Buyer's Guide - Electric Bikes

Electric bikes have caught the interest of many Australians. Mainly because of the increasing environmental awareness and the savings that it can generate. Electric bikes are an investment and ROI does not only come in monetary terms but also in environmentally. Like any other investment it is imperative that you take precaution before spending your money. As such, you need to know as much information as you can before you purchase an Electric Bike.

As a general overview here are the things that you to do so you can maximise the benefits of the technology and avoid any costly mistake which can make the whole idea hollow.

Identify what you need - Will you be using the vehicle to go to work? Perhaps as a daily commute around town to pick up groceries? Regardless of what it is you should know what you need otherwise you will have a hard time finding what is suited for you.

Read and read - Before you buy an electric bike it is advisable that you do your research. Try to read as much as you can to know all the pros and cons of the vehicle. If you have a list of questions do not stop reading until you find a conclusive answer to it. This will make sure that you will be able to do an informed decision when it is time to actually make the purchase.

Visit forums and reviews - Forums and reviews will be your best mate when looking for a specific make and model. However, make sure that you visit credible websites and identify spams and marketing stunts. If you cannot find a thread that relates to your concerns then start your own. Try to be as detailed as possible with your concern and you will be amazed how powerful forum communities are.

Test drive - After equipping yourself with all the knowledge that you can acquire about electric bikes it is still imperative that you test drive the vehicle. Remember what is written on paper may be differ from the real world. Have a feel of the vehicle and picture yourself driving. Ask yourself will it fulfill your needs? If not, then do not buy it.

Do not let the sales agent step on your toes - Yes it is helpful to have a good sales agent to offer you information but there is a fine line between offering help and persuasion.

Check for warranty - Obviously warranty is an important aspect. There are numerous moving parts in an electric vehicle and there is no such things as an indestructible vehicle. Sooner or later something will break down and this is when a good warranty will be really handy.

Rethink and reconsider - After you have come to a decision about a specific make and model you are keen to buy take some time before paying for it. Rethink again if this is what you really need and what you want in terms of its motor, design, battery pack, usability and cost. If you a second best option reconsider it and compare once last time before you make a purchase.

Electric Bikes - A Transportation Vehicle and not just for Fun

E bikes or Electric Bikes are not the normal bicycles we grew up riding with. The difference in e bikes though is that there is an electric motor attached to power the vehicle. At first glance you will never notice the difference between a regular bicycle and an e bike, until you look closely and ride one.

An Electric bike or e bike design may vary depending on its maker. But the typical e bike has a motor, batteries and a motor controller. The more sophisticated ones are foldable, lightweight, with motor 36V 200W, Display LED, V brakes, Gears, Battery L--Ion 9Ah, Zoom 120 and slightly expensive. Due to its slowly rising demand, e bikes are one of Australia’s favorite rides.  In fact, even children are getting the hang of riding e bikes. People from different ages are using e bikes because of its “environment – friendly” concept.

Imagine riding a bicycle with the power of a motorcycle without the gasoline, which we all know is very harmful to the environment due to the smoke it emits (carbon monoxide).  With E bikes its guilt free, efficient and definitely fun. You can speed up without getting tired of pedaling even up to several kilometers (depending on your battery capacity). This is an ideal transportation for students and yuppies that is tired of getting stuck in traffic and doesn’t want to spend extra for gas. If you haven’t tried riding a bike yet or maybe you wanted to but couldn’t afford to buy one, you can actually create your own e bike. There are a lot of available DIY’s (do it yourself) manuals and videos online on how to assemble your own e bike, even if you’re on tight budget. 

Everybody should own an e bike, even for those who never learned how to ride one. I’m sure E bikes would conquer the world soon, especially with the Oil Price rising to the top.  E bike is the solution to the constant oil price change simply because an e bike doesn’t need gas. This is definitely one form of transportation I highly recommend to everyone.

5 Electric Bike Maintenance Tips

Like any other vehicles electric bikes need care and proper maintenance to prolong its life and to preserve its good condition as long as possible. However, don’t think that it is a daunting task to maintain the vehicle. Since the Electric bikes are relatively smaller than your car maintenance will also be a breeze and you wouldn’t break a sweat in doing so. Just take a look at these 5 easy maintenance tips you can easily apply.

1. Parking - since electric bikes are uses is powered by a battery that is not as concealed that of a car you need to park it in a safer place away from the weather conditions. Extreme heat and or moisture can affect the performance of your electric bikes and can shorten its lifespan. It is then ideal to park it indoors.

