Electric bikes have electric motors which use rechargeable batteries. They come in light varieties which have a paltry top-range speed of 16 to 20 MPH, and heavy-duty moped-like varieties that can do in excess of 28 MPH. Depending on your use for an electric bicycle, prices will differ according to functionality, the average cost varying between $500 and $14,000. If money is no object, the world’s most expensive electric bicycle is the Black Trail Br-01. It can go up to 65 miles an hour and travel 120 miles on a single 2.5 hour charge of its lithium battery. It is a limited edition bike of only 667. It is the German-built king of electric bicycles, costing a whopping $80,000.
While heavy-duty bikes can achieve speeds in excess of 28 MPH, the motors on the bicycles are quite quiet. Using them for commuting will end the sweaty, out-of-breath look you get from riding an ordinary bicycle. Using the throttle mode on an electric bike causes the engine to take over so you do not need to pedal. The average weight of an e-bike is about 16 pounds. The average commute cost per day is 5-8 cents up to 40 miles. There are no oil changes or mechanical repairs involved in maintaining an electric engine and a license or insurance is not required to own an e-bike. An e-bike battery recharges in 4 to 6 hours.
Benefits of electric bikes include cost effectiveness as well as being environmentally friendly. Depending on what the public transportation system is like in your city, electric bikes can often move as fast as buses and cars in traffic — if not faster. Spending less money on gasoline is always a welcomed strategy in lowering bills. Electric bikes can take you to places which other modes of transportation cannot.
If your lifestyle and budget preclude getting a state-of-the-art limited edition bike such as the aforementioned Black Trail Br-01, there are many popular and modestly-priced bikes from which to choose. The manufactures to look for include Stromer, Elite, Grace Electric Bike, Pedego, Montague, Kettler, Brompton and Dahon. Even car manufactures have developed prototypes for electric bike. Mercedes Electric bikes are already in production. Car companies that will probably be in production of e-bikes soon include Smart Electric, BMW and Audi. The longer you want to ride without charging the battery and the higher the speed you wish to achieve correlates to higher prices for an e-bike.
E-bikes allow you to climb hills effortlessly and offer more power than a regular bike. They keep you commuting to work or for play. You can pedal them like a regular bike or use the pedal assist or even put it on full throttle for the engine to take over the bike completely. Determining your use for the bike will be the first step in searching for the best bike to suit your needs. Knowing you are doing your part in the go green movement will make you feel proud that you are not polluting the air with gas emissions. As well, pedal-assisted e-cyclists benefit from a healthier lifestyle than their motorist counterparts.