Nearly noiselessly, electric bikes are starting to transform personal transportation across the world. These quiet and surprisingly swift devices have become a primary commute option in many areas of Asia, and the total market is valued at an estimated $15.42B worldwide. Why are electric bikes taking a dominant role in personal transportation? Several reasons:
- Ecological
concerns. As more people and governments adopt cleaner environmental
policies, the need for clean transportation grows. eBikes offer an
efficient and cost-effective solution.
- Scarcity
of natural resources. Older methods of transportation use
valuable natural resources like steel and gas, but these are non-renewable
materials that may not be available to future generations.
- Traffic.
Waiting for an hour while emergency vehicles clear up the debris from an
accident is an everyday experience, but one most could do without. Also, the
resulting smog is a problem that bikes don’t have.
So, what makes eBikes better than traditional bicycles? That depends on who you ask.
Why Walk When You Can Bike
An electric bike like the EB5 Pro Plus can help you cover more ground, quicker with less effort and population.
A standard bike can dramatically increase your ability
to cover ground in a hurry. Sure, maybe you only live 5 miles from work, but
that still means more than an hour walking, even if you hit a seriously brisk
pace. On a bike, you can cover 5 miles in less than half an hour. According to Road
Bike Rider, a pace of 13.5 mph is pretty reasonable to expect from a
beginner cyclist.
Of course, if you’ve ever stepped off the treadmill at the
gym, certain you were about to make a run for the trashcan, that number might
seem a little high. Also, flat ground is a friend to bikers everywhere, but it
often seems in short supply when you’re riding. For newbies just starting
to get into cycling, hills and challenging terrain can turn even a short ride
into an endurance test.
Traditional bikes use a basic pedal system to provide all
of the forward momentum. Yes, that means you have to pedal to get anywhere and
pedal hard when heading uphill. There’s no motor and no external power source
with a traditional bike. Sure, the pedal system and wheels turn less force into
more motion, making it quicker to bike than to walk, but you’ll still arrive at
work drenched in sweat.
Work Smarter, Not Harder With an Electric Bike
With an eBike, you get a lot of the same benefits with
a lot less work. Riding an eBike is like being on a traditional bike with
an extra (probably younger) pair of legs to handle the hills. An eCycle is
outfitted with a battery, motor and drive system to turn electricity into a
power source that can work with your legs. Whether you’re looking for a
senior-friendly transportation option, like the SWAGTRON®
EB12 City Road eBike, to cut down on your morning commute without adding to
your carbon footprint, electric bicycles might be the way to go.
Are Traditional Bikes Better in Any Category?
Traditional bikes are lighter than the e-powered
versions. With a manual bike, you can expect to heft around 17-18 pounds. So,
don’t expect to hit the road right after abdominal surgery, but the low weight
does make standard bikes fairly maneuverable.
Electric bikes, on the other hand, typically weigh in at
around 45-55 pounds. If that sounds like a lot, just remember that the battery
alone might weigh as much as the entire bike frame. Of course, as long as
you’re not running out the battery while on the road, the
weight of an electric bike doesn’t really matter. It’s not like you
plan to carry the bike around. That’s the bike’s job. If you do run out of
power with no way to charge the battery, the weight might become a real drag.
Pedaling 50 pounds up a hill takes a lot more effort
than handling 20 pounds. Pay attention to the battery life and plan your trips
to stay within range. You don’t want to be like the person trudging to a gas
station to sheepishly fill up a canister for the car — or the person huffing
and puffing home on top of a bike that suddenly weighs a lot more than you’re
used to.
The EB5 Plus Pro, one of the many foldable electric bikes from SWAGTRON®.
A lightweight, folding eCycle may be your best option
if you want a little more portability. SWAGTRON’s
EB5 Pro Plus has the power to take you all around town, and,
weighing only 37 pounds, it can be toted up to your apartment for safekeeping.
Electric or Manual: What’s Your Preference?
Ultimately, choosing the right bike has a lot to do
with personal preference. If you cycle for fun and don’t have a set time or
track, a standard bike might work for you. If you want to leave the car in the
garage on the regular, an electric bike is faster and less likely to leave you
sweaty at work.
