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Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability

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You can always count on at least one interesting bike being walked around an outdoor trade show. From 36ers to hand built prototypes, it’s a good way to grab some attention even if you can’t afford a booth. This year that bike roaming about was an e-bike. Well, technically two e-bikes that are the work of mechanical wizzard, Jon Heim. As a former turbo charger engineer, inventor, and tinkerer, Jon has recently focused on electric vehicles as his latest challenge.

Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability

Why are the playfully named Heim-Bilt prototypes so interesting? As far as we know, they are the first e-bikes to offer major regenerative braking capabilities. We’re talking 30-50% of the battery capacity being recouped on any grade where the bike can coast. When e-bikes first started popping up years ago, one of the popular questions was always “when is someone going to figure out regenerative braking?” But the answer always seemed to be that bicycles were just too light for it to really work. Apparently no one told Jon that…

Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability

Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability

While the Heim-Bilt prototypes are not pretty, they are fully functioning and point to real future potential. Starting with a fixed rear hub, the convoluted arrangement of derailleurs, chains, and gears is set up so that when you get to a descent and pull the rear brake lever, the drivetrain turns the motor backwards creating energy.

Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability

As far as we understand it, when you pull on the rear brake lever, it operates a clutch that engages or disengages the motor. When you’re pedaling along, you can activate the electric assist which helps you pedal. But when you pull the lever, that assist is turned off and the clutch is activated which causes the coasting drivetrain to turn the motor in reverse which is what generates the power.

Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability

Because the regenerative braking is already slowing you down, there is no actual rear brake – but there are two different levels of ‘brake force.’ Currently on the prototypes, the assist is operated with a dial rather than a throttle, but Jon says the system could be built into a true pedalec style e-bike where you have to pedal to get any assistance.

Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability Heim-Bilt concept e-bike offers regenerative braking, self-charging spin bike ability

To validate his claims, Jon has rigged up RC motor power meters with one measuring the output and the other measuring the input. This is how he’s been able to figure out how much power the system is actually regenerating. Currently, the motor has a 10-1 reduction in gearing, but Jon says the system has an overall 33-1 reduction which is how he’s able to reach these numbers.

While at Sea Otter, Jon made this video where he used 5.5Wh climbing up the hill, but made 2.2Wh going back down. You can see how the tensioners swap positions when he goes from pedaling to regen braking.

The design also allows the bike to be self charging if you were to use it a a spin bike. By putting it in a rear wheel stand, and pulling the brake lever (Jon had a clip to lock it in place for this reason), pedaling the bike not only provides a workout but also charges the system.

Even though they’re still rough prototypes, this was one of the more interesting things I saw at the show just due to the amount of effort involved – especially for someone tinkering in their own shop. What do you think – is this be a sign of things to come for the e-bike world?

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BHidy
BHidy
4 years ago

Very cool, especially for those folks interested in a car replacement e-bicycle.

Matthias
Matthias
4 years ago

While myself I’m not a big fan of ebikes, I can see how they can make bicycles a viable transport for a larger number of people. And in the end that’s going to change more in the world than the latest suspension design that makes you 0.5% faster on that climb. Kudos, that’s true innovation!

roadstain
4 years ago
Reply to  Matthias

Shockingly cool. Amazing engineering (electrical and mechanical).

The trend however all of all of this “green” hooplah is not much more than snake oil. Be it a carbon bicycle (or any other material for that matter) or an electric car….there is a very valid reason why most of that technology is not built in the US. Seven simple letters….EPA and OSHA.

Used to be the joke was in 1,000,000 years the world would be nothing but AOL CD’s….now, we can see a future of toxins and not recoup-able batteries that – if like so many 55 gallon steel drums, will be sent to trash piles in third world nations.

With this trend, one of the cleanest forms of transportation is rapidly turning into one of the most dirty.

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Mark
Mark
4 years ago

The BionX hub motors have regenerative braking without all the mechanical hacks. It still wasn’t enough of a value proposition to keep the company in business.

scott g.
scott g.
4 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Mark,

Elby bought Bionix, and is building bikes with their system.

Bionix has 4 steps of regen braking, feels like engine braking
in a manual transmission car. Bionix also has a sensor on the brake
lever to trigger regen.

Chuck Trout
Chuck Trout
4 years ago
Reply to  Mark

The difference between hub motor regeneration like Bionix and this is rather than a percentage or two of regeneration this is 30-50%. It’s a reversible Motor/Dynamo

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-suxSqrP_X4

Stuart B
Stuart B
4 years ago

Zehus already makes regenerative e-bike hub motors and has done so for a few years. With their version, the bike automatically regenerates when going downhill or can be activated as an extra rear brake.

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