The Mechanarchy 'Watt-Bot'

Once you've sold your car, it's highly likely that you'll discover that you have a need for more than one bicycle. The 'commuter' that you purchased is sensational for getting quickly around town but it just doesn't cut it when it comes to carrying loads.

And if you've made the decision to start a veggie patch in the backyard or a Permaculture area in and around the house, there's a whole host of things you'll be needing to transport.

Cargo bikes are perfect for hauling 'stuff' and the Yuba Mundo is right up there when it comes to carrying capacity with an impressive limit of 200 Kg's. It's also extremely affordable. Some Cargo Bikes have less carrying capacity and some, like the Dutch Tricycles have more.

Whether you want to transport goods to and from home or whether you've started a bicycle based business, you know that with all that extra carrying capacity comes extra weight and an inescapable need for far more pedalling effort!

That's why Mechanarchy created the 'Watt-Bot', it's an Electric Assist Trailer for serious cargo carriers who are interested in learning more about how to use Energy more Efficiently. With the Watt-Bot, you'll still need to pedal, after all, more frugal use of Energy is something we are all going to have to become accustomed to. However, the assistance you'll get from your 'Watt-Bot' is akin to having an extremely strong tailwind and for those who ride regularly, you'll know just how good that can be!

What do I get in a Watt-Bot?

What do I get in my Watt-Bot?

Item	Which is / are;	Which Means you Benefit Because;
Trailer Frame	Custom, hand built from re-cycled materials.	The Planet will thank you from its very core!
Bicycle Tow Hitch	Custom, hand built from re-cycled materials to suit your bike.	Your bike, with trailer or without, becomes an 'Ad' for what you believe in!
Electric Motor	24 Volt, 200 or 300 Watt, High Torque.	You get to choose based on what you need to push. If you are interested in more 'Techo' stuff on how much power you really need, we can help with the comp's. These motors and the gearing are designed for cargo 'grunt', not toy 'speed'.
Solar Panel	24 Volt, 30 Watt Heavy Duty	Your batteries get effortlessly charged whilst you ride and people will be simply amazed when they see your rig. You'll be impressed at just how much this panel charges during your trip. Being heavy duty, its built to last, saving the environment and money.
Batteries	2 x 12 Volt, Deep Cycle, (up to 70%) 22 Amp Hour, Sealed HGML.	By keeping your 'Current Draw' (shown on you bicycle dashboard Ampmeter) to around 7 Amps continuous (on a 200 Watt motor), you'll get approximately 3 hours of easy-going assistance. By learning how to work your Watt-Bott to gain maximum range, using less Current draw (say 3 Amps) whilst improving your fitness, you'll begin to increase the number of hours of assistance you can get from your Watt-Bot. Remember however, that energy wasted, either yours or a resources, cannot be regained. Balance is ultimately the key.
Charge Controller	24 Volt, 5 Amp Solar Panel Charge Controller. Switches excess charge away from the Batteries (ie via a night-light or anything else you want) and prevents flow from Batteries to the Solar Panel at night.	It ensures (without you having to worry) that your Batteries are not overcharged / undercharged by the Solar Panel, and that they are kept at optimal performance and therefore last a lot longer.
240 Volt (Mains) Plug In Battery Charger	240 Volt AC (Mains) to 24 Volt DC lightweight 'Switchmode' Battery Charger for quick 'Mains' charging.	You get hassle free, speedy charging that lets you know, with LED indicators, when the batteries are full. You simply switch off the mains and unplug it when the batteries have been charged.
240 Volt (Mains) circuit breaker	240 Volt, 10 Amp Automatically tripped Circuit Breaker	Your safety and the safety of those around the Watt-Bot whilst its on 240 Volt mains charge, is ensured.
No mistake charging	A manual switch called an 'OR' Gate.	You cannot accidentally charge the batteries with the Solar Panel and 240 Volt / 24 Volt charger at the same time. It prevents you from doing serious damage to your charging components. You can only select one charging mode 'OR' the other, not both.
Bicycle 'Dashboard'	The one and only, 'Cycle Analyst'	It keeps you continuously informed on more than you could possibly imagine!
Hand or Thumb Throttle	A variable motor speed controller	You get to choose which type and then, just how much power you need for any given situation. Electric motors are vastly different to petrol powered motors in the way they operate and respond, that's why we include an Operating Manual and Full Training when you purchase a Watt-Bot. You'll be an Energy Efficiency Watt-Bot expert in no time!
Alloy Wheels	Two Lightweight alloy wheels, with the Left Hand wheel driven by the motor, except when coasting, when it 'freewheels'.	Some Electric Assist Trailers / E-Bikes have what is called 'regenerative braking'. This is where the electric motor is turned by the bicycle / trailer wheels whilst going downhill and acts as a generator to re-charge the batteries. The 'load' this places on the wheels, produces a 'braking' effect. With the Solar Panel however, this type of re-charging is un-necessary. You'll also find with the Watt-Bot 'freewheel', that you can pedal without power, with ease on flat ground.
Automatic Chain Tensioner	A re-cycled Roller-Blade Wheel, re-configured as the motor chain tensioner.	No matter how much your chain may stretch, this tensioner will ensure that it stays in place and helps keep pushing you along.
Wiring Harness and Connector	A high quality 30 Amp DC wiring harness and plug-in connector, with manually soldered (not crimped) terminals.	Many E-Bikes / Trailers are made with aesthetic 'prettiness' in mind. When this happens, wiring is often kept small and hidden. Unfortunately, energy efficiency and range are compromised when this happens. Small wiring creates resistance, heat and energy loss. This means that your batteries won't last as long, and that you'll be burning up energy just trying to get power to the motor. The Watt-Bot uses low resistance high amperage wiring and connectors and manually soldered (not crimped) terminals. This means that you'll get greater range and never experience a breakdown due to a faulty terminal or a wiring meltdown.
Motor Chain Guard	A stone / debris chain guard re-configured from a disused bicycle chain guard.	It helps keep your chain from collecting dirt and debris, which means it will last a lot, lot longer!
Australian Road Rule Compliant	Something we think there should be more flexibility on!	Unfortunately due to potential widespread 'irresponsibility', the Australian Road Rules for Bicycle Trailers and Bicycle Electric Motors are ridiculously restrictive. These rules are designed to 'clamp down' on the type of irresponsibilty that often stems from outdated 'Rev-Head' habits. The crazy stunts witnessed with the introduction of 'mini-motorbikes' is a prime example.These habits have no place in an Energy conscious world. We'd like to see a more Liberal approach to these rules once energy wastage education becomes more widespread but in the meantime, our trailers will continue to be built to conform with Australian Road Rules, which ultimately ensures your safety. These rules cover Trailer Width, Motor Power, Placement of Lights / Reflectors and Overall Trailer / Bike length.
Training & Support	A professionally produced Owner / Operator Manual and 'On-Road' Training.	When you collect your Watt-Bot, we'll run through its operation with you and take you out 'On-Road' for a training test ride. This will help you to become comfortable with the Watt-Bot features and, if you have any questions, they can be handled quickly and easily. You'll also receive an Owner / Operator Manual with all the key points simply explained. Of course, Mechanarchy is always available at the end of the phone / e-mail line should you require prompt Customer Service.

Can I choose what I want & Don't want? - You certainly can!

So you've done the sums (and perhaps even read Mr Illich's Energy & Equity) and now know that your car chews up 95% of the energy you put into it in heat and Chemicals and that only 5% of the total energy consumed is used to take you from A to B.

You've also discovered that a bicycle is the most energy efficient form of Human Transport ever invented and that 'Wattage Expenditure' is a critical factor in Energy use / waste.

You decide to lead by example, sell your car and buy a bike. But what about cargo?