The top 10 reasons to buy an electric bike

I've made up my mind to do my bit for the environment. After doing my research I went out and splashed out on a beautiful electric bicycle. It's a nice shiny piece of machinery that not only does the job, it looks great too. While I bought the bike mainly to help me reduce my carbon footprint, I've since found many more good reasons to have one. Here are 10 of the top reasons I could think of - I would be interested in hearing others you may come up with!

Once you have read this you might also be interested in my lens Instant Transport, which provides even more ideas about how you would use an electric bike.

1. Reduce your carbon footprint

and do something for the environment

Yes this is the one that started it all, which is why I've called it number one. What I am trying to do is to try and use the car a little less and enjoy the bike a little more. As someone who has been driving a car for over twenty years the habit is a little hard to break, so if you are like me don't try to boil the ocean in one go. Start small.

"Fifty per cent of all car journeys are of less than five kilometres' duration, which means that there is considerable potential for at least some of those journeys to be made safely and in a much healthier way by bike."

Think of all those small trips that you do on a daily basis. Like down to the newsagent to get a paper. Or a quick trip to the video store, or to the corner shop to get a loaf of bread? I'm getting into the habit of using the bike for these little trips and keeping the car in the garage. I've also found that I'm enjoying riding the bike. I may not be a great cyclist like Cadel Evans but I can now ride up hills as confidently as he can. The rush of wind in my face reminds me of when I was thirteen and did a chemist delivery run on my bike - so that I could save up for a car would you believe?

Have you noticed how many bicycle lanes and cycleways there are nowadays? Before long there will be a lot more of us cruising to work carbon-less. One of the main reasons people don't ride to work is that they need to get changed when they get there. There are some who argue that riding an electric bike means that you can suit up and not get sweaty (see Suitable Transport), what do you think?

If you are interested in a completely Carbon Free transport solution, why not charge your electric bike with Green Energy (either wind or hydro generated) or a Solar Panel?

Hey it looks like someone's now invented a hydrogen bike: Hydrogen Powered Bike

2. Get there faster!

I wouldn't have believed this one either - but hear me out. This morning I was sitting in traffic at 8 o'clock in the morning. While I was sitting there wondering how to explain that I was late for my meeting I was watching the cyclists zoom past on the dedicated bike lane. They were moving very swiftly. I wasn't.

An electric bike may not be faster than a car in terms of absolute speed, but if you take into account the time you spend finding a parking spot, putting money in the meter, and sitting in traffic jams it all makes sense. An electric bike may not solve everyone's problem but for those who need to commute relatively short distances across urban areas in peak hour it may be worth considering. If you don't believe me on this one, check out the Low Rider video on YouTube. (see below) It's about a race across town between a car and an electric bike. The bike wins by about 20 minutes and the rider gets there looking a lot more relaxed than the driver of the car. Worth a look.

If getting there faster is important to you, this electric motorcycle will blow your socks off! One thing to remember though, an electric motorcycle still has to wait for traffic lights, where an electric bicycle can take the shortcuts.

October 17 was National Ride to Work Day. Here are some links to how people got into the action in Sydney. and Melbourne. I'm sure there would be more people riding if they knew about electric bikes!

There is a guy that is planning to ride an electric bike around the world. What a great achievement for electric bikes! See the website electric bicycle world tour.

Low rider - race between electric bike and car

Who do you think is less stressed?

A great example of how riding an electric bike is a real alternative to commuting by car.

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3. Save money..

This is an obvious one. Lets look at a typical scenario. Assume you have to commute 12 km to work every day - 120 km per week. Your car gets approximately 10 litres/100km. Petrol is about $1.30 per litre. You would use about $15.60 per week in petrol so that would be your saving in fuel alone. This means it would take 12 to 18 months to cover the cost of an electric bike - if you were to factor in fuel alone. If you consider parking costs, tolls, insurance, registration, tyres and general wear and tear on a car the story becomes more compelling.

This calculation is also based on having an electric bike as well as a car. If you are looking to replace a car then it's almost instant payback.

The story is just as compelling if you rely on public transport. To cover the same distance by train would be about $30 for a weekly ticket. That brings the return on investment on an electric bike down to about 40 weeks. Of course you do have to cover the cost of charging the battery, but that would only be around $25 in electricity for the whole year - almost negligible.

Another thing I've seen referenced (but I can't vouch for its truth) is that the cost of electricity to power an electric bike is actually less than the cost of the food required to feed a (non-power assisted) cyclist to travel the equivalent distance. This makes electric bicycles the cheapest form of transport over conventional bikes! If you come across the source of this analysis please let me know and I'll give them the credit.

