Electric bikes are like normal bikes except for a small, battery-powered motor that doesn’t contribute to the haze of pollution. No licence, equipment or insurance is needed for one.
Cyclists on e-bikes still have to pedal, but the battery pack gives them an extra boost, allowing them to climb steep hills or simply go faster and further without tiring themselves out.
Sales of e-bikes are growing quickly. In Holland, one in six new cycles sold is an e-bike, while sales of e-bikes in France rose 15% in 2012. Germany expects the industry to grow by 13% this year to 430,000, accounting for 15% of the market before long.
China is also mad for e-bikes, where over 200 million are now being driven and sales in Brazil are growing by over 200%.
They’re gaining ground in London too. Mayor of London Boris Johnson recently announced that a fleet of electric bikes would be trialled out in north London next year.
Electric bicycles are an environmental-friendly means of transport. With an increasing number of people using them, emissions from cars could be reduced by a great margin.
As well as being greener, an e-bike could make you leaner and after making the initial investment of about £1,000, you could save a fortune in the long-run. Would you buy an e-bike? Let us know your thoughts.
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