Is it legal to use electric bikes like ours on British roads?

Yes. They even have backing from the government.

In response to a question raised in Parliament September in 2003, Transport Minister George Jamieson MP stated on September 15, 2004:

"Electrically assisted pedal cycles complying with the requirements in The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Construction and Use Regulations 1983 are able to use facilities provided for ordinary bicycles. The Government are committed to encouraging more cycling as a healthy, useful and enjoyable means of travel."

In summary, under the regulations referred to above, an electric bicycle is not considered a motor vehicle and therefore does not require a licence, third-party insurance, road tax, registration plates if:

• The bicycle weighs less than 40kg without its rider.
  The Agattu weighs around 25kg with battery.
  
  
• It cannot exceed 25kph - about 15.5mph - under power.
  The Agattu's top assisted speed is about 15.5mph. The motor helps you get up to speed from a standing start and stay there - you can use the pedals to exceed 20mph.
  
  
• It has usable pedals
  Many electric bikes and scooters come with basic pedals just to keep within the rules and are too heavy to ride. Ours are fully-functioning road bikes with electric motor assistance.
  
  
• Its motor has a rated output of less than 0.25kW (i.e.250 Watts).
  The Agattu's motor is a 'strikingly efficient' 250W model.
  

All our electric bicycles comply with these rules and with the new EN 15194 standard that will come into force across the European Union shortly. You will not need to register your bicycle, hold a licence, take out compulsory insurance or pay road tax. However, you must be aged 14 years or over.

Batteries - The Facts of UK

1] There are approx 20,000 tons of primary and secondary batteries landfilled in the UK every year.

2] The energy used to manufacture primary and secondary battery cells [rechargeable and household batteries] is 50 times greater than the electrical energy they produce when been discharged.

3] It is estimated that there are 35 million households in the UK that use these batteries with a spend of approx £105 each per year.

4] The battery market in the UK is worth on average £250 million per year.

5] In the year 1999 to 2000 the UK purchased 654 million batteries for use in portable powered products.

6] The average household uses approx 20-30 batteries per year and is increasing.

7] It is estimated that 22,000 ton of batteries was sold in 2002 containing approx 4,000 ton of re-usable zinc.

8] It is estimated that 77% of the population own at least one mobile phone which represents about 45 million people which are replaced every 18 months for a new upgraded version.

9] In the UK there are approx 45 million mobile phones in use which would stretch
2,250 kilometeres which is more than 10 times around the M25 ! by 2004.

10] Within 3 years [2004] there will be enough mobile phones been discarded in the UK to cover the length of the Great Wall of China!!

11] It is a well known fact that 50 to 70% of discarded nickel based batteries can be re-used if “regular” deep discharge is done from new.

12] The single largest source of mercury is found in household batteries especially in alkaline and button cells.

13] The majority of primary and secondary cells contain metals that are potentially toxic to the environment such as nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and mercury.

14] Under new Legislation from the EU Parliament [WEEE Directive 2003] manufacturers of alkaline batteries have already made the commitment to eventually remove mercury from batteries. However, mercury is an integral part of button batteries and cannot be eliminated completely. The parts per million have been reduced to 0.001, a more acceptable level.

15] Nickel cadmium is the worst toxic waste of the three chemistries. One mobile phone or power tool battery is enough to pollute 600,000 litres of water which would be enough to fill one third of an Olympic swimming pool.

16] Platinum, gold, silver and copper are precious metals used in mobile phones which are all recovered during the recycling process and re-used as an available resource.

17] Careless disposal of the nickel cadmium batteries is very hazardous to the environment. When cadmium is disposed of in landfill, the toxic waste will eventually dissolve itself and the substances finding its way into the water supply, thus causing serious health problems. Already, our oceans are beginning to show traces of cadmium including aspirin, penicillin and antidepressants but the source of the contamination is unknown to date. [Batteries in a Portable World 2001]

18] Although Nickel metal Hydride batteries are considered environmentally friendly the main derivative is nickel, which is been considered as semi-toxic. Ni-MH also contains an electrolyte that in large amounts is hazardous to the environment.

19] It is well known within the industry that it takes six to ten times the amount of energy to reclaim metals from recycled batteries than it would through other means.

20] In the year 2000, the total battery energy consumed globally by laptops and mobile phones alone was estimated to be 2,500Mega Watts. This equals 25,000 cars powered by a 100kw engine [134hp] driving at motorway speed.

