This is a guest post from reader Goosid
I returned to New Zealand in September 2011 from three years in Romania. Although Bucharest may rival Auckland for its unfriendly environment for cycling – I have always been a keen cyclist and seeing the cycling Infrastructure in Northern Europe (particularly Amsterdam and Copenhagen) convinced me that the deciding factor is investment in infrastructure. You only need to look at the difference in cycling culture between the Netherlands and Belgium to see that. Belgium, despite having a very similar culture (at least in the majority Flemish areas) and geography to the Netherlands has relatively poor cycling infrastructure and is much more auto dependent. This is even more pronounced in the French speaking parts of Belgium.
What I also saw was how well bicycles work with public transport. I am sure many of you have seen the stacks of bikes at the Amsterdam train station, to the point where there is now basically a crisis of congestion and parking for bicycles
Like most of the English speaking world we are very far behind even Belgium (the Netherlands has more cyclists than the entire English speaking world combined). In Auckland a common issue raised are the hills that Auckland is blessed with which give us such a great natural environment.
The solution I have found is an electric bike. I first saw these in Germany and I immediately realised what a great idea they are. Electric power is perfect for bicycles as the low weight means a relatively small power source is required as opposed to an electric car where so much weight is added through the batteries. I don’t really cycle for fitness so I just want to get from A to B as quickly and easily as possible.
I purchased a SmartMotion eUrban Bike. You can see more detail about this bike at (http://www.electricbikes.co.nz/content/view/96/125/). It was specifically designed for New Zealand by the Wisper franchise owner in New Zealand and is a great little bike. However, I have no association with the business and there are lots of other great bikes out there. For some electric bike porn check out the new electric bike from Smart (who make the Smart cars) http://www.t3.com/news/smart-electric-bike-available-to-pre-order-now. Drool!
The bike can be ridden purely on electric power via the throttle or, on my bike, you can choose an assist level from 1 to 5. This means that the bike will supply power from the battery in addition to your pedal power to keep you at around 25-27 km/h on the flat. If you go over 27 km/h the motor will cut out and you are just on pedal power until your speed drops again. I always ride on assist level 5 which, of course, sucks more power.
These are the advantages I see of the electric bike:
- It has a motor, so I don’t work as hard and arrive at my destination not covered in perspiration. I usually travel at around 27-30 km/h with literally no sweat.
- Hills are like riding on the flat. I just turn up the assist, go down some gears, cycle at a normal pace and usually ascend the hill at 18-22 km/h depending on the slope. Annoys the hell out of the lycra brigade I tell you!
- It can be carried on trains and ferries. I take the Bayswater ferry every day and it is fantastic. A lot of fellow riders get off and continue on to Newmarket, Ponsonby etc.
- Easy for kids to use. The speed via throttle is limited to around 25 km/h so they can’t go crazy speed wise.
- The range is great at around 30 kms per charge on my reasonably hilly route. I usually charge every 3-4 days and I have never been caught short. The bike has an easy to read panel that shows the amount of power left at the current rate of consumption. It takes about 5-6 hours to recharge from a normal power outlet and uses about the same amount of power as a light bulb.
- If the power does run out you can still continue to cycle like a normal bicycle using the pedals.
- It is very quiet with only a slight whine when the motor is working hard up a hill.
Some disadvantages from a normal cycle are:
- It is heavier than a normal cycle (mine is about 19 kilos) which may make it difficult to carry up and down stairs for a smaller person. I am 85 kilos and it is easy for me.
- It will be a few 100 dollars more expensive than a non-electric bike which is basically the cost of the battery. I think it is worth it to avoid the effort on hills and to enjoy my cycling more.
- The battery does have a limited life span. However, I know a guy who has an older model of Wisper bike with the same battery for 5 years and it is still going strong. I believe a new battery costs around $700 new.
- You will have to put up with little jibes from the lycra brigade that you are “cheating”.
- You will constantly be asked by people about your bike and you will turn into an electric bike zealot.
- You won’t want to use your car. Hmm, I guess that should go in the first list?
The point with this is not that my family doesn’t need a car. We live in Auckland of course we do! Keeping with the electric theme, we have a hybrid that my wife uses and I occasionally use on the weekend. However, it means we now comfortably only need one car, which saves a huge amount of money. When my children are older, I intend to buy an electric Danish style electric cargo bike like this one for getting them around:
NZ Post has just bought some electric bikes for their posties and, in some European cities, electric cargo bikes are being used to transport goods through pedestrian only areas. What a great solution for our future pedestrian zones in Auckland. Some can carry up to 100kgs of goods. They are huge in China along with electric scooters.
