Dahon Creates a Folding Electric Bike
The Dahon Boost is a compact electric folding bike
Dahon is one of the biggest and best folding bike manufacturers in the world. They've been consistently winning folding bike competitions for quality, popularity, and convenience for years. The lightweight bikes are easy to fold, and great for city commuters, since they fold down to a small profile and can be easily stored in a small apartment.
Over the last year, Dahon has been developing their first electric folding bike. One of their lightweight folders with an added boost of electric-assist power could be really convenient and fun for the daily commuter. Finally, after a year of planning, the Dahon Boost electric bike is available to buy.
The Dahon Boost is a Top Quality Electric Bike
Skeptical of an electric bike manufactured by a folding bike company, I was surprised at the ride of the Dahon Boost when I first stepped down on the pedals. It was ultra-responsive, and gave me a proportional motor assistance based on my own pedal power. I just set the power on a controller on the handlebars, and pedaled the bike. The motor was seamless, and I didn't feel a jolt or any skipping when I started and stopped pedaling. It felt just like a regular Dahon folding bike, with someone gently pushing me along.
The Dahon Boost uses a Lithium Battery
Every bike with electric motor power manufactured today is built with a good quality Lithium battery. This allows the bike to travel for roughly twenty miles on a single battery charge. The Dahon Boost, with its integrated pedal-assist, can travel up to 25 or 30 miles, depending on the mode. Its battery is also about half the weight of other electric bike batteries, weighing about 4 lbs! Needless to say, this is one lightweight electric folding bike, with a total weight of about 43 lbs. altogether.
The Dahon Boost has the same folded profile as other Dahon folding bikes, so space is not an issue. It's one of the only electric folding bikes on the market that is portable, lightweight, and also has great range. For city commuters, there is really no better choice for a great electric folding bike.
Sanyo Eneloop Electric Bike: The Future?
The Sanyo Eneloop is $300 off for the summer!
The Sanyo Eneloop electric bike blasted on to the scene in early 2010 as a new breed of electric bike. It's considered a hybrid electric bike, or one that uses an automatic pedelec motor system. This type of electric bike is generally more efficient than a throttle-powered bike, and the Sanyo Eneloop can travel for 20-30 miles on a single charge due to its Lithium battery.
Not only does the Eneloop sport a lightweight battery and a smooth electric motor wheel, but it also has a sweet looking frame. The easy step-through frame has a comfortable, upright riding position, and it comes with fenders and an aluminum rear rack.
Since the Sanyo Eneloop electric bike debuted, it has been one of the most popular electric bikes on the market. It's also practically maintenance free, with an internal 3-speed hub, a rack and fenders, and front and rear lights that are wired into the battery.
After six months, the popularity of the Sanyo Eneloop drove it's price down to $1999, which is $300 less than the original retail price. At this price, the Sanyo Eneloop is a better deal than most other electric bikes at the same price, especially with all of the accessories included. If this is still too expensive, Sanyo has developed another version of the Eneloop without a rack and lights, and includes a sportier hybrid frame. The price on this stripped-down model is only $1699, making it one of the lowest priced Lithium electric bikes out there!
As one of the leading manufacturers of long-lasting Lithium batteries in the world, Sanyo has surprisingly created one of the best electric bikes ever made. At this price, it's foolish to look at any other electric bike.
The Sanyo Eneloop electric bike is available for purchase at NYCeWheels in New York.
Building an Electric-Powered Bike
This is all it takes to build an electric-powered bike
It's not rocket science to tell the difference between an electric-powered bike and a regular bicycle. For one, the guy riding the regular bike is working a lot harder to pedal, while the electric bike rider is smiling and cruising along. Of course, electric bikes are much quieter than gas-powered bikes, so at a glance, it's hard to tell if a bike is even electric at all! The average person, unless they have a background in electronics, probably isn't aware of how easy it is to convert a regular bicycle to an electric-powered bicycle. Believe it or not, there are only three primary components needed to have a fully-functional electric-powered bike. If you can change a flat tire, you can turn your bike into an electric bike. Let's get to it!
