Every day more and more electric bicycles are appearing on our roads. Which is understandable when you weigh up the benefits over other types of vehicles. So, just what is an electric bicycle? It is a regular bike with one main difference – it is fitted with a powerful electric bike motor which is powered by a rechargeable battery.
There are two kinds of electric bicycle – throttle activated or pedal activated.
With the pedal activated bicycle the electric bike motor kicks in when you start to pedal. So, not only are these types good for longer distances, but because of the pedaling action, you still get the beneficial exercise too – but without the strain and sweat.
Throttle activated electric bikes offer the same benefits too. But with this type, you activate the motor with a grip on your handlebars, similar to a motorbike.
The other major component of an electric bicycle is the battery. The type of battery to use depends on what use you intend for the bike and the riders weight.
So, the main advantages of an electric bike are :
- You will not get hot and sweaty riding one
- There are no harmful emissions
- They do not make any noise
- Running costs are very cheap
To recharge the battery only takes around three hours , and at around 5 cents per charge. You do the recharging from any regular household wall electrical outlet.
Electric bicycles are available in a wide range of different styles, sizes and speeds, so you can be sure to find one that suits you perfectly .
An electric bicycle is ideal for commuting short distances every day . Just think, no more traffic jams, no more high fuel costs and insurance, and no more hunting around for a parking space when you arrive at your destination. And an electric bicycle is ideal when you need to pop to the store for one or two items.
Maybe you are thinking how fast can these bikes go? Well, they can reach a top speed of around 30mph, which is a lot faster than you can go in a car on a traffic congested road. And unlike a car, the cost of maintenance is practically zero .
You do not have to buy an electric bicycle to experience the sheer joy and fun of riding one. If you already have a bike, you can simply upgrade it by fitting one of the easily obtained electric bike conversion kits. These come in various flavors for all types of regular bikes.
Once you have experienced riding an electric bicycle, you will never go back to riding a regular bike – the experience will spoil you for life.
