eBike
eBike
New Way To Commute—How About An Electric Bike!
by Dale Y the Green Guy
Here at Detect Energy, you are always looking for new and different ways to save energy. Some of them are common sense, some are DIY projects, and some are new energy efficient products. A lot of the newest energy efficient products can be used in your house and home to lower heating and cooling bills, and keep you more comfortable year round.
But some energy efficient products go far beyond the norm. And one of these is something you may not be all that familiar with, electric bikes. Now, these aren’t those stiff limbed giant metal framed types from years ago that used a heavy lead acid battery array coupled with a giant-sized ugly motor. Those types were almost more hassle than they were worth, plus, they were unwieldy, heavy and not very portable.
Modern electric bikes use the newest lightweight batteries for portability. They are as nimble as contemporary bikes, and can be carried into your house, home or office with comparative ease.
If you think about it, these bikes are perfect for commuting to work. You get all the benefits of electric power, you won’t work up a sweat on your way, and they cost pennies on the dollar to recharge. Most of them will carry you at between 15 miles per hour and 20 miles per hour just on the electric motor, and if you are willing to pedal, they’ll go even faster.
Some of the best ones have an easy 20 mile to 30 mile range, which can be increased proportionately by pedaling. Top-of-the-line models will electronically double your pedaling input at the rear wheel. Which means that if you pedal at 30 RPMs per minute, the rear wheel will spin at 60 RPMs per minute.
These electric bikes in their most basic forms are comparable in price to high end pedal bikes. They also come in almost every modern style available, from cruisers to mountain bikes, and everything in between. In other words, you can get a contemporary styled electric bike, and you won’t look like a nerd riding one down the road.
Here is just a sample of what is out there for you.
Kalkhoff Pro Connect Sport Dual Drive—This is the best of the best electric bikes. Made in Germany, they feature computer controlled electronics that double your pedaling input to the rear wheel. After 30 miles of riding, there was still 30 miles left in the battery in a recent test. The sport model will take on serious mountain bike trails without a hitch, and it won’t leave you exhausted at the finish. They are not cheap, so expect to pay around $3500 bucks for this electric wonder on two wheels. But for that price, you get the most innovative and cutting line technology electric bike made.
Ezip Trailz—This is the low cost leader in electric bikes. Priced about $399 bucks for the womens version, and $499 for the mens version, you’ll go about 20 miles on a charge, more if you pedal. The battery power will give a top speed of around 15 miles per hour, and if so inclined, you can add an extra battery pack for double the range. All this proves is that you don’t need hi-tech and a high price to get aboard the electric bike revolution.
Martin R-10—The sportiest electric bike out there is the Martin R-10. This bike comes in at about $1500 bucks, which is just about between the other two listed here. It gives a top speed of around 20 miles per hour, more if you pedal. Range is between 20 and 30 miles, once again, depending on how much you pedal. This is a sleek looking mountain bike styled beauty, and just by looking at it, anyone would be hard pressed to tell if there was a motor attached. It is just a good looking all around bike.
So there you have it, Detect Energy fans. Consider going to an electric bike. Sure, some of them are priced high, but some are priced right in the same ballpark as any pedal-only bike out there. And with the price of gas going higher seemingly day by day, no matter which one you buy and use, it won’t be long before you make up your investment, as you wave goodbye to all the gas pumps you’ll pass.