2. Clean it regularly - Like cars electric bikes need regularly cleaning to avoid dust, dirt and moisture to sip into the electrical components of the vehicle. Furthermore, regular cleaning can help maintain the aesthetics of the vehicle so it will always look nice and sharp. By cleaning your bike regularly you can also maintain the safety of the passengers and avoid any untoward incidents.

3. Check bike chains regularly and replace as necessary - The bikes chains can be comparable to the drive belts of a car. This means that in order for it drive safely and avoid any further damage you need to check the bike chains regularly, lubricate as necessary, clean regularly and replace as needed.

4. Check electrical  wirings regularly - You also need to check all the electrical components of the electric bikes regularly for safety and to avoid any further damage to the vehicle. Any worn out or chipped wires should be replaced immediately by a qualified mechanic or better yet take it to your dealer.

5. Routine maintenance checkup - Like cars it is advisable that you bring you electric bikes to a qualified technician or dealer regularly so they can conduct a routine maintenance to check if there are any parts that needs to be repaired or replaced to avoid further damage to the vehicle.

Always remember that if take care of your vehicle regardless of whether it is an electric bike or a petrol powered vehicle you can prolong its lifespan and maintain its good condition for years to come. Additionally a well maintained vehicle can save you on repair cost.

5 Places to go with your E Bikes

A contrary to the popular belief that E Bikes can only be used in inner around your neighborhood E Bikes are actually very useful and can mainly replace your car for short distance travel. Below are just some of the many places that you can go with your E Bikes.

1. The shopping mall - Obviously you cannot use your E Bikes if you are plan to shop until you drop but if you plan to buy one item then you can definitely use it. Not only that will save your transportation money you can also relieve your stress for finding a parking spot. Furthermore, E bikes can get you faster in a shopping mall because of the traffic conditions in these places.

2. The park - One place that you will definitely enjoy going with your E Bike is your the local park in your town. With a car you need to find a parking space then you need walk to stroll the park. With an E bike you can easily find a parking space because you can literally park it anywhere in a park or better yet you can do your stroll whilst riding it. A good way to sightsee.

3. The gym - take your e bikes down to the gym so you can complete your exercise whilst riding in style. Additionally parking space is always a problem in Gyms but with such vehicle you no longer need to worry about parking and you can get on the important things already - your exercise.

4. Your work - Cycling is becoming a popular mode of transportation to get to work. However, the downside of it is that you are all sweaty and tired by the time you get to your office and it can definitely affect your performance at work. With E bike you can get to work without sweating a bit and you can perform your very best at work.

5. The lake - You can also go visit your favorite lake for a swim in your e bike. You can have a convoy of e bikes with your friends which will be a whole lot fun compared to riding in cars. Additionally, you can take this bikes to the woods as well since can be manually pedalled and you can go uphill or downhill with it.

Customizing your E Bikes

Customizing a vehicle is always a fun, exciting and fulfilling project. E Bikes are no exception to this. You can trick out your E Bikes to suit your personality, to express your feelings and to have a unique vehicle that only you will ever have. You can pretty much customize everything about an Electric bike at just the fraction of the just when customizing a car. Below are some exciting ideas on what you can do to trick out your bike.

Custom paint job - One of the most distinctive aspect that you can do in customizing a vehicle including E Bikes is the paint job. This will be a huge factor in the overall customization of the vehicle and should be thought through very carefully. You can either go for a straight color, matte finishes or perhaps a more subtle shade and is highlighted by some personalized decals. Females tend to go for brighter colors and decals of their favorite cartoon character or movie. Either way choose what expresses your personality and what will make you happy and proud on your work.

Custom wheels - No vehicle personalization is complete without replacing the wheels. Choose the wheels that best suits your theme. If you go for a hot rod type it is better if you go for a huge chrome wheels that will give accent to those hot rod styled decals and paint job. If you want a more sportier look then choose a multi spoke wheels that contrast your paint job. For example if your body color is black then a white mag wheels will look really good on it. Females on the other hand can go for mag wheels with the same color that of the body. This will give a more distinct feeling of the their theme.

Custom seats - The seats will also play a big factor in the overall look of your E bike. You can either stick with the stock dimension and just change the fabric to match your overall theme or take to the next level by completely redoing the whole seat to change its shape and dimension.

Custom steering handles - Some e bikes have boring steering wheel designs. You can swap with something better. Although you may need to completely fabricate it from virtually nothing the job will be worth it once you’ve seen the results of it.

Chrome accents - Proper chroming of various parts of your e bike will have a huge impact on the overall appearance. Try to mix and match all the chrome possibilities and choose the one that best suits your theme.

Benefits of E Bicycles for Short Distance Travel

E bicycles are now becoming really popular in Australia. Shops are now opening in almost every city corner and it is a common sight to see people go to work using an E bicycle, to pick up some groceries, to visit a friend around the corner and other short distance travel. So the question is why is it very popular? Well to help you decide if an E bicycle is for you, here are some of its benefits that you can enjoy.

Cheaper to use than your car

Whether you have a fuel thirsty SUV with a massive V8 or a small 2 liter inline 4 sedan nothing beats the cost effectiveness on an E bicycle. On average you spend about $40 per 100 miles on your car depending on traffic conditions, your car, your driving habit and the price of petrol. With an E bicycle 100 miles will cost you less than a dollar. That is more than 95% savings on top of what you will be saving on your car’s maintenance and repair.

Better for the environment

Did you know that a car traveling at around 20 miles per hour can easily emit 1 pound of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere per mile? Well it may not sound much but on average that is about 12,000 pounds per year per car. Collective that will be millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases emitted to our poor atmosphere.

E bicycles emit no pollution and the indirect greenhouse gas that it produce through charging is very minimal and some of your high tech appliances may even indirectly produce more pollution.

Say goodbye to license and registration

An E bicycle does not require any license and registration to use it. So it is just buy and use. No hassle, no drama just pure biking pleasure.

No more parking wars

Tired of going to grocery to pick up a few items just to find out that there is available parking slot? Always late for work because you can’t find a decent parking slot? An E bike is easier to park so you never have to worry if there is a parking space wherever you will go.

Easier to clean

It is always a pain staking routine to wash your car over the weekend when you should be resting and enjoying some good old family bonding time. An E bike is easier to clean and it will just take you minutes to bring back that shine not hours like with a car.

So if the above benefits make you smile then an E bicycle is definitely for you.

5 Easy ways to Clean your E Bicycle

If you own an e bike, you might have enjoyed the muddy uphill and downhill ride along steep mountains. The adrenaline rush of riding an e bike at 50 kph is truly fun. Its a good way of having a fun time with friends over the weekend after a long day's work. When you get home though, what have you discovered? Mud and scratches are showing, frame made of carbon is a little dull, and tires are just indescribable, it looks gray and dry looking. How do you keep your steed looking its best for your next biking trip with friends? How do you clean your e bike? We all know that clean e bikes work better and go even faster besides looking better. If you want to receive a shiny shimmering e bike again, here are the five ticks of the trade.

1. Make sure that your e bike is still and in an upright position. Keep your E Bicycle, a kick stand, repair stand or have it propped up in a tree or rocks will do.

2. Spray it with a little water to remove all mud and grime. You can have a separate bucket with soap and a sponge or rag to use in washing the frame. A soapy water is best in washing carbon frames.

3. To degrease the gears, chain and drive train, use a spray solvent. WD40 or carburetor cleaner can be used. Always remember to spray through the links of the chain using the solvent.

You need to focus on the chain and areas around it. You can use soapy water to remove the applied solvent degreaser. A brush dipped in soapy water would be helpful or you can just dip it in plain water. Be sure to prepare a lube when you wash the chain though, if not, then no need to scrub it with soap and water, a degreaser will do.

4. You can also use the sponge for the wheels. Make sure to prop it not touching the ground to be sure that all of it will be cleaned. Then you can rinse everything lightly.

5. The last part of cleaning your E Bicycle would be the drying. Be sure to have 3 different rags. One for the frame and the other one in the oily chain, in which you just pat dry. You can use the same rag you used on the frame for your wheels or you can use a separate rag. Be sure to clean the wheel area and the brake pads to avoid rubber deposits. And finally lube it up. Lube the chain, use a degreaser and wax the frame. Voila! Your e bike is as good as new.

Comparison of E bikes and Motorcycles

If you were to choose between a motorcycle or e bikes which one will you pick? These two machines have a lot of similarities, but also has a lot differences. Let's look at some of the pros and cons of these two amazing rides.

Here are some of the reasons why e bikes are better than motorcycles:

1. E bike is the new trend which people from different ages can use. The moment you know how to ride a bicycle, then you can ride an e bike. Children love using this vehicle because e bikes are faster, less tiring and safe.

2. E bikes are quiet. Its motor is barely audible compared to a motorcycle.

3. E bikes are less costly  since you only need to charge its batteries, compared to the motorcycle which uses up petrol gas.

4. You have the freedom to park your e bikes anywhere. May it be inside or outside or in a bicycle rack. No need to pay for parking fees.

5. Since e bikes are used and developed with health benefits in mind, e bikes are best for physical fitness. Ideal for people who wanted to do Cardio exercises at a minimal rate.

6. You don't need to get a registration or insurance in riding an e bike.

7. Because e bikes are not heavy, e bikes are agile and almost a fraction of weight compared to a motorcycle.

8. You don't have to over decorate your e bikes with horns, turn signals and any other annoying sound machine. An e bike can do without all these and is still safer to use compared to a motorcycle.

9. An e bike is easy to carry. You can have it mounted behind your SUV or mounted on a bike rack behind your car. You can then have the freedom to bring it to any recreation points.

10. You can ride an e bike to almost anywhere. Either on bike trails or bike lanes or even on the busy highway. There is no restriction as to what you do with an e bike.

On the other hand, here are some of the advantages of motorcycle over an e bike:

1. A motorcycle has unlimited range. Since e bikes are battery operated, maximum speed is only up to 50 km per hour already with a high end battery.

2. Of course motorcycle is way faster than an e bike

3. Though noisier, a motorcycle is quicker than e bikes

4. The motorcycle has better suspension

5. You have an option to have a passenger on the back since motorcycle can accommodate passengers maximum of two, an e bike can't.

6. People would always think that those who ride a motorcycle has "cool factor".

7. Motorcycle are heavier because they use real steel.

8. A motorcycle can fit in traffic too.

9. Motorcycles are visible in cars due to its noises. The louder the noise the better the motorcycle.

10. Motorcycles are just fun to ride.    

                    

Upon reading all these, Now you decide which one will you pick?

Electric Vehicles Get You Going

How far do you travel to work? Less than three miles? Three to six miles? Seven to twelve miles? Or more than twelve miles? Imagine the amount of gas you consume every day, or how much money you spent on buses and trains just to get to work. This is somewhat costly, if you're working in a small company with a base salary, how much of your pay goes to your personal needs, and how much goes to your transportation?What if you were given an option to go to work without spending anything? No need to commute or pay for gas. Just an easy, fun rides to work every day. If you have that option will you seize it? 

An electric vehicle is a vehicle powered by a motor with lithium batteries. These vehicles were devised to maintain energy, eliminate pollution and save on petrol gas. There are several electric vehicles that went out in the grocery store, but only a few were really supported by the masses. Electric cars were too expensive and costly to maintain. The scooter is cute but has issues with the batteries. The most popular electric vehicle that everyone likes is the e bike. Besides its simplicity, an e bike is not expensive. Its price if the purchase is reasonable, considering the big saving on petrol it brings. 

An electric vehicle like an e bike is earth friendly, affordable and easy to assemble. If you don't have a budget on buying a new e bike, you can convert your old bike to an electric vehicle. There are many conversion kits available in the market. An e bike is easy to install. All you need to do is find a durable bike, add a motor and lithium batteries, then you're ready to proceed. You can check out some video tutorial on how to change your regular bike to an e bike to popular video sites. If you have $400, you can actually buy a decent electric vehicle like an e bike which you can use to work or school everyday. 

If you can only imagine how wonderful saving you get out of an e bike than commuting. You get to practice your body every day, no need to buy petrol gas, no more hassle commuting via buses and trains, or even cars. Plus you get to cross and pass traffic jams without a sweat. You get to come to work early making you productive. Your boss or business partner will be delighted. What you always need to remember when using an e bike is to charge the battery to its allotted time, take good care of your batteries to prolong its shelf life. Always clean your electric vehicle, hang it if you're not using your e bike and turn on the battery even if you haven't used it for 3 days. That way, it wouldn't accumulate molds which can reduce its shelf life. High quality lithium batteries can last up to 2-3 years if taken proper care.

Tips in Choosing an E Bicycle

Are you looking for an alternative inner city travel with less impact to the environment than your big V8 car? Then E bicycles are for you! These types of bicycles are now becoming very popular because of the number of benefits that it brings not only for the riders but also for the environment. As such, many manufacturers and suppliers have sprout for in and out of the corner giving you the luxury to have a wide variety of options.

However, the sheer number of manufacturers and suppliers not only gives you options but at times will also give you a hard time which E bicycle to go for. To help you decide which is the best for you here are some nifty tips that you will find handy in shopping for an E bicycle.

Price point – Obviously one of the most important determining factors would be the price. These types of bikes range from a couple of hundred bucks to a couple of thousand bucks. Be sure that you compare the price between suppliers and try your best to understand what you will be getting out of your money. Like any other purchases it is the value for money that is important. It is handy to create a spreadsheet of the different make and models that you are eyeing on and list down all the benefits of make and model and select the one with the most number of yes.

Warranty – Like in purchasing a car, warranty is very important it is advisable to go for the supplier that offers the longest and most comprehensive warranty schemes to get rid of worries. If the supplier offers an extended warranty it is advisable to drop a few more bucks for this.

The power train – Try to get answers for these questions, what is the electrical motor like? How much power it produces? What is the energy consumption per mile? You also need to check the battery pack included, its range, charging type and lifespan. 

Safety – Blatantly safety is very important in any vehicle thus you need to check the quality of brakes that is used with E bicycle, the type of tires, the suspension and the safety gears that is included like helmets, knee and elbow pads.

Convenience – Some bikes are very light weight allowing you easily load it in your truck and some are foldable so it can fit in your minivan and so on. Choose the one that best suits your situation and your needs.

The bottom line is that you choose the unit that best suits your needs, the things you intend to use it for and more importantly the value that you will get for your money.

Electric Vehicles - Then and Now

Ever since the electric vehicles were invented, keeping its batteries running has been a challenge. In 1828, a small scale model car powered by an electric motor was designed by a Hungarian inventor Anyos Jedlik. But it was in 1842 when Thomas Devenport and Scotsmen Robert Davidson invented the very first successful electric road vehicle.  At that time, they used non-rechargeable batteries that drain easily. In 1865, they met a Frenchmen Gaston Plante, which introduced to them his invention, a better storage battery. Even then they realized that a better storage battery is needed for electric vehicles to work and be considered practical.

After that numerous invention was introduced, different designs of electric vehicles were used by the masses and some of those are the ones were still using up these days.  In the 90's, the rising sale of an electric bike has made it to the news. People got curious of this new invention and wanted to give it a try. These electric vehicles are affordable and will easily be acquired by people. True enough in 1998, 200 units of electric bikes were sold and is continuously making it up to today. It is said that by 2020, 200 million electric bikes will be sold and used, that some government in different countries are finding ways on how to plan a respected area for these electric vehicles. 

As the years have passed, people are getting more realistic and mature as their preferences may it be food or transportation. The number one factor why people choose electric vehicles is because of its affordability and low maintenance. An e bike is an electric vehicle with affordable parts. It has reached its market potential making almost all spare parts available for everyone. China has the biggest manufacturer of rechargeable bike parts. Some are even exported to other countries such as the UK and Australia, places which known to have a big population of e bike users. 

Although China is known to produce good quality products, it is all known to “re-produce”. So make sure that all parts you purchased has passed the quality control. Look for markings of authenticity and check the quality of materials used as well. There are several government agency that handles all imported and exported products, checking all items and manufacturers and making sure that it passed all the standard guidelines. Every trade and industry department of whichever country should have a list of things to look out for in buying electric bike parts. It is still best advised to purchase only at reputable bike shops and manufacturers. Remember that this is something that you’ll be riding everyday and your safety and life and whoever uses that electric vehicle depends on it.

Things to watch out for in buying an Electric Bike

With the rising prices of almost everything, people will always find ways on how to save money. The continuous Oil price hike has left commuters to look for solutions as to how can they reach their destination without overspending. 

Others choose to just ride a bus or train, but let's face it, sometimes we don’t get to our destination on time especially in peak hours were in more passengers are waiting for the public bus and trains to arrive. It is totally expensive to get a cab too, which is why more people are thinking of using a bicycle as a form of transportation. 

Back in the days, the invention of the bicycle was an answer to commuters prayer. This has become their form of transportation especially to those who work as a delivery boy or messenger. But as the year progresses, the use of the bicycle has changed. From a basic form of transportation to just a simple bicycle which we use when we are bored. The birth of motorcycles and cars has changed the way people look at bicycles. Except for places like in Asia from where they use bicycles to virtually anything even up to this day. Just as we all thought that the bicycle is just a form of exercise, it's when electric bike was developed. 

Electric bikes are usually bicycles ran by a motor. So it’s a battery operated bicycle invented for the ease of use and to be able to climb uphill even with a heavy package, without having to use all your energy in pedaling. Instead, you have an option to just use the motor on this electric bike to smoothly climb uphill. These bikes are wonderful and easy to use, but you have to be careful in choosing the right materials if you plan to set up an electric bike or if you plan on buying one. Watch out for counterfeits. 

There are several bicycle body parts that are imported from China which is said to be low quality. Make sure to check what you purchase. Check if there’s a warranty, look for authenticity sticker and make sure that the electric bike you are purchasing has passed the consumer advisers in whichever country or state you're from. The battery is said to be the Achilles heel of these motor vehicles. So make sure that the batteries used are of high quality and longer to discharge. Check if all gauges work. Don’t be afraid to give it a test run, and lastly be sure that your comfortable in riding one to avoid accidents while riding these electric bikes.