Best Electric Bicycle

"Which Is The Best Electric Bicycle 
and Other Electricfying Questions?..."

Q. Which is the best electric bicycle for me?
A. These are factors you need to consider to be able to select the right electric bicycle: how much weight the bike will carry, how far you want to go, and whether the terrain is flat or hilly.

Other things to think about are if you'll be taking it off-road, how often you'll be lugging the bike around and up how many stairs, and how much space you have to store it.

The best bicycle for you is the one that performs the best in as many of the criteria as possible in your price range.

Q. What is the difference between power on demand and pedal activated?
A. Power on demand means you can choose when and how much you want to pedal. If you want to take a breather, you can. Flip a switch and the bike will take over. Pedal activated is just like the name implies.

You must pedal the bike, but you get the assist all the time. Both types of power delivery systems have an electric bike throttle. Even with pedal activated you can use the throttle for extra power when you need it.

Q. What kind of batteries are best?
A. The most common bike batteries are SLA (sealed lead acid). They are the least expensive and the most environmentally friendly. They also have the shortest lifespan due in part to how vulnerable they are to the vagaries of life. NiCad (nickel-cadmium) batteries are more expensive, but they last longer.

They, unfortunately, are really dreadful for the environment. NiMh (nickel-metal hydride) batteries are also longer lasting, and don't have the toxic heavy metals. Next is the Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion, which does sound like a drug you'd give somebody in a psyche ward).

These are the up and comer in the battery world. Lighter, more efficient, but pricey and also very finicky about charging.

Q. What if I want to combine an electric bike with using public transportation?
A. Those crafty engineering types have come up with an excellent solution-a folding electric bike. This kind of bike is ideal for all situations where space is limited.

You can ride the bike to the train station, stow it, then get back on to finish the trip. Folding bikes will fit on buses, in car trunks, and on ferries. They are just as sturdy as regular electric bikes, so no need to worry about a tragic folding accident as you're riding.

A folding bike will also take up minimum space in an apartment.

Q. What if I have a bike I really like? Can it be electrified?
A. You bet your bippy it can. Electric bicycle conversion kits are readily available for exactly that purpose. Don't panic if you're not handy with a wrench; the local bike shop can take care of assembly for you. But most kits can be installed very quickly.

You can select the conversion kit to match your needs just as you would if you were buying the whole electric bike. A motor, battery, throttle, and charger are the main elements of a kit. Pricing on these starts at about $350 and goes to around $1000.

Q. If I get an electric bicycle, does it mean I'm cool?
A. Absolutely.

Now you should know about the electric bicycle kit....

Ride With The Wind...
Trey Taylor
Electric Bike Guy