Hmmm... you went from electric to gas...
I went from gas to electric.
Difference is, I got a Songi electric bicycle and I've hardly lifted a finger to mod or work on it. 60v 5-battery pack, hub motor, LED lighting, and I can pedal it a bit at low speeds to help out if I want, all came that way from the factory. Charges with 220v. Only funky things I've done are make an adapter cord from an old dryer cord and an outlet box as the 220v charger has a 110 style plug; and I put a spacer with longer fasteners on the front basket to get the lid further away from the headlight.
I don't have performance stats- no time/distance/speed instrumention. I'm going to add a bicycle computer too but it requires custom mounts.
I've actually been thinking of a unit with
lower capabilities!
What kind of a nut would want that? Rationale is, since I'm not even going to dream of going on the highway to the next town with this thing, it is strictly an in-town run-about. I've been using it in that capacity for a couple months now and have discovered a few things; one is it has 4 electric "speed ranges" in addition to the infinitely variable twist-grip controller, and usually 1st and 2nd are quite fast enough. Sometimes I venture into 3rd and almost never into 4th as I figure that's needless draw on the batteries. So I needn't dream of mods for higher speed (saving that for EV cycle or car). The other thing is I've yet to draw the pack down more than 50% (according to the 4-LED display) after my usual running around, and recharge usually takes from 1 to 4 hours.
I'm thinking a unit with less speed and range would be even more suitable and as you mentioned, batteries are not cheap anymore so a smaller replacment pack would be a good thing re: cost
and weight. I have an aluminum frame full-suspension mountain bike that I think would make an ideal EV candidate. Not only would I go from hardtail to full-suspension, but the whole thing would be significantly lighter and the pedalling ergos and pedalling gears would allow me to help out much more, which I am willing and eager to do (the Songi actually discourages pedalling (i.e. helping out on rises at cruise speed) as it is fixed gear and quite low at that). Some 26" high pressure slicks would help out with the rolling resistance too- I fitted my heavy old steel full-suspension mtn bike with some earlier this summer and wow- can pull top gear now for some distance where with the knobbies I couldn't, even at the same 65 psi.