Electric Bike Motor
The muscle behind the electric bike is the motor. Ranging anywhere from 200 watts all the way up to 1000 watts, this is the large rotating device that helps the wheels to spin on their own. Modern electric bikes have the motors built into their wheels, like the Sanyo Eneloop electric bike or the eZee Torq electric bike. Older bikes used to have an external motor that powered the wheel using a chain, like a scooter. These older motors also used magnetic "brushes" which would wear out over time. Newer electric bike motors are "brushless," and have a much longer life expectancy.
An alternative to the brushless hub motor is the bottom bracket motor, featured on the IF Reach DC folding electric bike. This motor actually cycles through all of the gears, making it slightly more efficient than a hub motor. It also turns the pedals instead of the wheel, so the rider feels a little more in tune with the motor, rather than feeling pushed or pulled by an external force.
Most electric bikes don't need a bigger motor than 500 watts, especially for commuting. The US law sets the maximum speed at 20 mph for electric bikes, so any motor that is bigger is sort of pointless. Smaller motors tend to conserve battery life a bit better. How long should a battery last anyway? Well I'm glad you asked...
Electric Bike Battery
Over the years, there have been many different types of batteries for electric bikes. The most common battery in the last ten years is a Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery. This is the same battery used in a lawnmower, golf cart, or go kart. You've seen these at any local hardware store - they're heavy, black, rectangular batteries. On an electric bike, they don't go very far. Depending on the bike, they have about a ten mile range. Luckily, technology has improved in recent years, and there are now much lighter batteries that have a much better range.
The most recent chemical of choice for electric bikes is Lithium. A bike running on Lithium batteries can run for 20-30 miles on a single charge, and some bikes even have the ability to recharge the battery while riding. The BionX motor kit Lithium batteries even have protection circuitry built in, so it's almost impossible to damage them from extreme motor power. Lithium batteries tend to be more expensive than SLA battreries, but the life span is also two or three times as long. There is no better battery on the market today.
Electric Bike Control
How does it work? Well you've attached a battery to a motor, so we're almost there. Now you need a way to control the whole contraption. Want this thing to move without pedaling? Just add a throttle. This is referred to as an "ebike," which is practically a moped. Ebikes are nice if you don't want to ride a bike, but they tend to drain batteries quickly. The most efficient electric bike utilizes pedal-assist, or pedelec, technology.
A pedelec bike works by measuring the rider's pedal power, and then spinning the motor at a corresponding speed, based on a preset on the handlebars. Plainly, if you select "MODE 3" you'll get 50% power from the motor, while if you select "MODE 4" you'll get 100% power. No throttles to worry about, it's all automatic. Pedelec bikes are also called Hybrid bikes because they are a "hybrid" of human power and motor power. The best part about pedelec bikes is that you feel like you're still riding a regular bike, just getting a gentle push as you go.
That's it! Just three components and you can turn a bike into a full-blown electric-powered bike! There are a bunch of different electric bike motor kits on the market, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Make sure you check out the motor, the battery, and control system before buying one, because you don't want to be stuck with something cheap!
buying an eBike – doing the research first
I (Joe) recently became interested in ebikes, have done some extensive research, and finally bought a commercial model on which I’ve put a few hundred miles in the last two weeks. I’ll provide a review of that bike shortly, but first wanted to collect some more general thoughts on ebikes which I’ve consolidated from my research, personal experience, and a good dose of engineering basics. I’m certain almost everything I discuss here has been stated better and more thoughtfully elsewhere, so please forgive my repetition and perhaps naive thoughts. I will say, I think I would have found this type of write-up helpful to me early-on, and hope this discussion may help other potential new ebike riders as well.
So, if you’re like me, the idea of an ebike is appealing. Gas prices are up, “green” transportation is in, and bike commuting has a number of distinct advantages over other forms. Personally, I’ve been a bike commuter for about 3 years now. My regular job is outside Santa Fe, NM, and I have a decent enough means to bike commute about 10 months out of the year, with snow and weather leaving a few weeks for the car. Of course, bike commuting entails other compromises, such as the difficulty in accommodating “business” clothes, “helmet” hair, inclement weather, and of course, safety. As experienced bike commuters known, there’s pretty good solutions to most of these issues, with equipment, planning, and setting realistic expectations all playing a role.
eBike, bicycle with electric assist motor
The appeal of an ebike to me is the ability to commute a bit farther, to eliminate the more difficult portions of my commute and arrive “sweat free”, to perhaps save a bit of time, and to allow farther in-day trips from my main work site to various other locales at my employer (which is spread over 43 square miles, I often need to travel to more remote sites where I work). As important, is what an ebike for me wasn’t. It’s not a replacement for a motorcycle. I didn’t want to travel long distances just punching a throttle. I wanted this to be mostly bike with the added benefit of power assist. Taking my bike on public transport, into my office via an elevator, parking with other bikes, etc. are all important.
