Electric Bikes, E-bikes and Pedelecs with Engine and Batteries
Some people would like to ride bicycles to work, but they lack the necessary strength and balance needed in order to survive a trip down the road. Others would like to travel long distances but are afraid of climbing steep hills without any help. Now comes the solution with the electric bicycles.
Electric Bikes - What are They?
Electric bikes are bicycles that utilize small electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries to assist the riders. These bicycles are perfect for climbing up hills or carrying lots of baggage. However, bear in mind that the motors are designed to assist the rider and not to replace pedaling.
There are many types of electric bikes, but it usually falls under two major categories. The first is the e-bikes, which have a separate throttle on the handlebars. Think of a motorcycle. E-bikes have either the switch or a twist-grip on the handlebar like motorbikes have. You can decide how much assistance you can get from the motor. The other type would fall under Pedelecs. This one have sensors on the pedal, and it measures how much energy and effort the rider is putting and decides how much help to give the rider.
There are three ways by which a motor can drive the bike. The first is by chafing a roller along the tire. The second is by driving the chain, which is precisely what the rider does when he pedals. The third is driving a wheel directly from the hub.
As for the batteries, there are three kinds offered in the market. LeadAacid batteries are the most common as they are the cheapest. However, this battery is very heavy, and the average usage would be only up to a hundred and fifty uses, which doesn’t last very long. Another would be the Nickel Cadmium or NiCad batteries. This battery lasts for a long time, which averages up to more than a thousand uses and are essentially lighter than the Lead-Acid batteries. However, it is more expensive. Lastly will be the Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries which are lighter than NiCad batteries but only averages to 300 uses. It is impractical since NiMH batteries are more expensive than the NiCad.
Whether to Use Electric Bikes or Not
E-bikes are perfect for easy commuting. If you prefer your local errands to be easy, then this will help you carry around lots of the things you bought. It also reduces expensive gasoline use, air and noise pollution, and global warming. Also, if you haven’t exercised for a while, then E-Bikes will do you good.
However, e-bikes are generally heavier than your other average bicycles. Aside from the bicycle itself, you’ll have to bear the weight of batteries, which could be very heavy especially if you have the Lead-Acid battery. Imagine carrying it up the stairs. It will be very heavy.
Purchasing Your Electric Bikes
Buying your electric bikes is an easy thing to do. You have the Internet to aid you on this. You can easily type in the keywords in the search engine of your choice, and you will be directed to a lot of links to websites that sells electric bikes.
Another way is to brose through bicycle magazines and newspaper ads. They also have a collection of bikes to choose from.
Posted in Bikes