Comments on: Is electric the way to go? http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/ Bike Your Drive! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:39:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Linda http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-16350 Linda Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:43:40 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-16350 I agree with Jon Karak (above). It isn't a sign of weakness or laziness. Transportation alternatives are much needed. I think Electric Bicycles are possibly the solution to many of our problems today. To name a few...Peaking World Oil Production, Land Use, Pollution, Global Warming, and even Human health. If you don't mind I'd like to post a link to our family run shop. www.ElectricBikeShopOnline.com. Remember "You get what you pay for", try to shop locally and buy quality. Oh yeah...don't support the billionaire Walton children (Walmart). Not only is their customer service non-existent after the purchase, they won't assemble it for you like us. I agree with Jon Karak (above). It isn’t a sign of weakness or laziness. Transportation alternatives are much needed. I think Electric Bicycles are possibly the solution to many of our problems today. To name a few…Peaking World Oil Production, Land Use, Pollution, Global Warming, and even Human health. If you don’t mind I’d like to post a link to our family run shop. http://www.ElectricBikeShopOnline.com. Remember “You get what you pay for”, try to shop locally and buy quality. Oh yeah…don’t support the billionaire Walton children (Walmart). Not only is their customer service non-existent after the purchase, they won’t assemble it for you like us.

]]> By: Jon Karak http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14852 Jon Karak Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:07:47 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14852 A bicycle with power assist isn't a sign of weakness, its a sign of transportation alternatives. Commuters of all stripes should be supporting that. A bicycle with power assist isn’t a sign of weakness, its a sign of transportation alternatives. Commuters of all stripes should be supporting that.

]]> By: Stuart M. http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14821 Stuart M. Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:29:48 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14821 The bike in the pricture looks like from the Stone Age of electric bikes. Kalkhoff, Gazelle, Giant, EZee, all make electric bikes that weigh between 20 to 30 kilos. They have decent range, thanks to Lithium batteries. I can think of many uses for electric bikes: hauling a trailer, bringing the groceries home, driving your kid to kindergarten, getting up pesky hills, these are all times when an artificial "wind at one's back" would be welcome. Electric bikes aren't just for the disabled. I would get one , if I could afford them! The bike in the pricture looks like from the Stone Age of electric bikes. Kalkhoff, Gazelle, Giant, EZee, all make electric bikes that weigh between 20 to 30 kilos. They have decent range, thanks to Lithium batteries. I can think of many uses for electric bikes: hauling a trailer, bringing the groceries home, driving your kid to kindergarten, getting up pesky hills, these are all times when an artificial “wind at one’s back” would be welcome. Electric bikes aren’t just for the disabled. I would get one , if I could afford them!

]]> By: Shay http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14791 Shay Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:00:49 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14791 Having a motor assist may mean less effort, but it's overboard to call their riders necessarily lazy. For one, most of these are "assist" or "hybrid drives" - they are NOT mopeds. The electric bikes I've seen and used still have to be pedaled, and with the extra weight of the bike, the rider still gets some stiff resistance. The heaviness also made it slow. In my experience, the extra weight of the motor and battery only pays for itself on really steep hills (> 5% grade). I've been commuting on an ebike since April, and I'm about to switch out to a standard bicycle. In my experience, the electric components were VERY unreliable. I could ride for about 3 weeks, then something would break, and I'd have to spend a week (and a couple hundred dollars) to fix it. Rinse and repeat for a few months - anyone want to buy a bike? ;-) They have their purpose, and I see why people like them. Believe me, ebike riders have MUCH MUCH more in common with standard bike riders than even motorcycles, let alone cars. Same "get off the road!" comments, same issues of cargo room and speed. Having a motor assist may mean less effort, but it’s overboard to call their riders necessarily lazy. For one, most of these are “assist” or “hybrid drives” – they are NOT mopeds. The electric bikes I’ve seen and used still have to be pedaled, and with the extra weight of the bike, the rider still gets some stiff resistance. The heaviness also made it slow. In my experience, the extra weight of the motor and battery only pays for itself on really steep hills (> 5% grade).

I’ve been commuting on an ebike since April, and I’m about to switch out to a standard bicycle. In my experience, the electric components were VERY unreliable. I could ride for about 3 weeks, then something would break, and I’d have to spend a week (and a couple hundred dollars) to fix it. Rinse and repeat for a few months – anyone want to buy a bike? ;-)

They have their purpose, and I see why people like them. Believe me, ebike riders have MUCH MUCH more in common with standard bike riders than even motorcycles, let alone cars. Same “get off the road!” comments, same issues of cargo room and speed.

]]> By: Kristopher http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14789 Kristopher Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:30:48 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14789 Once you ditch sealed-lead-acid batteries, the weight issue goes away. Search ebay for LiFePO4 batteries. A cheapie walmart i-zip and a 36V LiFePO4 battery makes a usable long ranged commute machine. I current commute with an EZ-1 'bent, a heinzmann hubmoter, and a 36V lithium iron phosphate battery ... range on one charge is 16 miles without pedaling, much more with. With 450 Watts of assist, hills become flat ... which I need, as I cannot shower at work, and work in an office. Once you ditch sealed-lead-acid batteries, the weight issue goes away.

Search ebay for LiFePO4 batteries.

A cheapie walmart i-zip and a 36V LiFePO4 battery makes a usable long ranged commute machine.

I current commute with an EZ-1 ‘bent, a heinzmann hubmoter, and a 36V lithium iron phosphate battery … range on one charge is 16 miles without pedaling, much more with. With 450 Watts of assist, hills become flat … which I need, as I cannot shower at work, and work in an office.