Some people have been very sceptical about the benefits until they have actually ridden my bike and then they are sold. For trips of less than 5 kms, electric bikes really do offer a fantastic alternative and with some cargo carrying capability can replace a car for many short trips.
I remember someone on the blog did a map showing how over 80% of Aucklanders live within a 2km radius of an existing train station. An electric bike will make you laugh at a 2km ride, regardless of age, fitness or terrain and you can then jump on one of the new electric trains and you are away!
P.S. I have nothing against the lycra brigade! Just playing fellas, all us cyclists have to stick together and guys do a great job of keeping cycling visible in the city.
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There is an excellent market survey of electric bikes in the NZ market here:
http://lancewiggs.com/2013/01/20/electric-bikes-and-motorbikes/
I am just about to start an electric bike hire shop in Christchurch so everyone for a small fee can try out this new technology. My premises will be in Sydenham. Soon electric bikes will be part of Christchurch!
Nice post, thanks!
the HOT City pedicabs had electric assist and one over zealous officer of the law insisted on them being registered!
Yes, electric bikes are due some more exposure. The council will also have to do their bit to make more arterial routes and stations more conducive to cycling (including parking and security).
Having had one for the last 2+ months, the biggest single benefit is that it makes riding a bike so enjoyable again – so much that you actually want to ride it.
And yes, you still have to peddle on the hills, but not so much on the flats or downhill (you can, and I get to 40kph on the flat easy – 35kph into a stiff head wind without too much bother if I peddle as well)
Bike riding becomes like it was when you were a kid with your first bike – any excuse to ride your bike – you’ll take it.
Mine has the big 2 inch tyres on it, so it goes off the road onto grass and stuff no problem, so I can take shortcuts across the local parks without bothering me or the bike very much.
Mind you, have to remember to stand on the peddles when you go over bumps or your back will become very sore.
And another thing – I live at the top of a ridge (about 70m above sea level) , so no matter which way I go from my place its a nice downhill to start – but all uphill on the return.
Still I can zip down the road to near sea level e.g. the shops or whatever, and know I’ll be able to ride back up at the end in short order without getting all sweaty and bothered.
Electric bikes are not cheap (well good ones anyway), and they are heavier than normal bikes – but being able to cruise around existing streets (and up those hills) makes it so much easier that you can focus on avoiding the bad car drivers around you.
I’ve commuted to work on mine and back without problems – takes about the same as a car once you factor in all the stops at the lights (which means you can get to the front of the queues of cars).
I haven’t taken mine on the train yet, probably will wait until the new EMUs come on stream as they’re better set up for taking bikes on them.with wider doors and height at the platform.
I don’t need to go near the trains for my daily commute – but once proper fare zones are introduced it might be worth while considering if the fares stack up.
Doesn’t now as I’d need to go 2 or 3 zones and it would take longer with the need to change at Britomart.
Can’t wait for the board walk across Hobson bay to get built so I have a short cut to the water front.
Great to hear from another electric bike zealot.
Can I ask what kind of bike you have?
Goosoid,
I have an (Orange) Pedego Cruiser with Balloon Upgrade (aka Balloon Tyres, bigger seat etc) – see http://www.electricbikes.co.nz/content/view/92/121/ for details and a picture of what its like
I’ve nicknamed mine “The Jaffa” for obvious reasons.
And of course, I got mine was also from ElectricBikes.co.nz (aka “Bute Bikes”) in Browns Bay. I got the bigger battery (15 Amp/hr not 10 Amp/’hr from memory).
I recall hearing Chris from Electric Bikes on the Radio in an interview years ago when he was based in Tauranga and remembered the name of the company when I went looking for one of my own.
I not here to shill for electric bikes but they sure know their stuff – which is good.
Yes I biought mine from Chris as well. A really nice guy and very passionate about his business.
He lamented to me the last time I saw him that they just dont have the budget to promote the bikes. I am amazed how many people dont even know they exist.
If you go anywhere in Browns Bay,
Every one knows Bute Bikes are the Electric Bike dudes so they have some good local rep. I always plug them to folks who ask about them and everytime I’ve been there they have heaps of people coming into collect or try the bikes.
