About Electric Bikes
I am not by any means an authority on e-bikes but i do have a fair amount of experience with them and i want to help anyone interested as a way of doing my small part to help solve the energy problems we all face by sharing what i do know. I run all my daily errands to the grocery store, post office, bank, etc. with my bike and it saves a lot of dinosaur juice that i would otherwise be burning if i took my truck. I live a couple of miles out of town and there is a hill with about a 5% incline almost a mile long that is very difficult for me to pedal and I was not really able to do it before i added power to my bike. Now i go into town almost every day even if i don't have a necessary errand just because it is a good way to get some fresh air and exercise and because it is FUN. Having the electric motor means i can choose how much to exert myself and when i get too tired the motor will get me home.
The Law and Electric Bikes
Here in California we have quite liberal laws regarding e-bikes. We are permitted to have an electric motor with up to 1000 watts output and the bike is permitted to assist at speeds up to 20 mph on level ground. If you go faster than 20 you must do so by pedal power alone. The electric bicycle is not a motor vehicle and neither a driver's license nor liability insurance is required. This makes it a great option even for folks who may not have a driver's license. The operator is required to wear a bike helmet and must be 16 or older. We must obey all traffic regulations just like any other driver. Most states permit electric bikes and most have the 20 mph speed limit. Electric bikes are not the same as mopeds which are generally permitted to go 30 mph and DO require a license and insurance. If you want to know the laws in your state just "google" electric bike laws and your state.
How fast do they go?
Depending on the bike and many variables like rider weight, battery type, motor power, and the bike's construction many e-bikes can quite easily make the 20 mph limit and more. If you go faster than 20 legally you must be doing it by your own power alone. Many e-bikes are capable of higher speeds just as many motor vehicles are capable of exceeding the speed limit. Some bikes have built-in speed limiters to keep them within the law. My bike, which is not a particularly high performance machine will cruise easily at 20 even on a 5% hill and will do 15 mph up a 10% hill ( A 50% hill increases in elevation 50 feet in 100 feet of linear travel so it is a 45 degree angle) My bike will climb a 20% hill with my pedaling along that i cannot pedal up at all without assist. Some e-bikes use selectable gear reduction to permit climbing even steeper hills; the simpler less expensive machines like mine use a fixed motor gear ratio.
How much do they cost?
Prices vary greatly depending on the bike just like any other product. One of the least expensive quality conversion kits generally available and the one i started with sells for $349 including batteries. This is a complete kit to convert a mountain bike or road bike to an e-bike. For a little more you can buy a complete ready-made bike. There are collapsible versions you can carry with you on a bus or train and versions built to haul heavy cargo. The range of available products has exploded in the last few years and there is an e-bike solution for everyone with the desire to own one.