Electric bikes are starting to gain ground
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Ever wondered what would be like Lance Armstrong pedals his bicycle for you? Well now you can find out, sort of.
The latest electric bikes from Giant, EcoBike, Currie Technologies and Ultra Motor, among others, can deliver around 500 watts of power at the flick of a wrist or a turn of the pedals. This is what Armstrong could lower stroke for the best years.
The result is that you zip up hills or hustle along the street, silently passing all, but the most competitive two- wheelers.
One of the best providers in the emerging market is the London-based Ultra Motor A2B.
“Some people buy the bike to commute, other people purchase the bike to use as a replacement for short automobile trips,” said Paul Vlahos, vice-president of sales for the U.S. arm of Ultra Motor.
Privately held Ultra Motor has sold “north of 1,000″ of its electric bikes in the United States since launching the A2B model in September last year, said Vlahos. The Green Car Company in Bellevue, Washington – near the campus, Mecca and Microsoft Seattle Car Inc. – said they had about 40 bikes sold and awaiting a new batch.
Priced at $ 2699, the A2B is not cheap, but comparable to the high end of the bike path and cheaper than a standard motor scooter. It is sold at some independent bike shops, scooter dealers, specialist electric vehicle or folding electric bike outlets and, for a short test period, about 20 Best Buy Co Inc stores in the western United States.
The machine, technically known as a “light electric bicycle,” qualifies as a bicycle under U.S. transport regulations, so you do not need a license to operate it and you can ride wherever cyclists are allowed. It is not the same as a moped, which generally has a gas engine and pedals fitted for emergency use only.
The A2B designed for traveling, but the electric motor can at any time with the use of a motorcycle with the right throttle on the handle, allowing speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km / h) on the ground. If you can expand your efforts to the engine at any time, or switch entirely to electricity.
The aluminum frame with full suspension and disc brakes looks more like a sporty motorbike than a bicycle (see pictures here). Baskets and racks for bags can be fitted to the frame to make commuting or shopping easier.
For 73 pounds (33 kilograms), the bike is two or three times the weight of a normal cycle of S. Pedaling downhill or on the flat is reasonably comfortable, but as soon as the road pitches up, it is hard not to rev it up.
The lithium ion battery lasts about 20 miles wide, and there is an option for a removable battery that is assigned in the body, doubling the sector.
The bike has seven gears for normal pedaling, using a standard Shimano derailleur system. The production of engines, Taiwan, is sealed to the axle of the rear wheel brushless, as used in computer hard drives and the Segway scooter.
