Every day ownership of electric bicycles is increasing . Which is understandable when you consider 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 gets its power from a rechargeable battery.
The majority of electric bicycles come in two varieties – 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 the kind of terrain you will be traveling and the riders weight.
So, the main advantages of an electric bike are :
- Riding one will not make you hot and sweaty
- There are no harmful emissions
- They do not make any noise
- Running costs are very cheap
It only takes about 3 hours to recharge the battery , and at around 5 cents per charge. Recharging can be carried out 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 .
If you have an interest in electric bicycles, you do not have to splash out lots of cash to try 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 an electric bicycle you will never go back to a plain old regular bike ever again – the experience will spoil you for life.