Design and use of an energy measurement module for speed pedelecs

The speed pedelec is an electric pedal assisted cycle (EPAC) that forms an interesting alternative for short range transportation methods. In contrast to pedelecs whose motor power is limited to 250 W, the speed pedelec comes with the advantage of higher speed limit (45 km/h) and motor power (up to 4 kW). However, the power consumption of speed pedelecs (and most EPACs) is often unknown, and with it, the potential travel range. To address these uncertainties, a standalone, accurate power monitoring device for speed pedelecs is designed and tested. The measurement module permits data to be captured enabling the investigation of research questions, such as the ratio of human input power versus motor assistance, or total power consumption by the (speed) pedelec motor.