Here's a great article on people who have embraced electric bikes as a car alternative:
Electric bikes don't sweat rising fuel prices

All employers should follow Google's lead:
Charity cash gets staff on their bikes

Electric bikes on eBay

Here are some electric bikes on eBay. Remember to look for one that's got a Lithium Ion battery (LiFePO4 is even better!) and brushless motor.

Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by

4. Keep fit

You don't really need to wear lycra... unless you want to!

So how does an electric bike help you to keep fit? For those of you who think riding an electric bike is all about putting your feet up and enjoying the ride you are sadly mistaken. The motor on an electric bike assists the human effort. Sure it will push you along quite nicely on a flat road, but you will have to give it some help going up a hill. But don't despair - the effort I'm talking about is probably the same as pushing a conventional (unpowered) bike along on a flat road. The reality is that you cannot help but pedal - it's the natural thing to do on a bike - however the pedaling is more like the effort of an easy walk than a demanding uphill bike ride.

The 'Keep Fit' benefit also crosses over with some of the other benefits I have written about. Think about the savings in time and gym membership if you rode an electric bike to work every day. Rather than giving the exercise bike at the Gym a workout, you can be gliding through the neighbourhood enjoying the scenery and taking in the fresh air.

5. Keep up the pace

...a boost for your ego

Remember when you were a kid? Remember hopping on a bike and going where you wanted to go without much of a thought about the hills you would have to climb to get there? If you haven't ridden a bike for a while trust me the hills are much harder than they look. An electric bike helps you to keep up the pace with the ones you love. If your spouse is a fitness freak - and you are not - it means you won't be left behind. If your energy levels cannot keep up with those of your kids or grand kids an electric bike will help you to give them a run for your money. An electric bike also helps you with the extra confidence you need to be able to ride those longer distances. There is always that extra burst of energy that comes in handy if you are trying to cross a busy road, or to avoid obstacles while pedaling up a hill.

Here's a great idea - the solar electric bike. It looks like it's going fast even when it is standing still!

Just the right accessories for your electric bike

Bell SecuriKey Cable Bike Lock

Amazon Price: $8.08 (as of 11/12/2009)

Pyramid Electric 8 Sound Bicycle Horn

Amazon Price: (as of 11/12/2009)

6. Eliminate those parking hassles

One of the biggest headaches with driving a car is that you have to find a place to park. More often than not the most convenient parking is not exactly where you need to go. If you are going to the city the chances are it is also quite expensive. The same can be said for public transport. The closest station or bus stop is not always exactly the most convenient place for you. A bike will normally get you exactly where you need to go - or at least a lot closer than the conventional alternatives. As long as you have chosen an electric bike with a lightweight (i.e. Lithium Ion rather than Lead Acid) battery, the chances are you can carry the bike up stairs to get to where you need to go. If you live in the Inner City where parking is a premium, you can easily take the bike inside with you as it doesn't take up much space.

The City of Sydney website has some great information about the facilities available for cyclists in this city:
Resources for Cyclists

An article about bike parking in the Sydney Morning Herald:
Pedal Power in Bloom as City Withers

Four million Chinese people can't be wrong:
China - Roads are full with ebikes

7. Evade the bureaucrats

In Australia (as is the same for many other countries), if your electric bike has a power output of no more than 200W you don't need registration or CTP insurance. You don't even need a licence to ride one. If you are thinking about a second vehicle but not sure whether you can justify the registration and insurance costs an electric bike might be the answer. If you have had a license suspended for a period of time, an electric bike could keep you mobile while you are waiting.

Here is a link to the NSW RTA website relating to electric bikes:
Scooters and Minibikes on RTA

When you buy a bike make sure the seller has a valid import permit to import it. There are some strict import restrictions on electric bikes, so ask the seller to show you their permit so that you don't end up holding something you can't ride on the road.

Another thing to watch out for is electric bikes that look like electric scooters. Some of these have 'token' pedals attached so that they meet the necessary regulations. Some authorities such as the NSW RTA have changed the ruling so that these vehicles need a permit. The safest ebike to buy is one that 'looks like a bicycle' - where the motor is regarded as 'auxiliary power' rather than 'primary power'. A small technicality but one that may cost you a lot of money if you make the wrong decision.

8. Take the scenic route

The next time you are driving a car, take a look around and observe the cycle lanes. The first thing you will notice is that there are many more of them than you first thought. In the last few years, State and Local Governments have become much more aware of the need for infrastructure that encourages cycling and protects cyclists. The next thing you will notice is that the cycle lanes favour the scenic route. They often take you through parks and reserves, short cuts through quiet streets, and dedicated pathways on bridges. Quite often the cycle route is also the more direct route - generally speaking if you can walk there you can cycle there.

See the map of cycleways around Sydney here: Sydney Cycleways

Bike photos on Flickr - are you in any of these?

Relaxed bicycle queu...

DPSM_8808

DPSM_8807

I want to ride my bi...

Need a Xooter Swift

automatically generated by Flickr

9. Adopt a simple lifestyle

An electric bike is a simple beast. It is a vehicle that needs very little maintenance. The little maintenance that it needs can be done by almost anyone. Apart from charging the battery and checking the brakes there really is very little to do to keep it running.

As you get to ride your electric bike more and more you get to realise how it simplifies the way you go about your life. Take the simple trip to the corner shop to get a loaf of bread for example. Rather than taking the car-route, waiting at traffic lights, and finding a parking spot, you can go the direct (i.e. pedestrian) route and park outside the front door - much simpler.

10. Have more fun

enjoy the ride!

If the other nine reasons haven't convinced you this one's got to do it. Riding an electric bike is a whole lot of fun! The way you get there suddenly becomes even more important than where you are going. You will find yourself taking the long way around so that you can zoom down that big hill and feel the wind in your face.

You will glide past those other cyclists that are puffing and panting up the hill - while they wonder why you can stay seated and they need to stand up. Electric bikes are one of the world's best-kept secrets. At a casual glance they look just like normal bicycles, so the world does not need to know about their hidden advantage. The only thing that might give it away will be the great big smile on your face while you are riding one!

Why would you ride an electric bike?

You have seen my top 10 reasons. Now its your turn to comment. Let me know whether Environmental Responsibility or the need to save money win out as the reason you would buy an electric bike.

Which is a more important reason to buy an electric bike?

Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Environmental responsibility

shareese says:

seems like a good idea. mr. ben down below... i'm a skinny person and i don't like hills either. they suck. royally.

Posted September 06, 2009

Lauren says:

I am one of those overweight people but I live in a small town but to get to the one area across town would be a lot harder on a regular bike than a electric bike. I mainly only need the electric assist is for getting up the hills. I ride a bike at the gym all the time but I don't go any where. I also cannot drive a car and have a need to go places in town. Appointments, shopping, errands. I could do it all in a electric bike. I love riding a manual bike but I can only go so far at a slower speed but with electric bike I could get there a bit faster. I highly doubt I would not pedal while on a bike its just second nature. I don't like scooters for that reason I need to pedal because I have a balance problem and pedaling helps that. Plus I am helping the enviroment.

Posted May 19, 2009

Robert Fowler says:

I wanted an electric vehicle. I wanted to get away from gas. We will run out of oil one day. Then what are going to do? Kill each other? For a battery to motor system it requires a light vehicle. A four wheel car is a lot heavier than something on 2 wheels. So an electric bike is the perfect solution. Plus I love riding a bike. I love riding passed gas stations and having people watch me zoom passed them as I go by. I wish more people would ride them. They are the best ride going for the buck!

Posted April 17, 2009

EcoCol says:

Hey Ben, thanks for your post. Nice to hear you are leaning on the environmental responsibility side. Just bear a thought for some people who can't ride a conventional bike (knee injuries, arthritis etc.) or who would love to ride but don't have the facility to get changed at work. I would much prefer to see these people cruising along on an environmentally friendly electric bike than taking the car. Electric bikes do have a place in our society.

Posted March 08, 2009

Ben says:

If you ride an electric bike, it's because you're lazy. Plain and simple. Nothing is more eco-friendly than a traditional bike. Stupid fat people who don't like hills.

Posted February 19, 2009

The need to save money

Eric Riebau says:

To give me less of a feeling that I'm relying on something to get me where I need to go. And if something goes wrong on an electric bike they are 1/20th the price of a car brand new. Adding up everything, (car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance, and useless trips) ill be saving $450/month.

Posted September 18, 2009

RhodesianinRI says:

Great job on the post! Very thorough without putting me to sleeep. I appreciate your work.

I am starting a blog, on Jan1,09 at www.velochef.com , please visit, and by-all-means please contribute with your writing. As you'll see the blog is to support the new and evolving cyclist who woants or needs to have assistance from some kind of motor. The lwas for this as much more relaxed here in theUS, so even a bicycle with 750 Watts is within the law, as long as it doesn't exceet 20mph. A petrol fueled motor, <50CC, and can be pedalled is also OK.

All that said, I'd be delighted to have you participate in this blog, as it's definietly going to help many people get over the uncertainty of getting into electric cycling (bikes&trikes).

Take care, and please stop by

Posted November 29, 2008

Jason C says:

E-bikes provide a safe environment that motor vehicles do not. They help promote a socially-active, viable community. Check out this site - http://www.streetfilms.org/

Posted March 09, 2008

Scrooge says:

You can't ignore the fact that gas prices are skyrocketing. Electric bikes may be what we need to keep us all moving.

Posted March 09, 2008

The top 10 reasons to buy an electric bike