What is Peddle First?
Peddle First (PF) Controllers were used on the early bikes and scooters as a means of forcing the rider to peddle or push the vehicle a certain speed (usually 2-5 mph) before ANY power will be applied, or before the throttle will work. They were (are) cheaper to make than either PA or IS controllers. You use the most power going from a stand-still to motion, and much less to maintain your motion once going. By forcing the rider to take care of this most power consuming portion of the ride, the “take-off”, the manufacturer can boast much longer running time or range – because it’s forcing YOU to do more work. Today’s more savvy EVers, knowing the above fact, knows that if they are going a long distance, and taking the vehicle to it’s range limits, that by peddling first (even with the more flexible Instant Start (IS) controllers – just because you have IS doesn’t mean you have to use it every time…) they will get more miles from their battery pack. Peddle First is not to be confused w