New article in The Guardian about ebikes

[Nirmala]

http://www.theguardian.com/sustaina...rent-more-people-riding-them#comment-67745438

It is always interesting to read the comments and see some of the misconceptions out there about ebikes.

 

[Tara D.]

Wow, comments aside, this article is showing some GREAT bikes. If you didn't already head over to http://www.butchersandbicycles.com/ and check out their tilting cargo trikes. Game changer for parents that prefer biking their kids to school instead of waiting in the long slow moving pick up/ drop off lane watching as their kids bolt between the cars of distracted parents trying to get out of the lot. I am loving it!

 

[Jim123]

The European standard of 250 watt pedal assist and 200 watt max if throttle is included, makes me glad I live in America. Even Canada is stuck at 500 watt max unlike our 750 watt limit. I understand obesity is much lower in Europe but handicapped people are still going to be off in their hill climbing ability. I saw original electric bikes speeding around at 40 mph in the U.K. But that has been counterbalanced towards safety, way too much.

 

[JoePah]

It's really a good article and points to the real problem.. .lack of infrastructure. Ebikes aren't really a viable option to bikes but to cars.. If people knew they could ride a special lane to work to the kids schol or the market, buying an ebike would make a whole lot of sense.

Personally think electric cars and their 80 mile range is a crazy waste of money... Spend 3000 on a bike to take the kids or yourself to work every day for a 30 mile trip makes a whole lot of sense if you didn't have to fear for your life during rush hour.

 

[MLB]

The European standard of 250 watt pedal assist and 200 watt max if throttle is included, makes me glad I live in America. Even Canada is stuck at 500 watt max unlike our 750 watt limit. I understand obesity is much lower in Europe but handicapped people are still going to be off in their hill climbing ability. I saw original electric bikes speeding around at 40 mph in the U.K. But that has been counterbalanced towards safety, way too much.

I think you are overrating the difference here. This isn't horsepower. Nominal voltage is the spec, but doesn't say what Peak voltage is.
Bosch 250w can be very strong. Overall gearing has as much effect on "how strong" a bike feels.

 

[Jim123]

MLB, I have tried looking up the difference between nominal and peak horsepower. What little I found was that any time at peak horsepower is actually shortening the life of the motor. The statement by a manufacturer of a motors watts seems to depend on what they want to emphasize. Hi Power Cycles has an asterisk by their power ratings say that all listed power is peak power. So a 1200 watt is actually 750 watt nominal with HPC . Other sellers are oriented towards being legal and downplay the wattage of their systems. My post statement was about going up hills with minimal help. Most any motor is going to feel great going on flat terrain.

 

[MLB]

MLB, I have tried looking up the difference between nominal and peak horsepower. What little I found was that any time at peak horsepower is actually shortening the life of the motor. The statement by a manufacturer of a motors watts seems to depend on what they want to emphasize. Hi Power Cycles has an asterisk by their power ratings say that all listed power is peak power. So a 1200 watt is actually 750 watt nominal with HPC . Other sellers are oriented towards being legal and downplay the wattage of their systems. My post statement was about going up hills with minimal help. Most any motor is going to feel great going on flat terrain.

An electric cycle to pull you up any hill without effort is called an electric motorcycle.
I personally see very very little need for about 50-75% of the power supplied by most E setups.
I think the wave of the future is very small, very light friction drives that are totally oblivious to rest of the bike ride if you don't want them.