21] The new Landfill Directive [July 2003] prohibits primary and secondary cells from going to landfill because they are potentially hazardous to the environment.

How to prolong lithium-based batteries

Simple Guidelines

• Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does not cause harm because there is no memory. (In this respect, lithium-ion differs from nickel-based batteries.) Short battery life in a laptop is mainly cause by heat rather than charge / discharge patterns.
  
  
• Batteries with fuel gauge (laptops) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off the device prematurely.
  
  
• Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the battery at a 40% charge level.
  
  
• Consider removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power. (Some laptop manufacturers are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing.)
  
  
• Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries for later use. Observe manufacturing dates. Do not buy old stock, even if sold at clearance prices.
  
  
• If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one to the fullest and keep the other cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the battery. For best results, store the battery at 40% state-of-charge.

Camcorder Battery Usage Tips

1) A new camcorder battery comes in a discharged condition and must be charged before use (refer to the devices manual for charging instructions). Upon initial use (or after a prolonged storage period) the digital camcorder battery may require three to four charge/discharge cycles before achieving maximum capacity.
# When charging the camcorder battery for the first time the device may indicate that charging is complete after just 10 or 15 minutes. This is a normal phenomenon with rechargeable batteries. Remove the digital camcorder battery from the device, reinsert it and repeat the charging procedure.


2) It is important to condition (fully discharge and then fully charge) the camcorder battery every two to three weeks. Failure to do so may significantly shorten the battery's life (this does not apply to Li-Ion batteries, which do not require conditioning). To discharge, simply run the device under the digital camcorder battery's power until it shuts down or until you get a low battery warning. Then recharge the battery as instructed in the user's manual.

3) If the camcorder battery will not be in use for a month or longer, it is recommended that digital camcorder battery be removed from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place.

4) The milliamp-hour (mAh) rating of the Hi-CapacityT camcorder battery will often be higher than the one on the original battery. A higher mAh rating is indicative of a longer lasting (higher capacity) battery and will not cause any incompatibilities. A Hi-CapacityT digital camcorder battery will, in most cases, outperform the original by 30% to 50%.

5) New camcorder needs to be fully charged and discharged (cycled) a few times before it can condition to full capacity. Rechargeable batteries undergo self-discharging when left unused. Always store a digital camcorder in a fully charged staged for storage.

6) Don't short circuit terminal or store your digital camcorder with metal parts. Don't connect and disconnect the camcorder within a short interval to prevent irregular charging of the rechargeable battery.

7) It's okay to use different brands of digital camera batteries in the same device -- for example, Energizer, Duracell, and generic. Voltage is voltage, and the device neither knows nor cares that made the camera batteries you put in it. Remember, you can mix brands but not types

8) Camera Batteries self-discharge quicker when it's hot. They're fine at room temperature, but once it's over 90o or so, they'll start losing their charge faster. So don't leave digital camcorder in a hot car.

9) Don't overheat. Do not attempt to charge non-rechargeable batteries. This will overheat them and could cause a fire. Keep camcorder batteries out of hot places, like your car. Your car can be an oven, and baking your digital camcorder batteries shortens their life.

Battery Charger - a Necessity to Save Money

As you start using a digital camera, its battery becomes your basic need as no digital camera can work without battery. And it is a well known fact that batteries do not last for long. Either you need to replace it with the new one or recharge the same to continue with your activity. Batteries are quite expensive and therefore, no one would like to purchase a new one every next day. As a result, rechargeable battery comes as the best option for the digital camera users.



To recharge the empty battery, you need a battery charger. A battery charger is a device used to revive the lost power of the battery. It recharges the battery for its use again and again. You can recharge a single battery almost hundreds of times for its use. A battery charger is a very useful device for the digital camera users. A battery charger may not be the part of your digital camera, but without it your camera can not function smoothly as you will run short of battery soon. Therefore, you need to carry the battery charger with you whenever leaving for a day long outdoor shoot. However, it may not possible you to carry the battery charger with the camera all the time. So make sure to recharge the battery before leaving the place.

Every model of the camera has different types of batteries. Resultant, battery charger should also be selected matching with the camera model and batteries. A wrong selection of battery charger can burst the batteries and will increase your expenses almost double by enforcing you to buy new pair of batteries. You need to take care of your battery charger well as in case of lost you will need to go on a hunt in market for the new matching battery charger.

However, one can find the battery charger in various places. A lot many options are available to a user to acquire the required kind of battery charger. Either you look in the retail stores in your locality. Many times, you will find the battery chargers in the nearby shops selling the camera accessories or electronic spare parts. A variety of battery chargers are available in the market suiting the requirements of battery. It is suggested to the user to remember the model number of the camera and the type of batteries used in it. This will help you in finding the right kind of battery charger you require for your batteries.

Another option available at your disposal is the online shop site offering spare parts and accessories for the camera. These sites will provide you battery charger at a competitive price. With the battery charger, you can save a good amount spent on purchasing the batteries every now and then.

3 Tips That Will Keep Your Auto Battery Charger Charging

With more people owning cars, motorcycles and RV's there are more reasons to buy an auto battery charger. People are finding it more economical to do it yourself and buying chargers to keep their batteries going. This makes sense both economically and ecologically as these can extend the life of a battery. But what about extending the life of your charger?

Even though buying a charger for your favorite vehicle is relatively inexpensive here are three pointers to prolong the life of your battery charger. These tips mostly apply to portable and bench tip models but the first and third tip apply to the self contained chargers, such as tenders, as well.

Vacuum the outside

Blankets keep you warm. A blanket of dust does so too when covering electronic devices. Heat is a leading killer of electronic components. All devices are designed to operate at their peak within a certain temperature range. Having a layer of dirt and dust can cause excessive heat therefore quite possibly shortening the life of your device.

Blow out the vents

Just as dust on the outside can create an insulating layer so it can on the inside. I can hear the people who work on semiconductor equipment (i.e. computers and other electronic devices) saying you can damage it by the static electricity generated from moving air particles. Although it is a very slight risk and might happen, blowing it out gently once or twice a year with dry clean air is well worth the risk to keep it safe from heat damage.

Keep objects away

Still playing on the blanket theme just as dust can be like a blanket so can objects that closely surround it. Keep clutter away at least three to six inches or more. This ensures that the unit can cool normally under conditions that it was designed for.

Buying an auto battery charger makes great sense especially if you own more than one vehicle. Keeping it clean and running optimally is even smarter since this will prolong the life of your device providing many years of charging.

Sony PSP USB Charger: Avail Its Twin Advantage

When it comes to owning a PSP accessories, Sony would always come ahead of many other manufacturers due to its quality and reliability of products. Sony PSP USB charger is one such important and useful accessory which is must have equipment for those having a PSP. This accessory let you use the memory card without putting it inside the computer or your laptop when you wish to transfer some information from your memory card to computer. Using this Sony USB, you can use the memory card as an external drive, and can share photographs, videos, and any other information with your computer, laptop and other device.


Owning Sony PSP USB charger has double benefits. The first which has already been mentioned - it helps you sharing data and information between your memory cards and computer/laptop, etc. The another benefit of having a Sony PSP is that it also acts as a charger, and helps you in power-refilling. Thus its two-in-one function of being a power refill as well as data transfer cable is of great use for PSP owners. Its twin features allow you to recharge your PSP at the same time when you are sharing/downloading information by using USB cable port.



The double purpose of Sony PSP USB charger is cluttered with abundant of benefits. The most important is its time saving feature. As it allows you to recharge your phone at the same time you are downloading data, it saves a lot of your time. The other Sony PSP accessory like scratch remover is meant specially to increase life of your PSP, as it helps you removing scratch on the lens of your Sony PSP. It cleans the screen, and gives it longer life. The scratch remover cream is quite sufficient to be used 7-10 times over the lens of PSP.

A Detailed Look at iPod Car Charger and iPod Leather Case

iPod accessories are gaining a lot of popularity. Thanks to the increasing usage of iPods. Almost every pocket and every second hand possesses an iPod. iPod are quite popular among the young crowd. But for proper iPod care and usage, you need iPod accessories.



Let us see one of the most commonly used iPod accessories. iPod car charger ensures that you never run out of music, even if your iPod runs out of battery charge. Now you can stay connected to all your favourite stuff, music and videos, even while on the drive. So if you are planning a long drive, with or without a companion, you can always put on your iPod and enjoy the drive. And you do not even have to worry about the battery charge.

Just by plugging in into the 12v cigarette lighter socket, you can charge your iPod with the iPod charger. You can keep the device both switched off or in the active mode while charging. You can also listen to your stored music while getting it charged. Some of the iPod car chargers are designed in a compact shape and have a coiled cord, so that the wire does not get entangled, neither does it consume much space.

Another popular iPod accessory is the iPod leather case. The best way to protect your iPod is to keep it in a leather case. By putting the device in this safe zone, you protect it from the dust and other foreign particles that might prove harmful for the iPod. The iPod leather case also looks classy and thereby adds a touch of elegance to the iPod. It is advisable to get iPod leather cases that fit your iPod perfectly. Also get iPod leather case that enables full access to song controls, headphone and firewire jacks.

You will get iPod accessories like iPod car charger and iPod leather case with leading online sites - quite easily.

Lisa Sienna worked as a sales manager in a mobile retail store in the UK. She has an in-depth knowledge about various makes and models of mobile phones, iPod and their accessories. The article given here covers the arena of iPod Car Charger

5 Reasons To Own A Portable Car Battery Charger

It's easy to understand why a car battery charger is a great tool to have around. Cars, lawn equipment and motorized toys have batteries and may need occasional charging. Outdoor toys and lawn equipment especially need it due to infrequent use. Since some equipment does not have an on board generator it is up to the user to recharge to continue use.



Not everyone knows how easy it is to have their own portable car battery charger. They are actually rather simple to operate and have. You can get one that is basically an on or off operation or a complicated as monitoring and self adjusting charging voltages.

Here are five reasons why it is easy for anyone with a car, truck, or outdoor vehicle to own one:

1. You can take it anywhere

The great thing about these devices is that you really don't need a set space for them. Years ago you set the charger on a shelf or parked its cart in a corner and that's pretty much where it set. The newer units can pretty much be used anywhere you can find an electrical outlet.

2. They can be small and compact

You can find them light and small enough to fit in toolboxes and glove boxes.

Thanks to newer technologies electrical components can be smaller and lighter. Some chargers are as light as a couple of pounds. As long as you have a power source available, usually an ac outlet, you can be charging in minutes.

3. Cheap enough to own

With the same technologies that made these marvels lighter and smaller also means they are cheaper to produce. This has meant manufacturers producing more therefore lower prices. Add in to the mix resources such as Ebay and Amazon and bargains can be found. Chargers can be had for less than $100 and many times less than $50.

4. Extend the life of your battery and save

Newer units such as tenders can keep the battery topped off without boiling out the electrolyte and therefore potentially destroying your battery. One person was able to keep the same battery for his hobby car for over ten years thanks to a specialized charger. How much could this save you over the course of several years?

5. Keep your recreational toys on the ready

Ever had a spur of the moment idea to take the motorcycles out on the first nice spring day? If your battery did nothing but sit during the winter you might not get out as quick as you'd like. Having a charger can keep the battery up and ready to go when you are.

Although you would need a charger more if you own motorcycles, RVs, or other outdoor toys that are used infrequently, even car owners should own one as a precaution. With small size, light weight and low cost there isn't a reason why you shouldn't have one in your garage, closet, toolbox, or glove box. Add the fact that you could even possibly extend the life of your battery adds that much more value to your small investment.

The Power Outside - External Laptop Battery Charger - Emergency Charger

Anyone who has ever owned a laptop computer knows that it can sometimes take quite a long time for a laptop to charge the battery. One of the ways around this problem is to get your hands on an external laptop battery charger, which can really help to speed up the process, and can be used to charge a second to battery, always a good idea when you are a heavy user of the computer. This article will look at a few considerations that need to be borne in mind when buying this extremely useful laptop accessory.


The first thing to remember is that choosing a charger needs to be done with great care, since at the very least you may end up with a charger which does not charge your battery properly, or could even cause damage to the battery itself, and you could be left with no power at all for your laptop. In the least worst case you could end up with a battery that is only partially charged, which means your notebook might run out of power after just an hour or so of operation, which could cause you a lot of trouble if it happens in an opportune moment.

In the worst case scenario you could end up with a battery charger causing a lot of damage to the battery itself, which means you have to then go out and buy a completely new battery pack, which of course can be very expensive.

One of the most common mistakes is to buy a charger which is not a suitable for the type of battery itself, usually a charger that is too small to take the battery. There are some types which can charge different sizes, but these are usually only supplied by manufacturers to charge the various sizes of battery for their complete laptop range. They are not usually available for different models. It is usually better to find a universal type of charger, possibly with a docking system.

