What is an electric bicycle?
What about the battery?
For whom is the Peak Hour electric bicycle designed?
Does the electric bicycle have a significant impact on health?
How do I operate the electric bicycle?
Do I have to pedal in order to start up?
What is the bicycle’s autonomy?
How do I recharge the bicycle?
What should I do if I do not have access to an outdoor or garage outlet?
Is this battery the same as a car battery?
What happens when the battery is down?
Does the battery recharge while pedaling?
How much does a spare battery cost?
What happens when I exceed 30 km/h?
Do I need to wear a helmet?
For what degree slopes is the Strong designed for?
Is the electric bicycle more cumbersome than the conventional bicycle?
Is the electric bicycle permitted on cycle tracks?
Can the electric bicycle be driven in rain conditions?
Can the assistance mode remain activated?
What about punctures?
What precautions should I take before storing my bicycle?
What is an electric bicycle?
An electric bicycle is also referred to as a power-assisted bicycle. It is a bicycle to which electric
components (motor, battery, and accelerator) have been added to facilitate its use. Safety
features and other components like on-off switches, brakes with circuit breakers, battery charge
indicators, speedometers, running lights and/or turn signals, etc. can be added to adapt to the
users’ needs.
What about the battery?
The battery is a key component of the electric bicycle. Indeed, the 36 Volt, 12 Ah and sealed
lead-acid maintenance-free battery is directly responsible for the bicycle’s autonomy. The battery
set consists of three 12 volt elements, which are all standard and easily found off-the-shelf.
For whom is the Peak Hour electric bicycle designed?
For men and women who:
- want or need to exercise without ever exceeding their limits
- want to take strolls, go on treks and enjoy different landscapes
- want to avoid the difficulties of riding a conventional bicycle
- want to have a means of transportation to go to work or school
- need to run errands and maximize their time
- need to make deliveries
- want to avoid using the car or public transportation
- want to be able to use this means in public areas and parks
- want to use it in camping facilities
- own mobile homes
Does the electric bicycle have a significant impact on health?
Yes. On June 26th 2002, Belgium issued a press release stating that the use of electric powerassisted
bicycles was beneficial to one’s health: “The question that everybody is asking today
concerns the proportion of health benefits from electric bicycle use. The data from 20 subjects
(aged 35 to 55) who used the electric bicycle for commuting to and from work (between 5 and 15
km) for a 6-week period was analyzed. A first evaluation 4 weeks prior to the study was
conducted on the physiological parameters of the participants. The same tests were performed
again after the utilization period. These tests assessed health related parameters like the
maximal oxygen uptake, the lactic acid level and the maximum power output. No significant
results were notified for the maximal oxygen uptake, yet the power output and endurance levels
improved drastically. These results show that even the slightest effort while using the electric
bicycle is beneficial to aerobic fitness and health in general. Moreover, the electric bicycle helps
counter inactivity in a sedentary population.” See Press Release at: www.delathouwer.irisnet.be
How do I operate the electric bicycle?
You can pedal and control the motor at the same time in order to benefit from electric
assistance. For more freedom, you can ride using the motor only.
The bicycle works on a propulsion mode, therefore you can operate it without pedaling.
It’s up to you!
The Peak Hour is equipped with a pedal-assisted system as well as a throttle
Do I have to pedal in order to start up?
It is not mandatory but we recommend you do it in order to reduce the battery’s energy
consumption and to preserve the bicycle’s autonomy. The electric assistance function is
accessible with a manual control.
What is the bicycle’s autonomy?
The Peak Hour has an autonomy that varies between 30 km and 55 km per charge. Its
autonomy comes from various factors: physical effort, inclines, tire pressure, wind, motor speed
and energy consumption.
How do I recharge the bicycle?
The bicycle comes with a charger that plugs into a standard power outlet. A red warning light
indicates that the charger is functioning, whereas a green warning light indicates that the battery
is fully-charged. The 36 Volt battery charger has met the Australian safety standard
What should I do if I do not have access to an outdoor or garage outlet?
It is very simple, all you
need to do is remove the battery pack from its bicycle support and charge it wherever you want.
Is this battery the same as a car battery?
The bicycle battery is a lead-acid battery, just like the conventional car batteries. However, it is
maintenance-free (no need to add water) and has a different technology. To start a petrol
engine, a great capacity of energy is needed for a short period of time, whereas the bicycle
battery delivers less energy but for a longer period of time.
What happens when the battery is down?
You can use your Peak Hour like any conventional bicycle and pedal to any destination.
However, your bicycle is specifically equipped with a battery charge indicator so you can manage
the energy required to travel without worrying about running out of energy, just like a car’s fuel
gauge. Note that there is no risk for the motor when the bicycle is operated with the pedals alone.
Does the battery recharge while pedaling?
No. The battery can only recharge when plugged into a conventional power outlet. It does not
include a dynamo recharge system. It is pure make-believe that we can recharge a battery by
simply pedaling, like some brands stipulate. It does somewhat recharge when braking or going
downhill. But even then, these actions never last long enough and only charge the battery with
mini volts, the energy equivalent of a weak bicycle bulb.
How much does a spare battery cost?
A spare battery costs 200 $ (plus shipping charges).
What happens when I exceed 30 km/h?
Once you exceed 30 km/h, the electrical assistance becomes very weak. But you can ride faster by pedaling as you would with a conventional bicycle as there is
no risk for the motor since it declutches automatically and switches to free-wheel mode.
Do I need to wear a helmet?
Yes, the law obliges the rider of any bicycle fitted with an electric motor to wear a cycling
helmet. For basic safety reasons, we strongly recommend the wearing of bicycle helmets with all
types of bicycles. Remember: 1 injury out of 5 in a cycling accident is a head injury.
For what degree slopes is the Strong designed for?
Reasonably, you can climb 8° to 10° hills without forcing too much. Above that range, you will
have to press harder on the pedals to get to the top.
Is the electric bicycle more cumbersome than the conventional bicycle?
No. They are just a little heavier because of the battery and motor. This weight difference goes
unnoticed as you start riding.
Is the electric bicycle permitted on cycle tracks?
Yes. The electrical bicycle is considered to be a bicycle.
Can the electric bicycle be driven in rain conditions?
Yes. The electric bicycle is completely safe to be driven in the rain. All electric elements are
hermetically sealed and protected in a shielding.
Can the assistance mode remain activated?
No. As soon as you brake, the electric system is automatically cut from its source of power. Both
brakes are equipped with automatic circuit breakers.
What about punctures?
Peak Hour bicycles are equipped with puncture-proof air chambers. A self-sealing liquid inside the air chamber seals most of the perforations likely to cause punctures. All this with no additional cost. You can ride in a stress-free state of mind!
What precautions should I take before storing my bicycle?
There aren’t any specific precautions to take for the electric bicycle, just like for the conventional
bicycle, aside from storing it in a dry location at room temperature. For the battery, we
recommend storing a recharged battery. The battery naturally loses a great quantity of energy per
day. It will need to be recharged after about 6 weeks.
