If you are looking to improve your personal transport situation then it's a no-brainer to think about using an electric bike. In these stressed economic times there can be few choices which can give you such a bang for your buck and help the environment at the same time. However, helping to save the world like Clark Kent is one thing, but there are a few common questions many people have about e-bikes. I will try to address them here.
I guess most people think of electric bikes as being nowhere near as fast as a motor bike and much more expensive than a regular bike. That is true to some extent. Still, it depends on how far your regular journey is likely to be, and how quickly you need to get there. An e-bike can get you from a to b nearly as quickly as most motor bikes or scooters in an urban setting - and what's that I hear? Nearly free to run? Yes pretty much, apart from a lot of plug-in time. It's definitely the transportation of the future. Over 100 million Chinese people can't be wrong! The trouble is...the initial expense.
Or is it? Have you thought about making an electric bike yourself? Some pre-built electric bikes have given the whole concept a bad name, it's true. Expensive to buy, poor range, low power, sometimes odd looking. You may find a good one, but having a bit more control over your pride and joy could lead to... pride and joy.
So what do you need to make one, and how much will it cost? About $300 should do it for a first attempt, plus a decent donor bike. There are a few quality variables like the motor, and the batteries especially. You definitely get what you pay for, and the cheaper variety can be a false economy. They will probably need replacing much sooner. You will also need access to a few power tools to put it all together properly, and a decent plan of what you want to end up with.
If you have time you can pick up a lot from the many forums on e-bikes, maybe buy a book, or take the easier option and buy a kit. That will cost you about two-thirds the price of a pre-built electric bike, and should be quite easy to put together for most people. For the more adventurous though, I would definitely go for your own 'special'.
You can get a pretty comprehensive plan for a really fast electric bike if you want to take a look this site exploring the future of electric bikes. The author is passionate about 2-wheeled transport and also low energy use - so if you Click Here you can find out how to cut both your journey time and expense!
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