So, how does this lengthy preamble relate to choosing an ebike? If you read the ebike forums, there’s a near-obsession with specific characteristics of these bikes such as top speed, weight, and perhaps most prominent, range and battery capacity. Naturally, everyone has a list of requirements and desires that they want their bike to meet. At the top of many lists are reliability, range, light weight, top speed, and of course, low cost and maintenance. This wish list quickly runs head-on into the reality of engineering and design. You quickly discover there’s no one perfect bike that does it all. Some of the better ebike retailers start with a very good list of questions to help determine a customers desires. Given this, they can direct you toward a particular system, design, or model.
I stated many of my desires above. Considering my criteria, it was clear that a pedal-assist application is the way to go. The engineering analysis of pedal assist is itself a fascinating topic. In order to appreciate the benefits of pedal-assist, and of ebikes more generally, I found it enormously helpful to discuss and understand some specific characteristics of the most important motor on the ebike. No, not the electric hub, but YOU. Your power output and contribution to propulsion, and understanding the highly non-linear nature of that power output, is actually the key to understanding why pedal-assist is such an attractive option. So, if you’ll forgive my diversion here, I’d like to discuss a few elements of human power output.
You and I consume energy just by living. A resting person weighing 150 pounds has a metabolic rate of about 70 Watts (W). Light activity such as walking and just doing your day to day thing without exertion bumps this up to about 100-125 W. That’s just how our bodies have evolved in our environment. As you start to exert yourself, you spend more energy. This relationship is highly nonlinear. A moderate workout, in which you get your heart rate up and sweat quite a bit, has a total power output of about 200 to 250 W. Tour de France riders with years of special training, nutrition, and conditioning can sustain power outputs of 400 to 500 W for hours on end. You and I, not so much. Over about 300 W, and we’ll tire pretty quickly. So, 100 W is literally “no sweat”, while that next 100 W isn’t nearly as easy. It’s this nonlinear relation between exertion and power output that makes a pedal-assist ebike so attractive.
The goal is to transmit efficient power into the bike. As a rider, you can contribute a nice, healthy 50-100 W (on top of your metabolic 70-90 W) for a very long time, and you won’t notice this as much exertion. These should be the “first Watts” that the bike sees. It just so happens, that pedaling a bike on level ground in no wind requires roughly 100 W to sustain a speed of roughly 25 km/hr. This is the level that most folks would see as “easy” without much exertion. Of course, add a headwind, or hills, or a higher speed, and things quickly turn against you. Further, starts and stops require quite a bit of extra energy, too. Nearly every rider knows this intuitively without the engineering degree, and this helps to explain why bikers don’t particularly like to stop if they can help it, safety be damned.
Now, let’s consider a throttle-only, no pedal ebike versus a pedal assist. If your goal is to get long range with much less exertion on your part, the numbers quickly tell the story of why pedal-assist is so attractive. Remember that 100W figure for sustained 25 km/hr on level ground? At the theoretical limit, a throttle-only vehicle would last about 3 hours with a typical 36V, 10 Amp-hr battery pack (360 W-Hr), whereas a pedal-assist wouldn’t be contributing at all, and would have infinite range, since the rider is providing that first 100 W. Now, this is all theoretical. In practice, hills, starts/stops, the efficiency of your bike and motor, etc. quickly degrade these numbers. More typically, that throttle-only bike with a 360 W-hr battery may have a range of 30-40 km in total. Conversely, a good pedal-assist system in practical use on level ground driven in a way so that you don’t exert can have a range on order 80-90 km or even more.
