"SeaScape" human-electric hybrid pedal boat

[MetroMPG]

Once in a while I like to mess around by electrifying small boats (EG: solar powered Laser sailboat, canoe), but I have long thought that a hybrid pedal-electric boat would be the cat's meow for tooling around on a small lake (or on the St. Lawrence on a calm day).

A company has made a high-tech 24v boat with independent pedal mechanisms and user-adjustable levels of electric assist.

I've ridden one of their Bionx e-bikes, and it really is quite slick how they work: with torque sensing, the system "amplifies" your effort. (Thus the company name.)

Boat specs:

24 volts
lithium chemistry (not 100% clear on this, but Li if it's like their bikes)
up to 5 kts (~8 km/h / 6 mph)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFCrNf4zaJw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djKD5Lb7iJM

From: SeaScape 12 Powered by BionX | electric assisted intellignet watercraft

At the cottage my family goes to, the pedal boat (non-hybrid!) is the most used vessel in the fleet. I could see a hybrid version getting more use: more suitable for younger or older captains, or just taken on longer trips by the usual suspects.

[HyperMileQC]

I have made some research for BionX conversion on bikes. But there is still something I do not understand. Is the assist system only working when pedaling, or you can use the bike 100% electric?

Is the boat boat electric system only working when pedaling.

I have heard that in some countries like France, UK and Deutschland, it is illegal to use an electric bike or a boat that is not assisted with pedaling. IE, when you stop pedaling, the assist automaticly stops.

Have you ever heard info on this?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by HyperMileQC

I have heard that in some countries like France, UK and Deutschland, it is illegal to use an electric bike or a boat that is not assisted with pedaling. IE, when you stop pedaling, the assist automaticly stops.

I've never seen something like this in Brazil, and electric-assisted bicycles became relatively popular back here.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by HyperMileQC

I have heard that in some countries like France, UK and Deutschland, it is illegal to use an electric bike or a boat that is not assisted with pedaling. IE, when you stop pedaling, the assist automaticly stops.

Have you ever heard info on this?

It's a bit different though.

What you're referring to, is part of the requirement for an assisted bicycle (pedelec) to legally still be seen as a bicycle.

We do have fully electric "bikes" that are officially classified as mopeds (25kph and 45 kph) though, because you don't need to pedal with them. It also means you have to wear a helmet when driving one, and you need a licence for the 45 kph version.