An external battery charger can be a real boon, but, as you can see, you really do need to take a lot of care when you're choosing one because the wrong choice could leave you with practically no battery at all.

7 ways to make your laptop battery last longer

With the latest portable PCs, working on the move has never been easier, but laptops are still slaves to the National Grid.

You can do practically anything on a modern laptop, but their advanced features drain battery life to the extent that you can only get a couple of hours out of your laptop before it turns up its toes.

While battery life is a chief cause of mobile moans, it's possible to get significant improvements by simple good practice and a few software tweaks. To help you get the most from your laptop battery, here are seven easy ways to make it last longer.

1. Dim your screen

The screen is one of the most power-hungry parts of the laptop. It takes serious amounts of battery power to keep your display looking clear and bright. Saving this power is simply a question of turning the brightness down. The screen brightness button is usually located as a second function of one of the F keys, and is represented by a little sun symbol with up and down icons. To use it, just hold down the correct function key and then choose up or down.

2. Change power settings

Windows Vista comes with some great power features, which enable you to eke out the best performance when you're plugged into the mains, and optimise battery life when on the move. Type power options into the Start Search box and choose Power saver from the list. The Windows Mobility Center has more methods for saving battery life. These include settings for powering off the monitor and kicking into sleep mode more quickly.

3. Switch off Wi-Fi

One of the biggest battery sappers is the wireless networking capabilities built into most laptops. Wi-Fi drains the battery by constantly drawing power from the battery and, when not connected, looking for networks. When you're using your laptop away from the grid, the likelihood is you're away from wireless networks, so you can turn this device off. Many laptops have a function button that enables you to turn off the wireless adaptor manually to save yourself the unnecessary waste, but older laptops often don't have this. If this is the case, just go to the Control Panel, access the Network Connections menu and disable your wireless connection manually.

4. Turn off peripherals

Using USB peripherals can put a big drain on your system, because your motherboard has to power them, so unplugging everything saves juice. USB sticks, mice and webcams are common offenders, so copy all your information across and eject your devices as soon as possible, and put up with laptop track pads over your USB mouse. Many laptops have function buttons to turn off the built-in webcam, which drains the battery if given the chance.

5. Eject your disc drives

Having a disc spinning in the drive is a huge drain on resources, and many programs constantly do this. Simply eject your discs before you switch to battery power to gain vital extra minutes from your working day.

6. Invest in some hardware

Good practice can go some way to extending your battery life, but if you need to use your laptop throughout your working day, you're going to need some help. Most laptops come with a six-cell battery, but many manufacturers offer eight- or even 12-cell optional upgrades, which can double your power. The alternative to expensive laptop batteries are products such as the Philips Portable Power Pack, which gives you valuable extra hours for all your devices. The Philips is a compact battery unit that has adaptors for most laptops and mobile phones, which is portable enough to be placed in a bag and has enough capacity to double the length of your charge.

7. Disable features

Windows Vista has some handy built-in features, but many put demands on your system that are unnecessary when working on the move. Take the simple measure of turning off Windows Aero and the Windows Sidebar when you're on the move to make your laptop more efficient.

Cycle Maintenance Tips

• Riding a brand new bike around town is a great experience, everything works efficiently and you don't get strange clunks or whirrs as you go. You may find you have a similar feeling when you get your bike back from a full service at your bike shop.

• The great thing is, if you take a little bit of time to regularly look after your bike you will retain it in this condition, making your ride faster and more enjoyable and extending the life of the bike. By keeping your bike in good condition it will be more reliable and you will need fewer replacement parts, so saving money.
  
  
  

Things to Consider When Buying Battery Charger

When it comes to selecting a laptop battery charger, there are several options available that it could be threatening to select among them. Following are some general rules would guarantee that you select a laptop battery charger, which would meet your requirements and offer your top excellence service for years to come. A classic battery charger could handle either NiMH or even NiCad batteries. A NiMH charger normally works with NiCad cells, but do not work vice versa. Most battery chargers are considered to work with AA or AAA batteries.



Certain electronic products need an extraordinary set-up battery charger that is frequently offered by the manufacturer. The average battery charger has a capability of either four or some times six batteries. Ideally, you must have no less than an extra pair of charged batteries readily available at all times, so ensure your battery charger could manage the load.