And it’s the deviations from this ideal ride where pedal assist becomes so appealing. Take hills, for example. The added power to crest that hill can be contributed by the battery, so you don’t have to exert. You’re not constantly climbing during your ride (well, for most rides that is), and the addition of power assist as the last Watts added is what provides that marvelous ability to extend range, open up a whole-new way of biking, and achieve the near-nirvana of long-range, reliability, ease, and (relatively) low cost for an ebike. (And BTW, some studies have shown that the more constant exertion of steady, light exercise may be as beneficial as other forms. Pedal assist hybrid on ebike indeed may be a have-your-cake and eat-it-too proposition when it comes to fitness.)
Ok, so the previous is basically an engineering discussion of ebike propulsion. How does it work in practice and how can you use this understanding to maximize your ebike experience? A couple of things are important right up front, namely, speed and acceleration. Most folks want more speed, its only natural. Unfortunately, things quickly turn against you as you go faster from an energy management standpoint. Top of the list is drag. Drag increases as the square of your speed. Given that most of your energy (on flat ground) goes to moving the air out of the way, this gets ugly quick. If you’re willing to go a little slower, you have the enormous payoff of greatly extending your range. From a practical standpoint, 30 km/hr or so (19 mph) feels about right to me as a nice compromise between speed and efficiency. Others will balance this differently. It just so happens that 32 km/hr is codified in US law as well. At first, I wanted that super-fast ebike that did it all. After spending some time on my current bike, I’ve come to the conclusion that a moderate speed really is best, not only for efficiency, but for safety as well.
Ditto acceleration. My ebike (Trek Valencia+ with the Bionx system) has a 27-speed drive-train which I thought was ridiculous at first, since I could easily keep this in the lowest gear, and just let the motor pull me away from stops. It turns out, this is really bad energy management practice. Hard acceleration is inefficient and sucks tons of precious amps from your battery (just look at the meter on a Bionx system). I’ve come to realize that those extra low gears on the Valencia are actually very useful. Now, I down-shift at stops most of the time, and take just a bit longer to get up to speed, with the Bionx system providing more of a gentle nudge than full-on zippiness. Of course, that zippiness is there is you want it, or when time or safety require. The payoff in backing away from jack-rabbit starts is greatly extended range.
I rode the Critical Mass ride this Friday in San Francisco on the ebike, including some substantial distance to/from the event (yes, I mentioned my job was in New Mexico; I’m spending the year in the Bay Area on another assignment). I got about 50 miles out of the Trek/Bionx system, and had a grand time. Trek worked with Bionx and changed a number of factors in the Bionx system, some of which I think are not well-understood by the ebike crowd, including a change in battery voltage and capacity.
So, I’ve written a tome as a first post. Please forgive this. My goal was to pass along some of the things I learned in my research leading up to my first ebike kit purchase. More experienced folks here will no-doubt correct errors or offer additional points, which I look forward to.
Joe M.
Are hybrid electric bikes the future of electric bicycles?
Hybrid electric bikes aren't dinosaurs!
Electric bicycle technology has come a long way. The days of 100 lb moped style dinosaurs are thankfully far behind us. These early electric bikes hardly had the feel of a traditional bicycle and were impossible to pedal without motor assistance. Evolving battery and electric motor technologies have spurred a trend towards electric bicycles which are both lighter and have a longer range than ever before. This is made possible through a combination of human and motor power. With the traditional drawbacks of electric bikes fading into memory, this new species of electric bicycles emerges: the hybrid electric bike!
You may be wondering what exactly makes a hybrid electric bike different from any other electric bike? I mean, you could always pedal those older electric bicycles. Isn't that combining human power with the motor too? You're right, partially. The main difference is that older electric bikes were not sensitive to pedal force. The motor would put out the same amount of power regardless of how hard you pedaled. This usually amounted to the majority of power coming from the motor. As a result the motor tends to run most, if not all the time. This leads to rapid depletion of the battery and shorter range. So how do true hybrid electric bikes work their magic?
The key difference is the pedal torque sensor. All true electric hybrid bicycles have one. A torque sensor sits within the bottom bracket and reads the force put into the pedals by the rider. This information is then sent to a controller which proportionally adds motor assistance. That all sounds pretty complex, but in a nutshell it means the harder you pedal the more motor assistance you get. This smooth integration of human and electric power leads to some other great advantages an electric hybrid bicycle.
Because you are contributing a good amount of effort, a hybrid electric bicycle's motor doesn't have to work as hard all the time. This translates to a longer lasting charge in the battery and a greater overall range. The most advanced hybrid electric bikes can even recharge their own battery while you ride. This regenerative braking is achieved by using a motor brake to control speed while riding downhill and when coming to a stop. Although it is unrealistic to fully recharge the battery by this method it does increase range significantly. The advantages an electric hybrid bike are not purely limited to technology however. They are also by nature more enjoyable to ride.
The hybrid electric bike represents a movement in the industry to develop an electric bike which feels and handles like a regular bike. This means they are lighter, more agile, and able to be pedaled without motor assistance. Two camps withing the world of hybrid electric bikes approach this issue from different angles. Camp one uses hub motor add-on kits like the BionX which take the place of the rear wheel on any normal bike, effectively converting it to a electric hybrid bike. Camp two represents fully integrated hybrid electric bicycles, designed with the latest in battery technology and frame design to make them close to a regular bike as possible.
Hybrid electric bicycles represent the future of electric biking. By combining human and electric power this class of electric bikes can go farther than any other. Because they are much lighter and require the rider to contribute to powering the bike they feel and handle much like a regular bike. The age of super heavy throttle powered electric bikes is coming to a close. Have a look at some of the hybrid electric bikes ushering in a new era of ultra-efficient, fun to ride electric bicycles!
Electric bicycles, alternative to cars?
Second and third cars for a family are becoming obsolete with the skyrocketing costs of auto insurance and gasoline. Many families are looking for alternatives to having a second or third car and electric bicycles are being viewed as a great alternative.
Electric bicycles offer you the ability to get to where you need to go quickly, safely and economically - a winning combination! Electric bicycles are much more efficient and cost-effective as compared to cars and even motorcycles.
Electric super bikes as some would call them can either assist you with your trip by offering 50% of the legwork (power assist models) or can whisk you to wherever you need to go as you steer (power-on-demand models). Electric bike kits can even turn an existing bike into an electric bicycle by adding a conversion kit for an electric bike.
Electric bicycles have improved in terms of technology to the point where they are far more economical than even the hybrid vehicles on the market. The long-life of electric bicycles and the mere pennies it costs to recharge the battery make electric bicycles a far more economical choice for anyone commuting to work, school or anywhere else you need to go.
A commuter bicycle made in commuter heaven - electric bicycles are a great choice for people in small or large cities around the globe. It is easy to travel into work on electric bicycles and you can even buy a folding electric bicycle so you can be assured to be able to take your bicycle into the office, gym, house or anywhere you want to store it rather than leaving it outside.
Electric bicycles are also safer for the environment than any car or hybrid vehicle. Electric bicycles have become very popular with many families looking for alternatives to second or third vehicles. In fact there are likely more electric bicycles on the road than you may realize.
Electric bicycles do not necessarily stick out any more than traditional bicycles. With electric bike kits, for example, you can convert almost any bike into an electric bike. But, before you rush out to order a conversion kit for an electric bike you want to make sure that your bike can be converted - there are some models that may not be able to be converted for one reason or another.
Most bike shops will let you know if your bike can become an electric bike or not and some will even do the conversion for you and test it so you know your electric bike kit was set up right.
Today's economy almost demands that people find alternative means of transportation other than buying 2nd or 3rd cars. Electric bicycles have been seen as one of the safest and most economical alternatives to traditional cars and even hybrid cars.
Rather than spend thousands of dollars per year on insurance and skyrocketing gas prices you can get where you need to go by selecting on of the electric bicycles on the market.
How to Fit Electric Bikes into Your Lifestyle
Do you have a lifestyle of always being on the go or do you have a passion for the outdoors? If you answered yes to either of these questions, owning an electric bike would bring you a feeling of contentment.
Advantages of Owning an Electric Bicycle
Electric powered bikes are a sure way to maneuver around a crowded area. Sitting in traffic jams can be eliminated by riding an electric bicycle because you will have access to routes that cars and motorcycles can not reach. You would also have extra spending money from the savings you will acquire on gasoline, car maintenance, and insurance.
