NEW YORK (AP) The surging cost of gasoline and a desire for a greener commute are turning more people to electric bikes as an unconventional form of transportation. They function like a typical two-wheeler but with a battery-powered assist, and bike dealers, riders and experts say they are flying off the racks.
Official sales figures are hard to pin down, but the Gluskin-Townley Group, which does market research for the National Bicycle Dealers Association, estimates 10,000 electric bikes were sold in the U.S. in 2007, up from 6,000 in 2006.
… Industry associations estimate 89,000 electric bikes were sold in the Netherlands last year, while 60,000 power-assisted bikes were sold in Germany. …
Professor Membrane wrote: Not now son, I'm making ... TOAST!
Professor Membrane wrote: Not now son, I'm making ... TOAST!
yesplease wrote:The hybrid system would also help out if a large enough portion of a commute was on higher speed roads, especially w/ the high drag coefficient of a scooter.
Have you even run the numbers for a scooter? Lemme put it this way, a car 4-5 times the size of one can get the same mileage at higher speeds. W/o way more cash for a bigger pack there's no way a hybrid scooter would do ~35mph all electric w/ decent range. Toss in more cash, sure, but scooters are just too draggy.eastbay wrote:Most scooter miles are local and urban typically at 40 mph and under making their aerodynamic inefficiencies a very minor issue. The Chinese mass production of a very low cost small hybrid scooter is no doubt a very timely marketing move and I'll be on the lookout for one with a 150 cc or thereabouts engine.
The 85 ish mpg I'm now getting out of my 150 cc Derbi is starting to get old. I want more!
Professor Membrane wrote: Not now son, I'm making ... TOAST!
eastbay wrote:Well look what I found! Anyone interested in motorcycle fuel economy must read this.
Narz wrote:I'd be curious to hear how the eBike industry has evolved over the past few years & if anyone has any suggestions.
Is there a new thread on this subject?
SeaGypsy wrote:There's loads of them in Melbourne, including the Post Office (Australia Post) converting a lot of their fleet over to e bikes. (What is an 'unfixable electrical problem'? E bikes aren't space rockets.)
Return to Conservation & Efficiency
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests