Posts Tagged ‘electric bike’

Top 10 Reasons to Own an Electric Bike

There are abounding acceptable affidavit to own an electric bike and allotment the best important ones was difficult. An electric bike is a standard bicycle with a motor attached to the pedals and powered by a portable battery. There are abounding altered models to accept from and they accept become accepted over the world. The easiest and atomic big-ticket comes in a kit which can be calmly installed to adapt a accepted bicycle. These kits range in price from $400 to $800. The custom congenital models can ambit in amount from $400 to $3,500.

The top ten reasons to own an ebike are counted down from ten to one. They are in no particular ranking order. You get to decide which is more important than another.

10. Good for the Environment. It does not produce poisonous fumes like an automobile would since the electric bike uses no gasoline. The battery is environmentally friendly and takes mere pennies to charge.

9. Less expensive than cars. When you accede all the costs to own a car, the electric bike is abundant added reasonable. It is estimated that the total cost of operating an automobile is 10 cents a mile and includes its maintenance, gasoline, oil and upkeep. An electric bike ridden at 500 afar can alter 25 gallons of gasoline.

8. Useful for hill climbing. Climbing hills can be a challenge whether it is the summer heat or long distances. With a simple flick of a switch, the hill can soon be a pleasant memory.

7. Arrive for assignment after defective a battery and air-conditioned down. For the commuter, an electric bike can beggarly accession to assignment after the burnout and damp commonly begin back depending on pedaling alone.

6. Good Exercise. Riding a bicycle can provide good movement for exercising without the trauma to knees and legs other forms of exercise give. An electric bike can ease the pain of exercise and make it enjoyable again.

5. No charge for driver’s license, allowance and authorization plate. Electric bicycles are lawful for use on most roads and the cyclist must obey the traffic laws just as motorists. E-bikes can be insured, but it is not required. There is no requirement for a driver’s license or state license plates.

4. Faster and less effort involved than a standard bicycle. Even the most seasoned of cyclists can sometimes get tired. When the cyclist has accomplished the end of the activity akin provided by the aftermost meal, about-face the motor on for the bike and adore the blow of the ride.

3. Battery recharges for pennies. The accustomed allegation time for the array is 3-5 hours and uses actual little power.

2. Easier to maintain than automobiles. Since the motor is sometimes encased within the frame, there is no need to lubricate it and fill it up with gas.

1. Many models to choose from. No matter what requirements you are looking for in the perfect electric bike, there is one built just for you.

These are a few of the reasons for owning an electric bicycle. All or some should address to anybody absorbed in extenuative money and time.

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What is an Electric Bike and How Does It Work?

These motors are, bound by Federal Law, to 750 watts of ability and 20 afar per hour top speed. Most electric bikes are congenital to accommodated that blueprint but some do beat them. For around 0 to 0 dollars,electric bicycles can be built from kits,for between 0 to 00 dollars,purchased new. You usually get what you pay for as with any product and especially a vehicle. Electric bikes are powered by a rechargeable battery(s), and the average range is around 20 miles. The range can vary greatly depending on the weight of the bike and rider, wheel size, style of riding and terrain. They come in a wide variety of styles and sizes from small folding electric bikes with 16 and 20-inch wheels for commuters and apartment dwellers to 28 inch and 700c sizes. Electric bicycles require no licenses or insurance to operate but many states do have age limitations.

A hub motor is the most common type of motor used in electric bikes. These can be acclimated on either the advanced or rear auto and do not crave chains, belts or gears. Essentially the motor is the hub of the wheel and contains two concentric rings of opposing electromagnets. When power from the battery is applied to the motor the opposing magnetic force causes the wheel to spin. This type of motor requires no maintenance and is almost completely silent. The higher the wattage of the motor, the more power it provides. One caveat however. There is no accepted for barometer wattage. As opposed to the operating output numbers,many marketers of these products use their peak output numbers. A motor rated at 1000 watts peak may be a 500-watt motor in its standard operating output. Be sure to find out which. Only accepted operating achievement is absolutely comparable.

Batteries are also very important in regards to these products. The most common battery sealed lead acid (SLA) is the least expensive and provides the highest amp hours (ah). However,SLA batteries last less than a third as long and weigh three times what a lithium battery does. A Lithium LiFePO4 battery is the most expensive battery and has low ah, but is by far the lightest weight and longest lasting. Before you come close to the life span of one 48 volt LiFePO4 battery,you would have to purchase, install, and dispose of 12 12volt SLA batteries. Nickel cadmium and added batteries abatement about in between. A lightweight lithium battery usually slides out of the battery rack for easy recharge indoors rather than having to locate an outlet in which to plug the whole bike. Lithium batteries are by far the most ecologically friendly of all the batteries available.

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Cupertino looks at electric bicycles for alternative city transportation

Cupertino city employees soon could be pedaling to meetings and other events if the city decides to expand a trial program using electric bicycles as alternative transportation.

The city recently purchased an EZip electric bicycle for $750 from Los Gatos-based Mader Technologies, and city leaders said they hope the bike, which is a hybrid of a standard mountain bike and a low-speed electric motorcycle, will be an eco-friendly alternative that will save the city fuel money in the long run.

The city could purchase as many as four more bikes, said Erin Cooke, environmental affairs coordinator if city staff finds the bike practical. From the Bay Area Air Quality Management District,the city also has applied for transportation funding grants. Bikes typically cost between 0 and ,000.

The city will start testing the new bike after it completes legal, safety and staff training requirements.

Cooke said approximately 16 percent to 18 percent of emissions come from the city’s vehicle fleet and the city ecently completed a greenhouse gas emission inventory.

Rick Kitson, city and environmental affairs spokesperson, says the bicycle is ideal for a small city like Cupertino, which is 11 square miles.

he said, to get to meetings across town,employees could use the bicycles.

Cooke added:”A lot of our local trips are no more than three to five miles”.

The bike has a 450-watt motor and can reach speeds up
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to 15 miles per hour, and comes with a battery pack and control system on the handlebars, which powers the back wheel. The battery pack takes about six hours to fully charge, according to local electric bikes dealer Thomas Mader.

The battery power for the bike lasts for about 10 to 15 miles before it needs a charge if there is a mix of human and electric power. The battery lasts about seven to 10 miles if there is no pedaling, according to Mader.

“We really like this over a more traditional electric bike because once those run out of power, there really is no other option for getting back,” Cooke said.

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