Why choose an electric bike*? Why?
So as to go up hills with no effort (and no sweat).
Even though it is obvious, the main advantage of an electric bicycle is its ability to annihilate gradients. It easily flattens hills and increases your average speed with no extra effort on your part. So, no effort means no sweat, Your t-shirt can remain scented!
Because it provides safety. Very important!
Do you think that this is weird? It can be proven mathematically: Electric bicycles, compared to conventional bikes, are safer. Consider a very busy uphill road where cars travel at 50km/h, while with a conventional bicycle you would travel at a maximum speed of 10km/h, with the electric bicycle you will travel at 20km/h! As a result: you will see 33% fewer cars, that will overtake you at a speed of 30km/h instead of 40km/h. Not bad! The point is that when the relative speed is reduced between you and cars, safety is increased. The same logic applies at intersections, where the acceleration of an electric bicycle saves you from “misadventures”. It also discourages you from speeding down a hill because there just is no need. Conclusion: Electric bicycles are safer because they are designed to help you escape and avoid any type of dangers.
Because it increases your physical fitness.
If you believe that by riding an electric bicycle you will exercise less, think it over. You will discover that the exact opposite is true. Researches have shown that 46% of conventional bicycles are used 1-2 times per week, with a further 30% using them only once every 15 days or even less. The same researches have shown that 33% of electric bicycle owners use them at least once a day and that 81% of them at least once a week. In practice, it is shown that electric bicycles are used at least twice as frequently as conventional bikes. If we accept that the electrical assistance provides half of the power and the other half is provided by you, although your effort is 50% less, the frequency of exercise is doubled. So you are definitely getting the same exercise as you would get from a conventional bicycle if not more. If you also consider that with an electric bicycle you will be willing to go further, coping easier with hills and opposing wind, you will reach the conclusion that an electric bicycle will not make you lazier but exactly the opposite, you will reach your desired physical fitness level, effortlessly.
Because sweat and exercise can “part” on a friendly basis.
Sweating may not worry you if you just go out for a ride on your bicycle but it certainly affects you significantly if you use it to go to work. Electric bicycles have solved this problem completely. Even if you put the same effort as needed to ride a conventional bicycle, on an electric bicycle you will not sweat. And this happens because you will move faster, the wind blows faster and it will keep you cool!
Because it is economical. And saving money is good.
Purchasing an electric bicycle is definitely not cheap. However, the charging cost is minimal compared to all other types of travel. Its use for your daily commuting to work or anywhere else eliminates the cost of fossil fuel. Consider also that the cost of maintenance of an electric bicycle is approximately the same as a conventional bicycle and much lower than the equivalent cost for a motorcycle or a car. As electric bicycles are legally considered to be conventional bicycles, there are no hidden costs (road tax, insurance, etc.) to add. Therefore, you save money AND have a healthier lifestyle.
It is clean, green and environmentally friendly!
Electric bicycles do consume energy, in contrast to conventional bicycles, but the energy is insignificant compared with the energy consumed by a motorbike or a car. An electric bicycle uses an average of 100 – 150 Watts of electricity while a small car uses around 15.000 Watts. We have calculated that the carbon footprint on a 20km route (home - office - home) for 250 days per year with an electric bicycle is 21,50 kg CO2 while the same journey by middle sized car is 1.2400,00 kg CO2. The difference is way over a one tonne and you will see that by using your electric bicycle you can actually help preserve the climate of the planet. In order for you to understand this even better think that the energy consumed by a 100 watt bulb for one afternoon is enough to move an electric bicycle for 40-60 km! Finally, in order to achieve a real sustainability, you have to recycle the battery (after the end of the life cycle) and charge your bicycle with green energy (wind or solar). No other motorized means of transportation allows you to use zero fossil fuels. That says it all.
You can go anywhere fast. And arrive on time.
With an electric bicycle you can reach your destination without stress and traffic delays. In addition, you enjoy the journey more as you can take shortcuts through parks and quiet lanes.
The resale value is high. Another added bonus.
The fact that electric bicycles are a “new technology” with particular advantages, it has been proved that the resale value is much higher in relation to conventional bicycles. Yes, you will pay more than a conventional bike in order to purchase an electric bicycle , but you can get most of your money back if you decide to sell it.
* Wherever the term “electric bicycle” or “electric bicycles” is mentioned, it refers to EPAC (Electric Powered Assist Cycle or electrically assisted bicycle) that are legally considered as conventional bicycles. |
