8 benefits of an e-bike and reasons for choosing it over a car or scooter
The future has two wheels
Do you remember the day the old kick scooter made its glorious comeback? I remember it took me days to believe that my childhood scooter (which seemed rather lame even to my 10 year old self) had found its way back into the world of latest fads and trends. As if walking through a time machine, suddenly everywhere I looked there were teenagers and adults, yes, adults, whizzing up and down on the little things.
I was convinced it’s days would once again come to an end but this time it looks like they’re here to stay. The electric scooter was introduced to the market shortly after and today almost everyone is on a two wheel vehicle of some sort. The reality is two wheels are practical, seriously practical!
Although electric scooters have definitely paved a way for themselves as a serious means of transportation, honestly they’re not for everyone. They’re not the best companions to take grocery shopping and the standing posture isn’t agreeable with all ages. There’s a reason why you don’t see many older people on e-scooters, and one of them is that they wouldn’t be seen dead kick-pushing their scooter when the battery dies on them, if anything it would bring on an early heart attack. This is where the e-bike comes in.
Bicycles are classic, they never go out of style.
Bicycles appeal to people of all lifestyles: the young and hip, the sporty and fit, the laidback strollers and the elderly. They are classic and never go out of style. Today electric bikes are one of the most practical ways to commute in and about cities and there are countless models, sizes, weights and foldable shapes to suit your needs.
If you’re looking for an eco way to travel for both the environment and your wallet, then look no further. Here are 8 reasons you’ll fall in love with your future (or rented) e-bike:
The 8 benefits of using an e-bike
1. Environmentally friendly. E-bikes largely reduce air pollution and noise pollution. Especially in cities, this helps keep the air cleaner and the environment more peaceful. An e-bike would make you an Earth Warrior.
2. No more traffic jams. Traffic jams are so last decade. Why waste time fumigating the air with toxic gas clouds, getting nowhere when you could reach your destination in a fraction of the time and jam to your favorite song while you did it. Commuting doesn’t have to be a headache, it can be fun and revitalizing and that’s exactly what your future e-bike would do for you. Imagine the wrinkles you will save from escaping the morning’s road rage.
3. Saves you money. We all know the cost of owning a car and it’s not cheap. Depending on the car the insurance alone can cost the same price as an e-bike. Not to mention car tax, maintenance, fuel and a whole bunch of other etc’s which always seem to grow longer with the years.
An e-bike can cost anywhere between $1500 and $5000 but once the initial investment has been made, maintenance consists of little more than recharging the battery and checking the lights. Best of all, insurance can kiss your sweet seat goodbye and you can forget your trips to the dreaded gas station. It’s a green win all over.
4. Builds your fitness or saves you the sweat. Yes, believe it or not you do still move your feet and body on an e-bike. The pedals have to move somehow. It’s true some people consider the e-bike cheating but isn’t a car too? An e-bike requires more effort than a car, plane, bus or train and it’s up to you how you choose to use it.
What I love the most is that it’s an eco way to travel to work without turning up hot and sweaty. Once work is done you can switch to self-powered mode and sweat it out as much as you like before returning home. E-biking puts fitness in your own hands and that’s a pretty huge advantage.
5. Enjoy longer distances. Knowing you can rely on electricity to give you a helping push whenever you need it is reassuring. It adds a spark of adventure encouraging you to explore further without wondering if you’ll get back in one piece or if you’ll be home before nightfall. It’s also really handy if you struggle keeping up with your friend or partner during a cycle.
6. You can carry more weight. Cycling can be tiring and even more so with extra weight. The assistance of a charged battery lets you carry more but burn less energy making a quick stop to the store a light and joyful experience.
7. It’s safer than you think. The quietness of an electric motor makes you more aware of your surroundings and instant acceleration can, in fact, be safer when faced with a junction from a standing start. You’ll most likely spend more time with your head up too as you won’t need to look down at your pedals while standing to build up speed.
8. Improved security. One of the biggest concerns people have over investing in an e-bike is whether it’s worth paying the higher price only to risk the possibility of it getting stolen on the street. E-bikes however offer security measures that you won’t find on regular bikes and nowadays you can connect most e-bikes to smartphone apps via bluetooth. Many come with built in GPS tracking and some even have SIM cards as well. Of course none of this serves as a substitute to a quality bicycle lock and good old common sense on where to park, but it at least gives you the added security you want before taking the final plunge into becoming the Earth Warrior, stress-free, money-saving e-biker you were born to be.
Our top 3 picks
Purchasing an e-bike can be a hefty initial investment and there are hundreds to choose from. Here are 3 popular e-bikes you might want to consider when making your choice.
Price: $1,588
Power: powered by a 350 watt motor for trips up to 50 miles (depending on the terrain and assist level).
Battery charge time: roughly 5.5 hours
The Espin Sport has a 20-inch diamond frame which gives the feel of a traditional road bike. Its rear luggage rack stows up to 55 pounds of cargo and a backlit LCD control hub displays the basic metrics and battery life while riding.
Price: $3,499
Power: powered by a 250 watt Brose Centerdrive system for trips up to 80 miles and speeds up to 28mph.
Battery charge time: roughly 4.5 hours
Raleigh Redux IE is a discreet e-bike ideal for urban commuters. It’s clean and simple design comes with a lithium-ion battery giving it a range of up to 80 miles before recharging. It includes a 10-speed Shimano crankset and shifters and a built in LCD screen.
Price: $1,800
Power: powered by a 350 watt Bosch Performance CX drive which can reach a top speed of 20 mph and a 500 watt-hour battery which gives it a range of up to 70 miles
Battery charge time: roughly 4 hours
Haibike SDURO Hardnine 4.0 comes with 29 inch tires, 180 millimetre hydraulic disc brakes, a 100 millimetre front suspension fork and a nine-speed Shimano shifting system. The LCD display is fixed to the handlebars and shows the usual information including level of charge, remaining range and current pedal assist mode.
In conclusion electric bikes are the way to go. They’re one of the easiest ways to enjoy the outdoors, exercise, travel and have fun all at the same time. With an e-bike no hill is too high and the feeling of being Rockie on wheels without breaking a sweat is an experience you won’t forget…even if the bike helped just a little.
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