The characteristic battery charger is motorized by means of an AC outlet. Smaller units plug up straight into the outlet, making them tremendously suitable for people on the go. Because they are deliberated keeping travelers in mind, these battery chargers frequently work with both 100 and 220 volt outlets with out the want for an adapter. Cheaper laptop battery chargers have need of an external converter in the shape of a power brick that moves electricity to the charger by means of a power cord. This kind of charger is much affordable but too inconvenient, and it more often than not cannot handle 220 volts unless a classy adapter is added.

One feature merit paying extra money on is a charger control. An expensive laptop battery charger has a clever computer chip, which switches the charger off when the batteries are completely charged. It could as well recognize how much charge is at first in the batteries and only add whatever is then needed. Cheaper chargers, in contrast, charge batteries for a fixed length of time that could as well overcharge the battery and lessen its life. A simple LED is on an average used to point to when the charge cycle is complete.

Car Charger for Nokia/motorola/sony Ericsson

A lot of people are looking for effective solutions that makes full utilisation of resources. One such device is the car charger. Car charger or car mobile phone charger are devised in order to help you make the most of driving time. Even if you forget to charge up your mobile phone at home, you can do it while on your way to office or back with ease.



The benefits of car charger are immense - and this is best understood by those who often forget to charge up their mobile phones and discover a flat battery when their chargers are far off at home. It is also of extreme help for those - who need to travel a lot.

Different brands of car chargers are available. Basically every brand of mobile phone have chargers that are compatible to them and other phones of the same brand (in the same range or across different ranges, in the same brand). Let us have a bird's eye look at the car chargers of some of the very popular brands of mobile phones, particularly preferred in UK.

Nokia car charger
Nokia phones in the similar range, like N95 and N71, N73, N72 are compatible with the same Nokia car charger.

Motorola car charger
Similarly Motorola phones of the same range, like A780, A910, E1070, E770V, KRZR K1, L2, L6, PEBL U6, RAZR MAXX, RAZR V3, RAZR V3xx, Rizr, SLVR L7, V360, V3i, V3x, W375 - all are compatible with the same car charger.

Sony Ericsson car charger
Sony Ericsson car charger can work for all the following mobile phones - D750i, J100i, J220i, J230i, K200i, K310i, K510i, K550i, K610i, K750i, K790i, K800i, M600i, P990i, V630, W200i, W300i, W550i, W610i, W700i, W710i, W800i, W810i, W850i, W880i, W900i, W950i, Z310i, Z520i, Z530i, Z550i, Z558i, Z610i, Z710i.

How to Choose Laptop Battery Charger

The wear of laptop is much more than mobile phone. In the extreme situation, the power supply need to charge the battery and burden the laptop to work, and most of laptops does not have compatible charger, because the voltage, current, even interface of laptop's models is different.


The compatible charger which can be used in many laptops may be more expensive than original battery, even if the interface is the same, but the voltage or current is less than standard which line out, when the machine go off at full score the battery maybe cannot get enough charging current, this will damage the battery. If the voltage or current is less than standard which line out much more, even you will find that you can't start the computer or cannot charge.

So when you choose the power supply, it should be the same with original. At least the voltage and current must accord with the standard number.

How to choose the right AC Adapter?

Method 1

Check the Output Current of Your Laptop

Special Feature

1) It will be no problem If the output current (A) of your labtop adapter is smaller than our AC Adapter.

2) Our AC Adapter has +/- 1 Voltage allowance.

Then, you can go to check your Original Laptop or Adapter now.

Step 1a: Refer to the label on AC adapter for your device - to check the "Output" power.	Step 1b: Check the label stuck on the device - to see the input power requirement.

Method 2

Calculate the Capacity of Your Original Adapter

Perfect Commuting Solution - PowerSmart Electric Bike

Get to Work Faster With No Petrol - No Insurance - No Road Tax and No Sweat! The PowerSmart Electric Bike is Finally Here!

Buy any of our high powered 250 watt electric bikes from ElectricBike.org.UK. DO NOT confuse our bikes with inferior bikes found in the UK.

SUPER FAST - HI PERFORMANCE
250 WATT ELECTRIC BIKES

Dear Car Driver,

Are you struggling to manage your petrol bills, struggling with insurance, the new higher rate of road tax, need to get to work faster? - Have you considered cycling to work but can't face the hills or lost some sparkle in those legs?