I really want these guys to succeed as ebikes are a potential major game changer for bicycling.
Expense is the main problem at the moment: a decent electric bike is more like $1000 more expensive than a standard one. I guess the utility of the bike makes up for that in many cases.
If you don’t want the lycra brigade teasing you, you can always go for the cooler than though electric bike: http://www.faradaybikes.com/
I suggest that your $1000 number is a bit high. I wouldnt spend less than $1000 on a decent commuter bike that I use everyday and I paid $1700 for my ebike. It was worth $700 extra for the pleasure and the frequency I use it.
If you arent intending to use your bike most days then probably an ebike may not make sense unless there are health raesons why the strain of a non-electric may discourage use. For 60+ I really think an ebike is a no brainer.
The real money value comes in where a commuter could justify selling one of their family cars and relying on the bike plus transit. The savings compared to running even a cheap car are huge. For me that is what the cycling revolution that is happening now is all about, reducing 3 car households to 2 and 2 car households to one.
The lycra brigade is great and have kept a spark of cycling visible in Auckland. My problem is that the lycra look creates an impression that cycling is an extreme sport that needs special clothing and equipment (like helmets). As our grandparents knew (especially in Chch where I grew up) cycling is just a convenient and cheap way to travel short (<5km) distances, often with the shopping or (in the case of my grandfathers) a tool box on the front.
Goosoid – what is your experience regarding battery life. I mean in the sense of “how many years until I need to buy a new one”?
These batteries are all pretty much Lithium Ion Technology these days (for the weight), so they are similar to Laptop batteries – they’ll last a fair while, then they’ll gradually stop keeping charge.
With good use they’ll last 3-5 years (Pedego warranty the battery for 3 I think – longer than the actual bike!).
But if you read the ElectricBikes website, Chris has a lot of good info on how and why they chose to sell what they do.
Some of the things they know are not at all secret, more common sense, but some stuff they’ve learnt the hard way..
So if you carefully cell match the battery pack cells like they do, you will get a superior life from the battery each charge and overall from the battery pack over the life of the battery pack.
I think the key thing is that while the batteries are expensive, they’re not like say Toyota Prius (or Nissan Leaf) Electric Car expensive.
So if one dies they can be replaced but its not going to kill the value of the ebike. 3 years battery life is fine I think for the money you’ll save.
Of course if you buy a cheaper ebike (and/or batteries) you will probably get the level of performance that you pay for.
Yep, Fully Agree Goosoid.
I worked out my 2 litre, 12 years old Jap import car cost me $1000 per year, even if it sits in the car port all year doing nothing, due to insurance and registration/WOF etc costs. and you assume it doesn’t depreciate or need much servicing.
So, if you could get rid of a second car, you could pay for even a top of the line $3K bike in 3 years.
Even sooner if you use the second car daily as that adds to the running costs.
I worked out that biking to/from work each day when possible would save me at least $5 a day in straight out petrol costs, let alone tyres and the like.
If you use AA figures for mileage, the cost of running even a small car is way over 50 cents a km with all costs factored in – so even a 5 K each way trip will cost $5 in car costs.
Factor that over a 200 working day year and thats $1000 in fuel costs – and thats conservative.savings, more like 1.5 to twice that in real life.
So, if you could ditch a second car, you’d pay for the bike in 18 months – even if you only used to drive 5K each way.
And once the EMU’s come on stream, a lot of Auckland will be a 5km cycle away for a lot of people!
For the Lycra brigade, well horses for courses,
But as was mentioned in the Cycle Action Day videos a while back, whats needed is that cycling stops being something you do before or after work (and drive to/from work) or do only in weekends, and becomes something you do to get to or from work during the week ala what it was like in Christchurch .when I grew up. Everyone cycled everywhere.
And lastly, while 3K or whatever for an e-bike may seem expensive, it relative as the Fullers Ferries guys mentioned previously in the Cycle Action Day videos that a lot the lycra clad brigade have bikes that are north of $7K!
Let alone the cost of the gear they’re wearing.
Goosoid, looking at the quality of the components etc on your ebike, it looks like it would cost at most $700 new. A conversion kit (just the motor and battery) costs $1500. I completely agree it is well worth it (I’ve spent thousands on folding and cargo bikes for their practicality) but it is good to get the facts straight. And it may well be that lower quality components are acceptable on the ebike as you are not pushing the gears etc so hard.
