why electric

deacon · #1 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 10:47 AM

well I think that if the battery technology does come around, electric bikes will be easier to build and maintain. Very little goes wrong with the bike engine. They can last for years. I'm just hoping the new batteries won't be too expensive and have a good life expectancy.

Of course it's going to be years before they get out to me Im sure.

Andyinchville1 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 12:03 PM

Never really gave electrics too much thought because of the battery issues but you are right....get that fixed an electrics might have a chance.....I do wonder about the rain tho....you know that thing about water and electricity not mixing....that's might be a little scary for me too.
Andrew

PS - I do like my electric RC cars better than the nitro burners but only because I keep them inside.

**CRUISER** · #3 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 12:05 PM

i have had electric bicycle out in the rain more times then i can count and never seemed to effect it at all

**Norman** · #4 (**permalink**) 01-19-2008, 02:15 PM

Oh yea?

Norman
never got electrocuted its always been electrouglied,

deacon · #5 (**permalink**) 01-19-2008, 02:18 PM

do i see a little gasoline bigotry there. I'll call out the politically correct cops on ya norm

ebikehub · #6 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 02:23 PM

ebikes are great for short local trips. Mine goes about 20 miles per charge, but then I have to charge it for 6 hours. It keeps my car from getting beat up on all of the local trips. Now I use the car for highway trips and the bike for errands. Works out perfect, I save on gas brakes and transmission wear. The added bonus for me is that people need to to a double take before they realize that I'm going 20mph w/out pedaling, nobody looks at it and thinks "home made moped". The hub is actually the size of a disc break when spinning. I would never have considered them until I test drove a tidal force a few years ago. 20mph is fast on a bike. For local traffic you don't need a parking spot at the library, bank, supermarket, or post office. It actually cuts down on a lot of time for me. The motored bikes are supposedly better on the hills and would be good for a long trip, but the e-bikes can be very useful as well. Its a free country I guess.

**CRUISER** · #7 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 02:31 PM

i have both an electric and a gas motor bicycle and enjoy them both. my electric i get about 20-25 miles per charge. i have to say i like the speed of my gas powered better but for a cruise around the neighborhood or to store down the street i use the electric one for

**Bikeguy Joe** · #8 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deacon

well I think that if the battery technology does come around, electric bikes will be easier to build and maintain. Very little goes wrong with the bike engine. They can last for years. I'm just hoping the new batteries won't be too expensive and have a good life expectancy.

Of course it's going to be years before they get out to me Im sure.

The battery technology has "come around", it's just a matter of cost.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #9 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebikehub

ebikes are great for short local trips. Mine goes about 20 miles per charge, but then I have to charge it for 6 hours. It keeps my car from getting beat up on all of the local trips. Now I use the car for highway trips and the bike for errands. Works out perfect, I save on gas brakes and transmission wear. The added bonus for me is that people need to to a double take before they realize that I'm going 20mph w/out pedaling, nobody looks at it and thinks "home made moped". The hub is actually the size of a disc break when spinning. I would never have considered them until I test drove a tidal force a few years ago. 20mph is fast on a bike. For local traffic you don't need a parking spot at the library, bank, supermarket, or post office. It actually cuts down on a lot of time for me. The motored bikes are supposedly better on the hills and would be good for a long trip, but the e-bikes can be very useful as well. Its a free country I guess.

My friction drive gas engine only goes 22 max. and that's WIDE OPEN. It runs about 50 miles on a "charge", (quart tank/200mpg) so the electric like you are talking about is very close to the same...plus it's really quiet!

deacon · #10 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 02:49 PM

to be perfectly honest I like my ebike a lot. I would use it a lot more if there were inexpensive batteries that would give me 20 miles per charge. I got five miles running the engines constantly on my homemade ebike. I keep it wired up and ready to go in case I need to run to the store and the gas bike is not ready to run for some reason.