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Why electric two-wheeled transport?
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My continuing review of the Amp Brothers and their line-up of electrical bicycles and scooters - This time it's "Why electric two-wheeled transport?"
In case you haven't noticed, there is a lot of buzz about electrical transportation. Not only are the Ford Fusion, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius selling in good numbers, but the onslaught of electric-powered vehicles is only going to increase in the coming years. The Chevrolet Volt will soon be here to usher in a new type of electric hybrid vehicle and we should be prepared to hear more and learn more about these fascinating transportation devices. Talking about electric or hybrid cars is good, but at heart, I'm a two-wheeled guy. My first choice for non-family transportation is a scooter, and I put thousands of miles on my scooters every year, even living in Michigan with it's slightly truncated scooting season(!) I heard about electric scooters a long time ago, but at that stage of development, they were not true transportation alternatives. They were expensive, low-duty, underpowered and frankly, flimsy. The newer scooters and low-speed electric bicycles are of a different variety. They do a good job of preserving the true benefit of scooting while providing tangible cost-savings and environmental reasons for their purchase. Here are a few of the reasons why I think that the time is ripe to consider electric two-wheeled transport:
Low impact on the environment: These are electric vehicles! No gasoline, no oil, no spark plugs or air filters. Using electrical power to power a transportation device helps end our dependance on oil and also allows the plant that generates the electricity to use impressive (and flexible) means to both create the power and minimize the pollution that comes from it's creation. They are very easy to ride and use basically boils down riding it and plugging it in when you are done. It's less than 10 cents to "fill the tank" and the range that you get is between 20 and 30 miles in most cases.
Low impact on your wallet: Although the entry-level prices to purchase one of these units probably won't send you running for your wallet or purse, once you get by the initial purchase price you should be good to go. You will want to buy some safety gear and check on your local regulations for licensing, but after that it's "plug and play". Forget going to the gas station, just keep up with basic maintenance like checking your tire pressure and you will most likely be good for long term use. Yes, the batteries will eventually need to be replaced, but that is probably three or more years in the future as long as you actually use the bike/scooter
Great way to experience life: Like traditional (gas-powered) scooters, low-speed electric-powered vehicles allow one to experience more "local flavor". They are great for jaunts around the neighborhood, longer fun rides and even for commuting. When I'm on my scooter, I am of one-mind, and that one-mind is a consciously-focused two-wheeled rider, richly experiencing everything around me. On my daily commutes to Detroit I've experienced amazing things. The sights (downtown and the riverfront), sounds (kids and school bells) and smells (that bakery on 8 Mile) that one experiences on a scooter are incredibly fulfilling. These are things that you never get to experience in a car. The first time a kid waves at you, you'll understand. And doing it without gas might be incredible.
Great way to tone up/exercise: Some electric-powered bicycles allow you to add in your own biological horsepower to either assist or to replace the electrical motor power. This seems to be an ideal way to ramp up a training program or even to use as a close-in urban commuter. Almost anywhere, an electric two-wheeler could be used year-round (not in snow or ice, but yes in the cold) to keep up your training around the neighborhood.
The electric bicycles are more flexible than a regular bicycle: The options for self or motor powered operation, and the high quality of most of the bikes turn an exercise device into a transportation device. Electric bicycles are usable transport for commuting and shopping (with the addition of a basket!). They are a good way to manage your exhaustion/sweat level with the extended distance that they offer. Stressful day? Use the pedal power to get your workout on the way home. Looking for relaxation? Use the electrical assist to smooth the path to your front door.
Electric two-wheeled vehicles offer a lot of fun: They deliver the fun of gas-powered scooting in a eerie, silent way. They immediately accelerate to their limited speed and handle surprisingly well. The two versions that I rode had awesome brakes, and if you've ever ridden a modern gas scooter with good brakes and then a vintage gas scooter with vintage brakes, you know exactly how much fun (and how much faster) a scooter with good brakes is.
So they're fun and green, but are they "high performance"? Yes, the "electrics" that I rode are true high performance vehicles. Sure, their top-speed is limited for both licensing and range requirements, but they really do move smartly away from a stop -- like driving a small, slow car. As a lot of people have discovered, it's much more fun to ride a slow car or scoot fast, than a fast car or scoot slow. It might be that you can use 100% throttle, or that they have great brakes, but I managed to experience great rides on both vehicles I rode, all while going between 19 and 28 miles per hour.
Part 1 of this series
Part 3 of this series
Part 4 of this series
What's next: Riding the e-Moto Volt G3 Scooter
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