Well I have to take your word for it as I am not that much of an expert. What I was saying is that if I bought a non-electric bike for commuting I wouldnt spend less than $1000 as, in my experience, long term you end up paying the same in replacing bikes/components. I may upgrade the components over time as the frame is solid.
And yes, I think the components have a longer life from less use, especially gears. The bike has disk brakes which make braking much easier and safer. The motor also automatically cuts out when the brakes are applied. There is one advertised on Trade Me right now that has brakes which recharge the battery like on a hybrid car – that is pretty cool.
You are right we need to be accurate and obviously the money side of things is important. Of course, it will always be cheaper than a car at any price, especially if we have to figure in parking costs.
I really dislike driving in cities and always have, rural driving is a different matter. I see it as a necessary evil in NZ cities but whenever I have lived in a city with good PT (Melbourne, London, Prague, Bucharest) I have not owned a car. So for me the money side is a consideration but quite far down the list.
The one component you can’t judge so easily is the quality of the battery in the ebike.
I know from laptops that not all Lithium Ion laptop batteries are created equal, and how you treat the battery/alptop will affect its life to quite a degree.
I know this from the “fleet” of HP laptops we use at work and how long the batteries in those last etc especially when compared to say non-HP battery packs.
Kind of reminds of the argument about using 3rd party toner or refilled toner cartridges in your laser printers – there is an argument that you save money up front – thats true.
The real argument is that whether thats false economy in the long run and thats something you can only find out with hindsight..
Dan,
You can’t actually buy the Faraday right now, its pre-order only – not due to later in the year and its more $ as well.
You can buy what I or Goosoid ride today in NZ, from a local supplier, with a NZ warranty for less $.
Lycra dudes be damned.
Greg, you’ve gotta agree that it is a cool bike though! I encourage people to buy the bike they think is cool because they tend to ride it more. If you like yours because it is a great price and comes from an nz supplier, great!
I agree, people will ride a cool bike more just like a car.
For me the coolest is that Smart ebike. It looks like something out of a scifi movie!
BMW also have some cool ebikes.
“Lycra dudes be damned.” Just say no – LOL. tshirt, shorts, jandals – yeah
An interesting aside is that a Pedicab or Cargo Trike probably exempts you from the cycle helmet laws,
The legislation specifically refers to “bicycles”-
Hills, in Auckland, do not seem to strongly influence the level of cycle share. Other factors are much more dominant. Look at Page 10 (as counted by the PDF reader) of the annual cycle counts.
http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/about-us/publications/PlansProgrammes/Documents/AT%20-%20Regional%20Cycle%20Monitoring%20-%202012%20Regional%20Summary%20-%20FINAL.pdf
The very hilly Waitemata Ward is having several times the level of cycling of all other wards per count station. Other wards, like the much flatter Manaukau one, have much less cycling, by almost orders of magnitude. I have been planning to check these factors against things like population density (of course some of the “extra” cycling in Waitemata will be due to that), but haven’t got around to it yet. Still, it indicates to me that it ain’t the hills that is keeping cycling down in Auckland – for me, it’s the (lack of) infrastructure.
That is not to say that I think electric bikes aren’t useful. We just need to make sure that the “its too hilly, so cycling will never catch on here” meme doesn’t get traction. And some of the narrative around electric bikes is strengthening that meme.
I recently purchased an e-bike (from the friendly people at Bute Bikes – an e-City for anyone interested ). We are a suburban family who for financial reasons now only run one (aging) car. We also live at the top of a long, steep hill and down a steep drive so when I thought of adding a bicycle to our transport options, an e-bike was much more attractive than a conventional bike. It has taken a bit of getting used to, partly because it has been several decades since I did any biking (in my youth I often cycled to work, sans helmet, on a single speed bike that was “vintage” even then!) The electrics are only part of the learning curve – I have never ridden a bike with gears before now! I am slowly becoming more confident and had a very enjoyable ride around the Orewa bike path a few weeks back.
The pedal assist is easy to use (on my bike you can turn it to zero if you don’t need it) and really does make riding the bike a pleasure. The initial “surge” when you turn it on is a bit disconcerting at first but I am getting used it. For someone like me, having a little bit of “get up and go” has been helpful to give me confidence on the very limited street riding I have done so far. It is especially useful when going from a standing start and when biking into a head wind 🙂 The bike feels solid too – I never liked the look of those skinny wheeled bikes – and I prefer not having to be hunched over when I ride.
My biggest problem is that I am still far too nervous to try biking on the roads around here (which are pretty busy although some do have “cycle lanes” which don’t look all that wide to a newbie like me). And with the electrics, it is not the uphills that are the problem. I am a scaredy cat going downhill, especially where the hill is long and steep. I don’t enjoy going fast (just under 20km/hr is quite sufficent), especially with cars so close by. So hills can be a barrier – but not always in the way you think. I am hoping that with practice, that fear will abate and I can use it to ride to the local shops to buy groceries (it already has a basket fitted). This was the main purpose it was bought for – although the other half and I are talking about taking the whole family up to the Orewa trail for an outing one day (as long as we can hire an extra two bikes!)
Max, I think electric bikes can solve the whole sweating on a bike problem. This problem is greatly exacerbated by hills. All that showering at work and stuff that some people insist is necessary is certainly unnecessary is you have an ebike.
That is technically correct, but ironically, it also means that you are not allowed to use shared paths, cycle lanes etc…!
I seriously hate how the comments function keeps placing my responses wrong. This was supposed to be a response to Greenwelly’s comment about cargo trikes.
Not true. The helmet law applies to ‘bicycles’, but the rules about cycle lanes and not riding on the footpath, etc. apply to all ‘cycles’, explicitly defined as two or more wheels.
Any vehicle is allowed to use the road, which includes cycles with any number of wheels, skateboards, roller skates, etc.
This gives us the bizarre rules of:
Unicycles – can be ridden on the footpath, or road. No helmet needed.
Bicycles – must be ridden on the road, or shared path. Helmet required.
Tricycles and above – must be ridden on the road, or shared path. No helmet needed.
(Kids can ride child-sized bikes and trikes on the footpath, of course).
“(Kids can ride child-sized bikes and trikes on the footpath, of course).”
If it’s a cycle, legally, you’re not allowed to ride it on the footpath. No age restrictions. Only reason for riding on footpath, according to the NZTA, is for delivering post, papers, advertising.
Of course this is silly but legally correct. I’m trying to get stats on injury accidents for cyclists on footpaths but the issue is that if a cyclist is hit on the footpath, they are automatically at fault so the stats are dodgy.
Reading the rules more carefully, you are right that there’s no age restriction. But any “cycle” with a wheel diameter under 355mm can be ridden on the footpath.
Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 – http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2004/0427/latest/whole.html – see section 1.5(c), the definition of “wheeled recreation device” in the interpretation section 1.6, and section 11.1(4).
Ah, okay, sorry, should have finished reading the main post.
Aaaaand the comments function did it again. Transport Blog folks, does anyone else except me (using this on a Firefox Browser) have the issue? I definitely commented under my earlier response regarding battery life question, and it shunted my comment at the back of the queue instead of where it was supposed to go. And I even refreshed the page before I commented, to avoid exactly that!
Max, I find that the best way is to right click on the “reply” link and then open a new tab/window. That always seems to work for me in putting the reply in the right place.
Absolutely agree with you on hills and the last thing I want to do is suggest that is a valid reason not to cycle in Auckland, especially for short distances.
I have always been a very enthusiastic cyclist here and overseas (and a CAA member), so the ebike hasnt changed my cycling habits. But as someone who doesnt find cycling a very good fitness activity, the ebike is great for just getting around and means I arrive at my destination no more sweaty than if I had walked.
No doubt in my mind that infrastructure is the main culprit. Those of us who have seen the culture and infrastructure in Northern Europe know what can be achieved with separated cycle lanes in particular. People feel safe and able to cycle around wearing their normal street clothes.
As you well know, for the price of one motorway overpass we could future-proof Auckland for cycling for decades to come. Build it and they will come.
Is there a good map of secure places to park bicycles in the Auckland CBD. I’d cycle more to get to places in the CBD, but I worry about leaving my $5000 mountain bike out somewhere (even if it was locked up).
Hi Brendan – the short answer would be no. But to be fair, I bet you would struggle to meet those conditions in Copenhagen either! What you are looking for is really a secure bicycle cage / locker system, and except for private use (i.e. on the grounds of businesses, for their own employees), that model has gone way out of favour. Reason being that it is rather inefficient to provide for lots of users, as you kinda have to have a permit system to arrange access, or even “rent out” individual lockers, which then often aren’t actually used.
My suggestion – not being cheeky – is to get a cheaper, serviceable bike for rides into town, and keep your fancy bike for the sports rides around Clevedon or Kumeu!
If you want secure as in guarded, you can check in a bike at Giant Bikes in Britomart for $1/day. http://britomart.org/giant-auckland
Four issues I see that can affect adoption and use:
* $1700 is a bit steep for a bicycle of any kind
* You have to leave it at home when it rains and find some other way of getting to work
* You’re vulnerable to other vehicles; there’s no crumple zone on a bike
* You can only transport one person
It overcomes only one problem with bicycles (exertion), but creates another (cost). The other problems still exist and work against a bicycle being an everyday commuter solution.
Logan, $1,700 is not expensive for a good bike, Avanti (good mid-range NZ brand) has a few bikes under $1k, several over $2k and up to $5k plus, top end road bikes start around $5k and will easily double that figure
Everything you describe about drawbacks of bikes, while valid to some extent, apply equally well to walking (or a motorcycle).
And we don’t seem to have problems with people walking when its wet or there is a lot of traffic?
So what is that you object to about bikes? The fact you need to spend some money on buying a bike?
I point out that you can buy a cheap bike and helmet etc – but doing that is like buying a cheap pair of shoes, and you will need to replace them way sooner than the more expensive one so you’ll get limited use out of it.
I recall my first bike I bought cost me nearly $100 (A Raleigh 20), in todays money that would be over $1,000
So yeah, spending over $1K for a bike is pretty much comparable spending with earlier generations.
Logan, I juts want to address each of your points:
* $1700 is a bit steep for a bicycle of any kind
When was the last time you bought a commuter bike new? You will see the poster above asking where he can park his $5000 MTB. I think $1000 is a minimum and the advantages of an ebike well exceed $700, especially if it allows you to get rid of one car.
* You have to leave it at home when it rains and find some other way of getting to work
As Greg N says, applies to walking, waiting for a bus/train/ferry, motorbikes, scooters. Millions of Dutch, Germans and Scandinavians seem to survive in a much less pleasant climate. Are they tougher than us?
* You’re vulnerable to other vehicles; there’s no crumple zone on a bike
Agreed – and thats why we need Copenhagen style separate cycle ways, not bits of paint on the side of the road. For the about $100m (the price of a motorway on ramp) we could put these in all over Auckland and join up the existing patches of infrastructure.
* You can only transport one person
Applies to walking, motorbikes, scooters and to about 80% of the cars on the road at peak times (apparently). You are allowed to cycle with other people and if you are on a separate cycle way it can be very pleasant and relaxing.
Hi team,
Great to see a post on this subject. I was thinking, the other day as I sat in my car stuck in traffic really wanting to be on my bike is that the parking spaces requirement for commercial developments should really be changed to a showering facilities requirement. I work in a building that has a single shower, in the male toilets, for 150 people. Fortunately there are only a few of us, & all male, who run or ride to work so we cope but it would definitely be a constraint if others joined us. So does that work as a trade off, the resource consenters still get something to check on; it’s just more useful.
Oh, and Nick, $1700 is cheap when you look at it as a commuting vehicle, not as a bicycle. Also as a source of some exercise with a long servicable life. And it’s rediculously cheap compared with what the lycra brigade will spend on just wheels alone.
Cheers
The Unitary Plan does require that new developments provide cycle parking and showering facilities, after years of requiring carparking it will be a nice change (assuming that provision doesn’t get kicked out by all the people who claim it will be a burden but of course never complain about the parking subsidy in the form of MPRs we’re all required to pay at present and is mandated by council).
It’s not surprising South Auckland lags west, the roads in the south are more scarey and the Penrose/Mt Wellington/Otahuhu area is a bottle neck that doesn’t have any safe way through. The west has the cyclelane.
I’d want more than a kW, preferably 2kW and would want the electric bike to be capable of at least 35km/hr so it would keep up with faster people on bicycles, preferably 50 so it could match vehicle speed on the road.
Cycling in Auckland did a write-up on the Pedego bike last year as well as some info. on the speeds possible
http://cyclingauckland.co.nz/general/2012/12/quick-ride-pedego-electric-bike/
Realistically you sound like you really want a scooter if you are wanting to be travelling at 50km/h
I’d love to buy an electric bike (our car is dead with a flat battery since a week and we don’t plan to fix it anytime soon) but how could I charge it? For us apartment rats in Auckland are not allowed a plug in the garage. Any public outlets?
Gian
The battery is removable so you can charge it in your own home.
The chargers are similar to laptop power supplies.
I’m talking here about my and Goosoid’s ebikes.
My battery is removable in 30 seconds and the battery is secured on the bike by a regards key and lock so it can’t be stolen easily.
Same key turns the bike on so it’s like your car keys.
Meant to write “battery is secured to bike by **regular** lock and key which also works as the “ignition” key for turning on the electricity to the ebike.”.
The battery weighs about 7-10kg and has a carry handle so can be easily taken up stairs to your apartment for an overnight charge (and/or left removed for security/weather protection.
My ebike electrics (as Goosoids would be too) are marine grade electrical wiring connected so will handle rain – but if you submerge the engine (the rear wheel hub) into water you’ll be in trouble.
Can’t think of the last time I need for ford a road with that depth of water on any bicycle in the city so I think thats unlikely to be a problem.
[unless you fall off the waterfront into the sea or something similar on your bike].
But the same problem would affect a car too I’d bet – water in the engine is not usually covered by your warranty on a car either.
that’s handy
I stumbled over this while watching something completely unrelated. Probably everyone here has already seen this but just in case: How the Dutch got their Cycle Paths http://youtu.be/XuBdf9jYj7o
May I ask you Goosoid, what were you doing in Romania, and how is your Romanian going, and why did you return home? 🙂
Hi, as a daily cycle commuter I can see the appeal of an electric bike. My $1000 commuter bike (Jamis Allegro) was not up to the task of commuting year round in Auckland (cheap wheels, bottom brackets etc) so if the ebike has parts of greater quality than a typical $1000 bike it might be a good buy. However, to many of us the joy of exercise is one of the main reasons to be on two wheels. If this doesnt appeal to you then I doubt you’ll enjoy the downsides of cycling (electric or otherwise): rain & idiotic motorists come to mind. My next commuting evolution will be (going back to) motorcyling. You can wear waterproof gear, you’ll be quick off the traffic lights, your bike is stronger than a bicycle, no sweating, and your gear protects you more than typical bicycle clothes. Lastly, a second hand motorbike may only cost you $3k.
I have a Smart Motion E bike (E Urban) with the 250 watt motor in the front hub. It cost 1700 dollars.
It seems to be a fairly robust bike with good components for the price. The newer models generally have a 300 watt motor in the rear hub.
At certain speeds when climbing a hill, the noise from the motor is very noticeable, its a bit annoying. I am very pleased with the 10 amp hour battery, this gives enough range to get from Albany Heights, down to Browns Bay, then Beach Road, Lake Road to Devonport, up Mt Victoria, then return home via the same way- approx 60km of reasonably hilly riding. The bike has 26 inch wheels, a 44 tooth Chain ring with an 11 to 32 tooth 8 speed cluster. The gearing really suits me for where I live and for most of the terrain around the North shore. Second gear with assist easily gets you up Mt Victoria.
I took my bike on a train to Oxford yesterday – what a mess.
Firstly the Rail Manager tried to tell the 4 people with bikes they could not load without bookings. When 2 of the passengers provided evidence of pre booked bike tickets the rail manager started complaining about how bikes are holding up the trains and how unfair it is on the 200+ other passengers.
So having ignored the manager and loaded the bikes in the freight part of the diesel electric 30 year old rolling stock that the poms call a High Speed Train we then had to run and enter the nearest passenger carriage.
The Rail Manager was in the same part of the train and started to tell us that the problem is that FGW have built extra cycle racks at stations and this has encouraged new cyclists the trains can not cope with. There is not budget for new rolling stock and FGW (the rail operator) has to pay a fine every time the train is late.
Apparently the management of the UK rail companies are now seriously talking about banning bikes from trains because the fines are getting too expensive and the majority of passengers are complaining about being late because of delays caused by cycle loading and unloading.
So there you have it – Europe – Not completely cycle+PT friendly.
Check out these bike conversion options as opens up ebike price to more people
http://www.ebikekit.com/electric-trikes-complete-bike/worksman-port-o-trike-w-e-trikekit-system/
As for now, the add-e kits are the most used electric bike conversation kits
check out their products:
http://www.add-e.de/en/5-add-e