Then you are the same person as I was last year! After losing my driving license for 12 months in 2007 I faced the issue of getting to work on the only thing I could legally drive...a push bike. I tried it for a couple of weeks and simply came into the office dripping wet with sweat and exhaustion there had to be a better way..

Then one day while surfing the net I came upon a specific range of electric bikes, I had already seen some UK electric bikes advertised but they appeared to be old technology with big lumpy battery packs, acid batteries just like on your car and with small engines and little performance the type of thing found on places such as eBay.

So anyway.. I took a chance and imported my first bike in Sept 2007 and I never looked back. This was the bike (pictured below) 250 watts output, Li-ion battery capable of 24mph it used to take me 8 minutes to get to work, yet in my car it took me over 25 minutes. (even more some days)

Read on!

So you might be wondering how these things work? Well its easy..

On the Cyclone range a small motor is fixed to the bottom of the bike frame just below the main cog, the chain runs off the "normal large cog" through this motor cog and off to your back wheel. A throttle (like a motor bike throttle) is situated on the right hand sides of the handle bars you just twist the throttle and off you go. You can then do three things 1) Peddle only 2) Use the motor only and don't bother peddling at all! or 3) Do both!

This method allows you to use the rear gears just like a motorbike. On steep hills you can change down and on the flat you get into top gear for maximum speed.

Dump the Car and Start Saving!

We try to keep a good selection of PowerSmart electric bikes and kits in stock but if we are accidently out of stock we can restock quickly. We normally have enough of them in stock in our UK warehouse.

You can start riding one of our bikes by following these 3 simple steps:

• Step 1:
  Call us to arrange a no obligation demo. We don't hassle people, we don't use virus advertising.
• Step 2:
  Take a TRIAL. If you don't like it within 7 days we will fully refund you.
• Step 3:
  Place an order. We do not bite and would love to supply you a Best Electric Bike.

There are no "hidden" secrets here. Riding a PowerSmart Electric Bike is a piece of cake!

"I have just started using it and I love it!" Absolutely blasts a long and zooms up the hills even for a chunky boy like me cheers Ed Fuller Harlow "I can't believe the difference my trip makes.. amazing" Such a difference people are amazed when I get into the office. Paul Peacock Waltham Abbey "An Excellent Product" Hi Paul just dropping you a line to say that I'm really pleased with the bike its excellent and blows the rest of the bikes on the market away, and to think before I did my homework I nearly bought a £500 lump of rubbish Kevin Cooper Suffolk

Now that you understand the the power of electric bikes, here are some of the benefits that a PowerSmart Electric Bike can bring to you today...

	Instantly transforms your bike into a fully featured mode of transport Simply charge it up, jump on the bike open the throttle and you're away!
	Power up hills with ease None of that getting out of the saddle stuff fly up any hill with ease and you don't even need to peddle if you don't want to!
	Latest Technology Not Yesterdays Our bikes are powered by the latest battery technology li-ion, you can charge them 1000-2000 times .
	Ease Your Way Back to Fitness A PowerSmart Electric Bike gives you the opportunity to get back to fitness by letting you ease your way with the right amount of peddling.
	Does Not Limit You to Minimum Speeds PowerSmart Electric Bikes can be used in "off road hi power mode" with speeds up to 24mph.
	Saves Valuable Money It costs just 1-2 pence to charge your PowerSmart Electric Bike saving you £££ on the extortionate price of fuel
	Saves Even More Money With no Insurance needed, no road fund license and no mot required a PowerSmart Electric Bike is a real money saver for any commuter

How to prolong lithium-based batteries

Battery experts agree that the life of lithium-ion depends on other factors than charge and discharge rates. Even though incremental improvements can be achieved with careful use of the battery, our environment and the services required are not always conducive to achieve optimal battery life. The longevity of a battery is often a direct result of the environmental stresses applied.

Simple Guidelines

• Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does not cause harm because there is no memory (In this respect, lithium-ion differs from nickel-based batteries.). Short battery life in a laptop is mainly cause by heat rather than charge / discharge patterns.
  
  
• Batteries with fuel gauge (laptops) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off the device prematurely.
  
  
• Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the battery at a 40% charge level.
  
  
• Consider removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power. (Some laptop manufacturers are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing.)
  
  
• Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries for later use. Observe manufacturing dates. Do not buy old stock, even if sold at clearance prices.
  
  
• If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one to the fullest and keep the other cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the battery. For best results, store the battery at 40% state-of-charge.