Owning an electric bike enables you to run errands in a shorter period of time and less cost. An electric bike is ideal for the person who has no license. One great factor of the electric bike is that it reduces air pollution. The bikes are one of the most cost effective and convenient ways of transportation today.
Electric Motor Bike for Exercising
You are probably saying, How can I get exercise by riding an electric bicycle?
An electric powered bicycle enables the rider to pedal, but with little effort. The rider can climb hills more easily and travel a longer distance. Riding in the fresh air will make you feel invigorating and will strengthen your muscles without making them ache.
Electric Bicycles for Work
Using your electric bike for commuting back and forth to work will help to clear your mind and make you feel good all day. If you are riding your electric bike to work, you will not have to worry about the issue of sweating like you did on a regular bike. You will be going faster on the electric bike and this keeps the wind chill effect greater, thus keeping you cool. When the weather is hot, you can maintain a normal speed by letting the electric motor take over. In cold weather, you can turn the motor off.
Once you have arrived at work, you will have a few minutes to relax because of the time saved by not having to ride the bus or go through the hassle of searching for a parking space.
Electric Bikes are Great for Any Lifestyle
Remember, riding an electric bike gives you the freedom to wave at your neighbors, find a convenient parking place, and enjoy the special moments in life such as rain drops hitting your face or the wind blowing your hair. Choose an electric bike to suit your lifestyle and enjoy
To learn more about the electric bike please visit the web site at: http://www.nycewheels.com/
eBike
The ebike is a specific electric bike manufactured by EV Global motors. The ebike is a name brand for an electric bike that is very popular. Though the ebike is a 5 year old design, it still is one of the best performing ebikes.
Since there is some confusion about the ebike, or e-bike, or electric bike, etc., it is important to clarify some of that.
An e-bike is a short term used for an electric bike. There are a number of different manufacturers and many different models of e-bikes or electric bikes. If you are specifically looking for an ebike or eBike from EV Global Motors give the folks at NYCeWheels a ring. They stock the eBike SX and the new Enviro - both using the Heinzmann motors.
If you are looking for ebike reviews, or ebike parts than you can look through our resources page to find appropriate links for these.
In terms of the eBike (the company that makes electric bikes), these German made electric bicycles are well designed and well made. The powerful ebike electric bikes are popular because they offer powerful, reliable and efficient transportation.
There is a 36 volt eBike SX which is a high performance machine that many electric bike fans consider one of the finest electric bicycles made.
Today, the term "ebike"; or "e-bike" is more commonly used as a short-hand for an electric bike. It is a good idea to make sure you understand this so you are not confused.
If you are specifically looking for an eBike model, rather than a different make or model of electric bike than you will want to clarify that with the retailer.
The better retailers will obviously know the difference between an "eBike" (manufacturer) and an "e-bike" or "ebike" a generic term used to define electric bikes, so finding a reputable and knowledgeable retailer is always your best bet to ensure you are getting the right ebike.
Electric bike, throttle activated or pedal activated?
Electric bikes come fit into two main categories. Though different manufacturers and retailers may refer to electric bikes in different ways it seems almost universally accepted in the motorized bikes industry that the difference in the two types of electric bicycles is based on how the power of the electric bicycle is initiated.
Electric bikes fall into two categories and most retailers and manufacturers label these as power-on-demand motorized bikes and power-assist motorized bikes. Knowing the difference between these two types of electric bikes is important.
Power-on-demand electric bikes are throttle activated or gear activated, it is not uncommon to see manufacturers use one or both of these terms when they are referring to power-on-demand electric bikes.
These types of motorized bikes can and will do 100% of the work for you when they are activated. The most powerful types of power-on-demand electric bikes can easily propel you up even a steep hill when activated – much to the delight of men and women in San Francisco no doubt!
The power-on-demand electric bike is great for someone who needs to travel a longer distance than they are comfortable doing on their own. Whenever they get tired they can click on the power of their motorized bike and let the electric bicycle do the work for them.
People who own the power-on-demand electric bikes comment frequently on how surprised they were by how efficient and powerful these motorized bikes are and how they can commute to work, or to school for pennies compared to what they pay for mass-transit or driving to and from work or the train station.
