An over constrained optimization problem: The prolonged autonomy bike (PA bike)

The Prolonged Autonomy e-bike o PA-bike is a e-bike that can use a traditional fuel to charge the battery during run or at rest. In this way it is possible to prolong the autonomy of the e-bike. A fuel cell with a reformer or a traditional very small catalyzed piston engine can be used. In both cases the emissions are very limited and the efficiency is very high, since the "traditional fuel" motors work at constant optimum condition. This paper tries to optimize the PA-bike by assembling commercial components. Outsourcing for bicycles should be very easy since commercial part availability is very high. Customization is a very common practice for bikers, since it does not require authorizations. However the problem proved to be over constrained. The commercial components, in particular the electric motor, proved to be an important boundary condition. The result is a single possible solution, or a category of solutions, all similar. This is due to the fact that commercial components are highly standardized for marketing reasons. © 2006-2015 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN).