Can e-Bikes Be "Daily Drivers"?

The Editors, eBikesDaily.com

Hebei Province, China  -  May 10, 2008  8:00 CST

Are they really sturdy?

What we see:  Riders often driving a little too fast on bumpy roads.  Again and again, we think to ourselves how tough these bikes are to take the beating we see them take day after day.

Are they truly reliable?

What we see:  Riders commuting to and from work, on errands, shopping, in all weather, daily.  We see neither riders stuck roadside nor busy repair shops.

Some Westerners may think that consumers in Asia may be less educated, discerning or demanding.  In fact, they demand quality now too.   Innovation is resulting from the massive market power of this discerning public, joined with foreign input and the requirements of evolving regulations.

Honestly, are they clean?

What we see:  Roads that are often quiet with bikes gliding silently along.  We can hear birds singing, and ourselves thinking.  We can breathe deeply without thought of tasting exhaust.

What about the batteries?

What we hear:  Our local friends talk often of past hard times here, years when there was not enough to eat.  Little went to waste then.  This care has continued – little goes to waste now.  In short, famine and interdependence taught people here to act mindful of what is sustainable in their populous country.  In each community, there are people who gather for recycling all items of even small value, nearly everything that an animal cannot eat.  Used batteries have value, so they are recycled.

Why not use regular bicycles?

What we observe:  Electric bikes and scooters make possible longer rides and frequent trips when necessary.  They also allow easy travel with groceries and a friend or family member, especially for older riders.

Other sites explain that e-bikes are more efficient than regular bikes, by considering the efficiency of the conversion into bicycle motion of the energy consumed in food production, and comparing that with the efficiency of the conversion into motion of the energy used in electricity production.

Are they entirely sensible?

What we observe:  These bikes are a form of transport that is scaled to the need they serve.  As in the West, being without personal transport here can be like being without legs – the commute to work or a trip to the market becomes a challenge.  Small shops outnumber supermarkets here.  Residential areas are often close to workplaces.  So, drives are short.  An electric bike allows one or two people to ride comfortably over short distances for shopping and to work.

How affordable are they for the average person?

This is the easiest question.  What we see:  Riders of modest means.  The simplest models carry price tags with amounts under USD 200.  People here own reliable transport with neither a bank loan nor large future expenses. 

Are they completely legal?

What we hear:  Ownership is generally simple and inexpensive as a result of the popularity and simplicity of these vehicles.  As you may have read elsewhere, the public and industry in some cities here successfully fought regulations that would have favored automobiles over e-bikes.  May this success be a model for actions elsewhere when laws make ownership or operation difficult.

Are they safe for an average driver?

What we see:  Many e-bikes and scooters on the streets each day, sometimes carrying two people or several parcels.  We have seen neither an accident nor a driver having trouble maneuvering, whether lightly-laden or heavily-loaded.

We will keep observing, listening, and asking questions.  Let us know sometime:  Do your observations, there where you live, agree with ours?

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