]]> By: Iron Man http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14788 Iron Man Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:25:38 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14788 I've encountered some motorcyclists (even guys on Harleys) who seem to enjoy some kinship with me because of my two wheels. I guess I could act in kind and show some love to the electric bike riders out there. They aren't for me at all, even if there are times when I would wish to have an engine to help me out, but I guess I don't need to dismiss them. I’ve encountered some motorcyclists (even guys on Harleys) who seem to enjoy some kinship with me because of my two wheels. I guess I could act in kind and show some love to the electric bike riders out there. They aren’t for me at all, even if there are times when I would wish to have an engine to help me out, but I guess I don’t need to dismiss them.

]]> By: Mike C http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14786 Mike C Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:53:59 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14786 There's also a difference between people who choose to bike to work because they want to be on a bicycle and those who bike to work because it is a cheap form of transportation. The former will eschew motorized transport, even something as bike-like as fitting an engine to an existing bike. The latter will look for alternatives and come up with both gas and electric engine conversions in their search for economical transportation. I doubt that a lot of people will go from bikes to motorized bikes; there will be a much greater shift coming from the already motorized side of things. So while electric bikes might be inefficient compared to simply pedalling a non-motorized bike, if it gets people out of cars and onto two wheels, I don't mind them at all. There’s also a difference between people who choose to bike to work because they want to be on a bicycle and those who bike to work because it is a cheap form of transportation. The former will eschew motorized transport, even something as bike-like as fitting an engine to an existing bike. The latter will look for alternatives and come up with both gas and electric engine conversions in their search for economical transportation. I doubt that a lot of people will go from bikes to motorized bikes; there will be a much greater shift coming from the already motorized side of things.

So while electric bikes might be inefficient compared to simply pedalling a non-motorized bike, if it gets people out of cars and onto two wheels, I don’t mind them at all.

]]> By: Michael http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14785 Michael Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:56:26 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14785 Living in Houston, this morning it is 81 degrees with 78% humidity, I am offen on the fence about riding, particularly when there is a real chance my work will surprise me with having to go offsite during the day or wanting to leave for lunch (by then the temps are well into the 90's, no chance of getting back smelling good). I still ride but like Jack said I have to ride much slower in order to arrive in reasonable "smelling" condition. A couple of avid-riding friends of mine bought E-zips from Walmart a while back and they couldn't be happier. They said they use the motor on the way to work and pedal on the way home. A battery powered bike could definitely make me a more car-free person in the future. Living in Houston, this morning it is 81 degrees with 78% humidity, I am offen on the fence about riding, particularly when there is a real chance my work will surprise me with having to go offsite during the day or wanting to leave for lunch (by then the temps are well into the 90′s, no chance of getting back smelling good). I still ride but like Jack said I have to ride much slower in order to arrive in reasonable “smelling” condition. A couple of avid-riding friends of mine bought E-zips from Walmart a while back and they couldn’t be happier. They said they use the motor on the way to work and pedal on the way home. A battery powered bike could definitely make me a more car-free person in the future.

]]> By: tehaboo http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14784 tehaboo Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:09:41 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14784 yup i agree with joe,but this stuff maybe more efficiency and maybe as an important transporting certain country.I have been india before and i think they should have one of this stuff cause of majority of transporting is bike.And the most reason for now is on about saving in daily cost...Yup!the big issues "OIL".There is no meaning on just 30mile for 5L petrol but if we can save it,i think we can considered our bud jet further on other.And for the best reason to get this stuff with is ...yes for our health and also for keeping on healthy environment . review dahon and other type <a href="http://electricbikekits.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">electric bike kit</a>http://electricbikekits.blogspot.com/ yup i agree with joe,but this stuff maybe more efficiency and maybe as an important transporting certain country.I have been india before and i think they should have one of this stuff cause of majority of transporting is bike.And the most reason for now is on about saving in daily cost…Yup!the big issues “OIL”.There is no meaning on just 30mile for 5L petrol but if we can save it,i think we can considered our bud jet further on other.And for the best reason to get this stuff with is …yes for our health and also for keeping on healthy environment .

review dahon and other type electric bike kithttp://electricbikekits.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Joe http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/08/is-electric-the-way-to-go/#comment-14782 Joe Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:14:00 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1230#comment-14782 I suspect that for those who don't ride when (you pick the excuse: too hot, too cold, too wet, etc) there is the slightest reason not to, even the electric assist bike will stay in the garage. I've seen lots of those around, but I never see them in the winter. So, in my mind I just sort of classify them as fair weather toys. I really don't think these things will encourage anyone out of their lethargy anytime except for the best of weather days. Just as an aside, I was in Ashland on Thursday (small college town, Southern Oregon, ultra liberal type place)and I saw the guy who is the bike mechanic at the "recycled cycles' used cycle shop riding to work on an electric bike??????? What the?? I suspect that for those who don’t ride when (you pick the excuse: too hot, too cold, too wet, etc) there is the slightest reason not to, even the electric assist bike will stay in the garage. I’ve seen lots of those around, but I never see them in the winter. So, in my mind I just sort of classify them as fair weather toys. I really don’t think these things will encourage anyone out of their lethargy anytime except for the best of weather days.

Just as an aside, I was in Ashland on Thursday (small college town, Southern Oregon, ultra liberal type place)and I saw the guy who is the bike mechanic at the “recycled cycles’ used cycle shop riding to work on an electric bike??????? What the??

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