How Many Cells Are In A Laptop Battery

Question from a reader: "How many cells are in the Toshiba Satellite M105-S3041 Laptop Battery? The battery is for a Toshiba Satellite M105-S3041 and its technical ratings are 10.8 volts 8800 mAh, Lithium Ion."

The question from the reader is a great question for it gets to the heart of battery manufacturing and begins to unravel the power of a battery. The answer is simply: 12 cells. But what does the answer mean and how does the number of cells relate to the overall value of a battery? Let’s find out…

18650 is a 3.6V cylindrical Li-Ion cell. 18650 has no memory effect (distinguish between digital memory effect) and longer storage life than NiMH battery cells. 18650 is light weight and has a high energy density. It is in effect perfect for building batteries for laptop and other portable power devices.

The additional technical specifications for the 18650 battery cell include:

• Nominal Voltage Average 3.7 V – the concept of nominal voltage is that voltage range exists depending on the number of cells in the battery.
• Nominal Capacity - 2200 mAh (above 2200 the stability of lithium based cells is called into question)
• Max. Charging Current - 2.4 Amps Max.
• Max. Discharging Current - 4.6 Amps max.
• Dimensions (DxH) 18.3 mm (Max 18.4) x 64.9 mm (Max 65.1)
• Weight 46.5 g (1.64 oz)
• Internal Impedance: less or equal to 90 ohms
• Cycle Performance is 80% of initial capacity at 300 cycles

Now as stated above the reader asked how many cells were in the Toshiba Satellite M105-S3041 Laptop Battery? The battery is rated at 10.8 volts and a capacity of 8800 mAh.

As I mentioned above the nominal voltage average is 3.7V. Some manufacturers may use 3.6V and some may use 3.7V. In the case of a laptop battery with 10.8V the nominal voltage rating used is 3.6V. Thus if we divide 10.8V by 3.6V we get 3. Thus 3 cells in a series. We also know that the batteries capacity is 8800 mAh. We know the nominal capacity is 2200 mAh. Therefore if we divide 8800 mAh by 2200 mAh then we get 4 in parallel.

Therefore we have 3 cells in series X 4 cells in parallel equals 12 cells in total.

US Bike Sales Higher than Car Sales in 2009

During the first quarter of 2009, more bicycles were sold in the US than cars and trucks. While the Great Recession is hurting bike sales, they didn't fall as fast as automobiles. Around 2.6 million bicycle purchases were made, compared to less than 2.5 million cars and trucks that left our nation's lots.

Bicycle Sales Still Hurt by Recession

I don't mean to say that bicycle sales are unfazed by the recession. They are actually down more than 30% from the first quarter of 2008. But that percentage drop is slower than the 35+% drop in sales for cars and trucks. Since nationwide gasoline prices are now rising above $2.40 per gallon at the pump, we may see another wave of US residents shifting to bicycles for their everyday trips. The large savings from riding a bike over short distances rather than driving can help consumer confidence and support economic recovery.

Even Long Trips Can be by Bike

Visionary activists are creating opportunities for cyclists to safely travel longer distances as well. For instance, the East Coast Greenway Alliance aims to connect greenways from Key West, FL, to Calais, ME, on a 3,000-mile long paved trail. For me, it's an exciting potential to visit family and friends in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island (or even the longer trip to my native state of North Carolina!) via bicycle. So far, many corridors of the East Coast Greenway (ECG) are built. But gaps in the trail exist that we all can chip-in to connect. One important current opportunity is for us to show our elected leaders that we support the completion of the ECG and other trails throughout our country as part of the federal transportation bill to be deliberated this summer.

Climate Benefits of Bicycling

Not only are there cost savings from such local and intercity rides, but there are environmental benefits too -- especially in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. While an average solo car trip or airplane ride emits more than 1 pound of CO2 per mile, bicycling or walking emits close to zero. If we need to travel hundreds of miles, there are great low-carbon strategies for travel that include mass transit and carpooling, keeping our average emissions less than 1/2 a pound of CO2 per mile.

Infrastructure Development Crucial

For Americans to put these millions of new bicycles to use, government leaders from the federal to the local level need to give more support to the construction and maintenance of safe bike lanes and greenways. Such work can be a much-needed source of job growth. From neighborhood paths to an urban counterpart of the Appalachian Trail, bicycling has great growth potential.

Let's make it happen!