Researching Motorized Bicycles

The first motorized bicycle was powered by steam. Yikes! I don't think I'd want to hang out that close to a boiler.

I found several things to consider. I could ride a gasoline-powered bike or an electric-powered bike. I could get one ready-built or get a kit to convert the bike I already have. More research...photo © Norbert Schnitzler

Photo © Nancy Shepherd

Okay, so I bicycled more than 9,000 miles around the country last year, but that's a little different than riding to work. On the bike tour I didn't have to be anywhere on time, and no one cared how I looked or smelled. But I live ten hilly miles from work. At my rate of pedaling, that's almost an hour each way. I don't have that kind of time to spend commuting. I don't want to be all sweaty and smelly when I get to work (and no one else wants that, either, I'm sure!). And after working all day, I'm not sure I'd have the energy to pedal back home. Hmmm, so what about a compromise? Maybe I could...

photo © Unklals Augie Heuschkel
The first thing I wondered was, "Isn't a gasoline-powered bike just a motorcycle?" But no, a motorized bicycle generally has a motor smaller than 50cc, and it can be powered by pedals alone if necessary. This even excludes mopeds, whose pedals, if present at all, are really not capable of propelling the bike alone. This type of powered bicycle seemed all right; it is fairly fast, and it gets about 150 miles per gallon. But I wasn't sure it was for me. The internal combustion engine is noisy, heavy, and oily. And although it is light years better than a car, it still uses gasoline and produces emissions. So I kept looking...

photo © Chicbicyclist
This felt better to me right off the bat. I'm not a big person, and the electric-powered bicycle was lighter and easier to handle. Electric motors are quiet, and they don't use grease or oil, so it would be clean enough to store in the supply closet at work with no one objecting. And while I realize that production of the bike and the electricity to run it has an impact on the environment, the bike itself is zero-emission, and the impact is miniscule compared to driving a car. This was looking pretty good to me, but I still had some questions...

An electric bicycle uses a rechargeable battery, an electric
motor, a method of transmitting power from the motor
to the bike, and a control interface.

photo © Revopower

Power can be transmitted in several different ways:

• The bike may be powered by a motor built into the hub of either the front or rear wheel.


• A motor mounted in the frame or on a rear rack may drive the rear wheel with a chain or rubber belt.


• Friction drive supplies power by bringing a powered roller into contact with the tire.

There are three main types of batteries used:

• (Li-Ion) Lithium Ion batteries are the highest quality available today. They cost the most, but they have the longest life (700-1000 charges), the lightest weight and the best range (25-40 miles per charge).


• (NiMH)Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are mid-range. They're light-weight, have a long life span (500-700 charges), and provide good range (20-30 miles per charge).


• (SLA) Sealed Lead Acid are the cheapest batteries, but they have the shortest life (300-500 charges), the shortest range (15-25 miles per charge), and are very heavy.

photo © BionX

The control interface mounts on the handlebars:

• It may be a simple on-off switch.


• It may be an electronic panel that coordinates sensor inputs to provide power assist according to pedaling speed and force.


• Most controllers allow manual adjustment to fine-tune the desired amount of assist.


• There may be a throttle to instantly power the bicycle without any pedaling at all.

In 2001, the U. S. Congress passed a law exempting electric bikes with operable pedals, a motor under 750 watts, and a top motor-powered speed of 20 mph from the legal definition of a motor vehicle. Therefore, an electric bike is legally considered a bicycle. States and local governments may establish their own, more stringent laws, but in most states, there are no requirements as far as registration, licensing, or insurance. eCo Wheelz has a list of links to Federal electric bike laws and to each state's department of motor vehicles, so you can find out what laws apply in your state.

Operating an electric bicycle costs less than a penny per mile. The cost of driving a car, which include gas, maintenance, registration, license, insurance, and maybe parking or other fees, is closer to 54 cents per mile. It would take no time at all to pay for the electric bicycle. See how much you could save with eCo Wheelz' Cost Calculator.

Driving a car 12,000 miles releases four-and-one-half metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Tons! I drive almost that much in a year. That's a lot of pollution I won't create if I'm riding an electric bicycle. Figure your emission and dollar savings with a Bike to Work calculator.

photo © BionX

• Time to charge the battery varies among battery types and brands, from 2 to 8 hours.
• Some systems have a regenerative charger, which charges the battery during braking.
• Since the motor applies resistance as it charges, it helps to slow the bicycle on downhills, thus saving wear and tear on brake pads and rims.
• Speed and range depend on factors such as weight of the rider, terrain, and wind.

I was convinced. I was ready to start riding an electric-powered bicycle. But there was still a decision to make...

I try not to think about how much easier my long bicycle tour would have been with an electric-powered bicycle. Instead, I look to the future, when I perhaps will not be able to pedal as easily as I do now.

With the electric bicycle, I'll be able to ride forever!