Power-on-demand electric bikes are also great for people who want to be able to keep up with their children or grandchildren but may not be physically fit enough to do it on their own, they can simply activate the motor of the electric bike when they start to tire.
The other primary type of electric bicycles are the power-assist bikes, also referred to as pedal activated bikes. These ingenious motorized bicycles can actually alleviate about 50% of the workload of riding your bicycle – you can go twice the distance for the same effort!
The power-assist electric bikes are quite popular for people who travel around large and small cities, or around any town for that matter and want some extra assistance so they can travel quicker with less energy.
Power-assist electric bikes make great alternatives to a second car, or over-crowded buses and subways. Imagine not having to take mass-transportation anymore because you can get where you need to go faster and cheaper with a motorized bike.
These types of electric bikes are also great for people that are trying to improve their physical fitness but need some reassurance as they begin a cycling program. The power-assist feature lets them lighten the workload and build up more stamina and strength.
Most companies refer to electric bikes in these two main categories: power-on-demand or throttle activated and power-assist or pedal activated.Need help selecting the right electric bike for you? One of the first questions people always ask is "What is the best electric bike?" When selecting an electric bike you'll also want to consider where you live, as your local environment will influence your set of needs and what works best for you. For example, if you live in California you'd want an electric bike that would be through and through a 'California electric bike.'
"What if I'm looking for something very light weight, something that I can carry with one hand. I want to take it on the train. I'd only need it to travel very short distances. I guess it doesn't even have to be electric." Then you're not looking for an electric bike, you're looking for a kick scooter! If you're not convinced that kick scooters can offer serious changes in your life, we beg you to read the following story: "What if I owned a kick scooter?"
"Out of the electric bikes, what is the lightest folding bike?" You can compare and contrast the eZee Quando, the Birdy Bionx, and the Xootr Bionx here: Electric folding bikes.
A healthy choice, the electric bike
Electric bicycles are excellent ideas to help you improve your health, lose weight and get in shape. Exercise is the key to improving your health and losing weight according to many leading publications. Electric bikes are a fun way to do so. Electric bikes are easy to use and easy to pedal: electric bikes are easy bikes, which means that you can ease yourself into your workout routine in a non-intimidating way. If you're just looking for something to ride like a motorcycle, however, you need to ask yourself if an electric bike is appropriate for your needs. Electric bikes are about augmenting human power, not replacing it, which is what makes them great exercise tools.
Almost every diet program includes an exercise program and bike riding is a great form of exercise. Riding your bike to and from work, to and from school, to and from the grocery store, or just around town can provide great healthy benefits.
Since many people are not in the shape they would like to be in it is always a good idea to start your exercise program slowly and build up stamina. Electric bicycles are a great way to build up your stamina and improve your health.
There are two schools of thought about how electric bicycles can improve your health, and help you get into shape and lose weight.
You can either buy a power-on-demand (gear activated electric bike) or a power-assist (pedal-activated electric bike) to help you lose weight - each of these types of electric bicycles have their pluses and minuses.
Some people prefer the power-on-demand electric bicycles because it gives them the confidence to start riding their bike and getting into shape because they know at any point if they begin to struggle they can click on the power and be brought back to their home or other starting point.
By using these gear activated electric bicycles you can be assured that even if you lose steam and are at the tail-end of your stamina you will be able to get back to where you need to go because the bicycle can do the work for you.
Other people prefer the power-assist electric bicycles. These electric bikes do about 50% of the work for you so you can lose weight and build up stamina by gradually building up the distances you travel, knowing that the electric bike is doing about half of the work for you - this is great for people who are not as concerned with stamina but still need that extra assistance as they work towards getting into better shape.
As you build up your stamina you can start traveling longer distances in order to improve your health, get into better shape and lose weight.
Many diets, including every leading diet in the industry will include some form of exercise. Many doctors and medical experts agree that riding a bike is a great form of exercise. It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program.
You may even want to discuss electric bicycles with your doctor so they understand how the electric bike can help you, especially for those just starting an exercise program.
Electric bicycles are a great way to have fun while getting into better shape, losing weight and improving your overall health.
