The 2009 Schwinn Tailwind Electric Bike

By: Gladys Avalos

What is the E-Bike?

• It’s like a regular bicycle, but with an electric component that assists in pedaling.Schwinn Tailwind Link

How does it work?

The electric components

• The E-Bike’s electric components consist of the Battery Power Pac and the Plug N’ Drive DC Brushless Hub Motor

The electric components• The Hub Motor’s brushless

design uses “pulses” of electricity sent from the battery to create power.

• These pulses are triggered by the motor controller located just in front of the battery in the battery junction box.

• The controller is like the fuel injection system in a car metering out just the right amount of power efficiently at the right time based on rider input and road conditions

Power Dial• The Power Dial

allows you to control the power assist.

• It allows you to choose the level of pedal assist you prefer.

• When turned off, the E-Bike runs like a regular bike.

What’s so innovative about the E-Bike?

The Toshiba Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB)

• Toshiba’s Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) makes the Schwinn E-Bike the fastest charging E-Bike with a standard charge time of under 30 minutes

• Toshiba’s Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) Technology is capable of charging a laptop in as little as 10 minutes.

SCiB

• The structure of the battery prevents thermal runaway even if a short circuit is forced, making it one of the safest batteries in the market.

• It has minimal capacity loss so it’s capable of recharging for more than 2,000 cycles which makes it eco-friendly since battery replacement is reduced or completely eliminated

Toshiba's SCiB Link

Why ride an E-Bike?

It’s Eco-friendly

It’s Eco-Friendly• Reduces individual carbon

footprint(More about carbon footprint)

• Choosing to ride a bicycle instead of a car reduces the amount of smog that contaminates the air causing detrimental damage to the ozone layer.

• Gasoline, the fuel used to run cars, is a non-renewable resource

It’s economical

Save on gas...

• The E-Bike runs on electricity, not gas.

Save on mechanic...

• Save on trips to the mechanic, the E-Bike doesn’t need:

‣ Oil changes

‣ Smog checks

Save on DMV

• The E-Bike doesn’t require:

‣ a driver’s license

‣ registration

‣ insurance

‣ plates

It’s healthy

It’s healthy

• The E-Bike can be used as a regular bike, so you can use it as a workout as you enjoy the scenery

• When you feel you need a break, turn on the pedal assist to your desired level

The Benefits

The Benefits of Using the E-Bike

Miles per Month Gas $ Savings* Pounds of CO2

emissions savedCalories burned (for 150 lb person)

10 miles $2 3.88 279

25 miles $5 9.7 697

50 miles $10 19.4 1395

100 miles $20 38.8 2790

150 miles $30 58.2 4185

200 miles $40 77.6 5580

*Assuming the cost of one gallon of gasoline is 4 USD and the miles per gallon of your vehicle is approximately 20.Source: Schwinn CO2/$ Saved Calculator: http://www.schwinnelectricbikes.com/Extras/Calculator.aspx

In Comparison The E-bike compared to other modes of transportation

The E-Bike Reg. Bicycle Car Motorcycle

Uses gas (a nonrenewable resource)

No No Yes Yes

For road trips (>25 mi) No No Yes Yes

To commute (<25 mi) Yes No Yes Yes

Approx. money spent* (per month)

Eco-friendly*

*Rated on a scale of 1-5 each icon representing 1. Scale based on all the research.

Who is the E-Bike for?

Teenagers

• No license needed

• Less expensive than a car

• Good for commute to school

Seniors

• Cheaper than a car

• Entertaining

• Healthy

• Provides pedal assistance

Commuters

• No traffic

• Save on gas

• Some cities offer a tax credit

• No sweat

Everyone!!

The E-Bike is here to stay

Europe• The “Electric

Bikes Worldwide Reports – 2010 Update” estimates that 1,000,000 electric bicycles will be sold in Europe in 2010.

China

• There were roughly 120 million "e-bikes" on the road in China as of early 2010.

The U.S.• Sales in the

USA will reach roughly 300,000 in 2010, doubling the number sold in 2009.

Reviews

❖ Adam Aston of BusinessWeek gives the Schwinn Tailwind 3 1/2 stars and likes that “an electric motor makes pedaling a breeze” and described it as a “commuter bike.” However, he found the e-bike to be “heavy and cumbersome.”

❖Cnet’s Wayne Cunningham “found the assist useful, helping the bike along with minimal pedal input required.”

Reviews

❖Laura June of engadget said the Tailwind can help you “get to and from work without sweating profusely and horrifying your co-workers.” She also thought “the little extras like the on-board lights really make it a feasible means of transportation.”

References1. "Technology." Schwinn Electric Bikes. Schwinn, 2010. Web. 19 Apr 2010. <

http://http://www.schwinnelectricbikes.com/Technology/ElectronicComponents.aspx>.

2. "2009 Tailwind." Schwinn. Schwinn, 2010. Web. 19 Apr 2010. <http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Electric/Details/1367-s9_tail-Tailwind>.

3. "Testimonials." Schwinn Electric Bikes. Schwinn, 2010. Web. 19 Apr 2010. <http://www.schwinnelectricbikes.com/News/Testimonials.aspx>.

4. "CO2/Dollar Saving Calculator." Schwinn Electric Bikes. Schwinn, 2010. Web. 19 Apr 2010. <http://www.schwinnelectricbikes.com/Extras/Calculator.aspx>.

5. "Super-Charge Ion Battery (SCiB™) 12 & 24 V." TOSHIBA. Toshiba, 2010. Web. 19 Apr 2010. <http://www.toshiba.com/ind/product_display.jsp?id1=821>.

6. June, Laura. "Schwinn Tailwind electric bike review." n. pag. Web. 19 Apr 2010. <http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/schwinn-tailwind-electric-bike-review/>.

7. Aston, Adam. "The Schwinn Tailwind: An E-bike for Commuters." n. pag. Web. 19 Apr 2010. <http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/mar2009/id20

8. Cunningham, Wayne. "Schwinn Tailwind e-bike first take." n. pag. Web. 20 Apr 2010. <http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10196210-48.html>.

9. "What is a carbon footprint- definition." Time for Change. Time for Change, 2010. Web. 19 Apr 2010. <http://timeforchange.org/what-is-a-carbon-footprint-definition>.

10."Electric Bicycle." Wikipedia. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_bicycle>.