Commercially Available Bike Generators Are Not Sustainable (2011)

rgmerk•24 minutes ago

This arguably had some relevance in 2011. In 2026, cheap solar and batteries make human-powered static devices that would benefit from the extra power of a stationary cyclist completely redundant.

usrusr•about 2 hours ago

Needs "2011" in the title. For example the section about friction drive hasn't been true for about a decade now

rgmerk•28 minutes ago

Not to mention they’re talking about lead-acid batteries, which have been replaced for pretty much every application, except (for now) starter motor batteries for combustion vehicles, by the various lithium batteries.

chihuahua•20 minutes ago

To be fair (as a joke), it's from Low Tech Magazine. Lithium batteries are too high-tech for them. They want you to power your mechanical blender, mixer, and other machines with a drive belt. Turn the drum of your washing machine with a wood fire heating the water.

allenrb•35 minutes ago

Nobody would (or should, at least) be using a lead-acid battery for this in 2026, either.

Full-cycle efficiency should be higher now. And the inverter. And the generator.

tocs3•4 days ago

Some things I would like to see are pedal controlled devices. Something like a pedal controlled wheelchair, not powered by the pedals just control the forward and back motion. My mother with sever arthritis can still pedal but has a very hard time walking. It would be a little exercise doing something that needs to be done (getting around). A pedal controlled remote control lawnmower would be nifty also.

grebc•about 2 hours ago

Where I used to live an elderly gent rode a very low to ground bike. Looked a lot like the silly motorbikes some peeps do. I imagine they’re out there for sale.

Tanoc•38 minutes ago

A recumbent bicycle perhaps? Often has pedals ahead of the front wheel, where you lay down in a hammock or moulded seat?

micromacrofoot•38 minutes ago

many ebikes work this way, pedaling and the chain more or less signal the motor rather than provide meaningful power... though afaik none of them do backwards for obvious reasons

she might enjoy an etrike, though more for recreation than normal day to day

Mugshelf•about 1 hour ago

Tried one at a demo; you put in a ton of work for minimal wattage. Much better off with a decent power bank, honestly.

scotty79•about 2 hours ago

You could attach pedals directly to motor axle and control charging power drawn precisely to ensure smooth rotation in absence of the flywheel. It could be really small.

Commercially Available Bike Generators Are Not Sustainable (2011)

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