Top 10 Questions About Electric Bicycles

Part 3

By Elmo

7. What should I look for in an electric bicycle?

There are 4 main parts of an electric bicycle or an electric bike kit; the motor, the batteries, the throttle (or controller) and the charging system. The first thing that you should consider is the motor. The motor must be powerful enough to assist you in your needs.

There are two basic types of electric motors at this time: Direct drive and geared. Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. The very best thing any consumer can do is to consult the dealer that you are purchasing the electric motor bicycle from, to find what the best type of bike or kit you will need for your particular usage.

Technology has really changed batteries in the last several years. Batteries are usually either lead-acid (the most common in use today and the cheapest), NiCd, NiMH or Li-ion. Lithium ion polymer batteries are now beginning to be used as well, offering the advantage of lighter weight for the same energy storage capability but at a higher cost. Also, the newer technology has made the life of the batteries much longer and their distance is also becoming greater with each year.

Throttles can be varied and different, and most are controlled by a twisting of the wrist while newer models are incorporating thumb buttons for stopping and other functions.

The final consideration is how the bike will be charged. Most electric bicycles are charged by simply plugging them in to an outlet while other systems can have a dual charging system of plug -in and regenerative charging and braking. Regenerative charging and braking is simply charging the batteries by braking and pedaling.

The bottom line is, in all four of these considerations you should consult the dealer that you are buying from and ask a lot of questions before you buy.

8. Since electric bicycles are a valuable investment, how do I take care of one?

One of the reasons that electric cars did not become popular during the 1980’s is because car dealerships did not want to sell them. Why? Because there is very low maintenance on electric vehicles, thus killing their repair shop profits.

Electric bikes are the same as far as maintenance is concerned. Here are a couple of basic tips: Don’t let the battery completely run out. When an electric battery runs way day it shortens the life of that battery, so recharge it every day. Also, make sure that the electric hub on the wheels are dry at the end of every day. Rust and water can be taxing on an electric motor and keeping this part dry will prolong the life of an electric motor bicycle.

Finally, make sure that basic, common sense maintenance is taken care of on the electric bike. Make sure that the tires are properly filled and that the brakes are not dragging on the wheels. If you follow a couple of basic, easy maintenance steps your electric bike should last you a long time.

9. Who should I buy an electric bicycle from?

My recommendations for purchasing an electric bike or electric scooter for that matter, would be to purchase one from a bicycle dealership that is local. However, since e-bikes have not proliferated through out most of the known world yet, the best place to by them is online. Here are a couple of the dealerships that I would recommend that are on the Internet :

The Go Store has everything you need with a wide variety of electric bicycles and electric scooters and has great customer service.

Urban Scooters is a real fun site that has its primary focus on electric scooters for kids and teens however, they do sell beautiful electric bikes and scooters for adults as well.

Bikemania.biz is a site that is loaded with electric bicycles, electric scooters and parts as well as advice on how to purchase and use them. This site is huge and you will have alot of information and choices at your fingertips.

10. Why should I purchase an electric bicycle or electric scooter?

If you haven't seen the our dynamic home page, you obviously missed a great dissertation on the reasons you should look into electric bike or electric scooter technology. To read the article, click here: