Wednesday, August 28, 2013

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.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

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.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

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?

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

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.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

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.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

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.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

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.