Electric Bicycles: Winning the Uphill Battle By Katie Hawkins Imagine: you are confronted by a daunting hill on your bicycle, and there is no way around it. You have your groceries, and perhaps a toddler in tow. Or, you are on your way to work without a change of clothes. Just the thought makes many sweat. However, those with an electric bicycle don’t think twice. With a push of the pedal and a boost from a small motor and battery, an e-bike cruises uphill as easily as a straightaway. But is it cheating? Photo courtesy of OHM Cycles Although the first electric bicycle patent was issued in the 1890s, e-bikes first appeared in the 1970s, following the energy crisis. Gaining more notice in the ‘90s, the bikes incorporated pedal-activated power, followed by hub motors. At the same time, Japan was making several hundred thousand e-bikes per year, and China was following suit. Due to engine bans in some cities of China, annual e-bike sales jumped from 1.5 million in 2002 to four million in 2003. Last year, annual sales hit 25 million (92 percent of the global market) and according to a recent Pike Research report, are expected to hit 47 million sold world wide by 2018. However, in a country with no engine bans and in a region where many view cycling as recreation and human power is a point of pride, some may wonder where e-bikes fit in the U.S. and Pacific Northwest’s cycling market. “Riding an e-bike is actually a very rational way to exercise,” says Stefan Schlesinger, owner of Seattle Electric Bike. When most think of e-bikes, they think of a throttle-powered machine, similar to a moped. However, most brands of e-bikes are more intuitive to a rider’s needs. They use pedal integration, so the harder a cyclist pushes, the more it boosts. The user decides how much boost they feel like using, and can even ride without help if desired. “I have people that come back into my shop a few months [after purchasing an e-bike] and they’ve lost 30 pounds,” says Schlesinger. “You still get exercise, and most are getting more than they realize.” Bion converter kit for your traditional bike. Electric and Folding Bikes Northwest swears they are “augmenting, not replacing, human power.” Their website begs the questions of whether one actually always needs to take the step from 100 percent human power, as in walking or pedaling a regular bicycle, to 0 percent as in driving a motor vehicle. David “DJ” Johnson, the owner of Electric and Folding Bikes Northwest, puts it into perspective: “Some people say I’m cheating, and I say ‘yeah, on my car.’” Johnson commutes 26 miles each day between West Seattle to Ballard and says he wouldn’t do it on a traditional bike. “I’m the same as them [traditional bike commuters], when it is rainy I get wet, I sweat every time I ride, and I am still pedaling and getting a workout. I just get there quicker and don’t necessarily need a shower. I wear my jeans and a T-shirt.” Seattle to Bainbridge Island commuter, Nicholas Balthazar Thoumsaint, 29, bought his e-bike for similar reasons. Recently moving from Chicago where he rode only a traditional bicycle, he soon realized how different the terrain was in his new city. MTB version - the NEO Extreme. “When I found out how hilly Seattle and Bainbridge are, I realized I could not commute on a traditional bike every day,” says Thoumsaint. Not to mention the costly ticket price of taking a car on a ferry between the two cities. “It is the fastest and cheapest option.” Dressed in his work clothes on the ferry, Thoumsaint tells me he opted for a throttle-powered e-bike. “If you don’t want to pedal, you don’t have to. I don’t sweat at all, even up hill,” he explains. There are differences between throttle-powered and pedal system e-bikes, the two types of e-bikes available (some U.S. designs have both). The range for a throttle-driven e-bike is about 15 miles. In comparison, the pedal system will last between 40 and 60 miles, as the rider is also contributing power and the battery recharges while coasting and braking1. Both can haul up to 350 lbs. In addition to commuters being a hot candidate for this type of bicycle, Schlesinger comments that e-bikes are great for people who used to ride and want to get back on the bike but may be intimidated by hills, or for people with disabilities. His customers range from their mid-20s to late 80s. “People say it is their lifeline to getting exercise and being outside,” he explains. “Many people have said it is the best thing they have purchased in their life.” NEO Street. Due to its capacity for speed (some up to 35 mph), e-bikes are heavy duty, weigh between 50 and 60 pounds, and are more stable than traditional bicycles. Schlesinger often gives test rides to some who have never ridden a bike before. Those who prefer the comfort of their own bicycle can also modify their model. Seattle Electric Bike and many other shops have the ability to add an e-bike kit to a regular bicycle for $1,500 to $2,100, adding about 18 pounds to the bike. And, if they want to convert back, they only have to remove the battery and replace the added tire. Purchasing a new machine will cost between $2,000 to $4,000. So why not buy a used motorcycle or scooter within the same price range? “I chose an electric bike for a few reasons,” explains Thoumsaint. “It is cheaper, doesn’t take gas, silent, lighter, more convenient, and it is still a bicycle after all.” You can also factor in the satisfaction of being emissions free. For every 500 miles an e-bike is used in place of a car, a combined amount of 30.5 pounds of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide are prevented from polluting the air. As for the savings of never having to get gas that same 500 miles on an e-bike saves in average 25 gallons of fuel. NEO Cross. “When switching over from using a car, an e-bike pays for itself in six months to a year if you take into consideration a monthly payment, insurance, maintenance, and gas,” explains Schlesinger. Basic maintenance for an e-bike is cheap and can usually be taken care of at any local bike shop. However, a special mechanic is needed for problems that may occur with the battery or motor. Shops that specialize in e-bikes have their own mechanics — meaning a shop would ideally need to be accessible to the rider. “Some local bike shops may not even repair a flat tire on e-bikes because they don’t know about the wires or motor,” explains Johnson. “It is unfortunate. As far as diagnosing electrical problems, most won’t know what to do.” Maintenance wise, the battery must be charged regularly — a Lithium-ion battery takes approximately 30 minutes to restore. “Many don’t ride during winter months, but it is important to charge at least once per month, even if they aren’t using the bike,” advises Johnson. “If not, the battery could go into deep state of discharge that it may not recover from.” Batteries cost between $300-500, can be charged in a regular socket, and last between three and five years. It is important to note that by law, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia do not consider an e-bike as a bicycle when going over 20 mph. Cyclists must stay below this speed on trails and pathways to be legal. In these areas, riders must also be 16 years of age. Those riding in British Columbia must stay off sidewalks except where specifically directed by a sign or local bylaw. In Idaho, e-bikes fall under the category of a moped and have their own sets of laws, including that riders must be 17 years of age. Regardless of restrictions, e-bikes are now the world’s fastest selling electric vehicle. The most popular brands include Easy Motion NEO, which offer a full line of styles from the “Dutch-bike” to the lightest-weight carbon and folding e-bikes; OHM, which have the highest quality components; and BionX, the world wide leader in developing powerful, reliable, versatile kits for retrofitting bicycles.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 02:38:57 +0000
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