't you be able to pedal at your most efficient rate, and go at whatever speed you want? Like how diesel-electric trains don't actually drive the wheels with the diesel engine, they power an electric motor.

(I've never ridden any kind of e-bike so I don't really know how it works)

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1. justinator ◴[] No.45677862[source]
Bikes have very efficient transmission systems, so outside of extremes you can pedal at an efficient amount of torque for the rider regardless of say: hitting a big hill. This is doubly so for e-bikes that assist in the pedaling.

This is more akin to a hybrid car, who's gas engine could generate electricity, but in the case of this e-Bike from Rivian, why would you do that? The electric motor is significantly more powerful than a person's legs, outside of the Pro Peleton.

Watch anyone on a Class 3 ebike: they're not pedaling. The bicycle drivetrain is just there to get around regulations, like having a license.

Rivian isn't known for making hyper-efficient electric vehicles. Rivians are MANLY trucks made to do MANLY truck things, like go fast! and go through tires faster!