In follow-up to my two previous posts about my initial sojourn into the world of electric bikes, I’m writing to share a little about what I’ve learned in searching for the e-bike that best fits my commuting needs.  I should start by saying that the variety of bicycles that are on the market today has greatly increased since I bought my last bicycle some 17 years ago.  And, for every style of regular bike, there are electric bikes to match.  Having so many choices is great, but it can be a little overwhelming when you’re first getting started.

Then there’s the question of how much you can afford to spend.  There is a huge price range in electric bikes.  On the low end, there is the eZip Trailz which is currently available at Walmart for under $500.  On the high end, there is the Optibike which retails for over $10,000.   Upon doing some research and reading LOTS of reviews, it became quickly apparent that old adage about getting what you pay for would apply.

The cheaper bikes tend to not be as well made with low-end components and an inferior lead acid battery.  Because I am looking to this bike as a commuting vehicle and wanted something I felt would be good quality, I initially thought I would spend in the $1500-$2,000 range.  But, after riding a few bikes, I quickly learned that I would have a lot more options and much better quality in the $2,000 – $3,000 range.  That might sound like a lot for a bike, but considering I was considering buying a scooter for about this much, it wasn’t that much of a reach for me.  Plus, with the operating costs being dramatically less expensive, the bike will eventually pay for itself.

There’s also the question of whether you want to buy a bike that already has the electric motor, controller, and battery built into the bike or whether you want to take an existing bike and convert it to an electric bike via a kit.  When looking at non-motorized bikes you pay a premium for a lightweight bike whereas electric bikes are typically a lot heavier so if you’ve got an old bike that you really like, buying a kit could be a way to save money.  Having said that, there is also a range in the price of kits and you pay a premium for a lithium battery.  While I toyed with the idea of converting my old mountain bike to electric, I ultimately decided that buying a ready-made e-bike would better suit my needs.

After doing all my reading and video watching, I determined my search criteria as follows:

1. 36V lithium battery with at least a 350 watt motor (due to the long steep hill on my commute, I need a good hill climber).  Note:  The majority of the electric bikes available in the US seem to have the smaller 250 watt motor.
2. Bike with either an upright or slightly forward position (read Cruiser or Mountain Bike frame).  This is purely a personal preference.  A more forward position means less wind resistance, but I prefer comfort over speed.
3. Power on Demand (throttle) instead of Ped Assist or a dual system (the majority of bikes in the states seem to be Ped Assist models).  After riding a few, I found that I preferred the throttle-based systems (or at least having the option) over only ped assist.
4. Disc Brakes:  Since electric bikes weigh more, disc brakes are recommended as opposed to the standard V break, but don’t often appear on less expensive models.
5. Fenders and a rack (or at least the ability to add them).
6. Good reviews and company with a good track record
7. The ability to get parts for the bike or get it serviced, if need be.
8. A cycle computer and integrated lighting would be a plus.

The electric bike scene is still evolving here in states where as it has become a major mode of transportation in other parts of the world.  In China, there are more bikes than there are cars on the roads and half those bikes are electric bikes.  (I also read that there are more electric bikes in China than there are iPhones in the whole world.  Wild!)  Electric bikes are also big in Europe so it’s not surprising that some of the best advice came from http://www.electricbikesexperts.co.uk/ in the UK.

So what do the “experts” recommend?

1. Try the bikes.
2. Take your time.
3. Determine your use.
4. Research on-line.
5. Visit dealers or talk to friends with electric bikes.
6. Test the bike on a hill.
7. See how it rides with the power off.
8. Try more than one.
9. Determine whether a kit or ready made bike is better for you.

In short, I’ve done all of the above and am close to making a decision.  In my next posts, I’ll highlight the three bikes that made my short list.

In closing, I want to share of few resources that might be helpful for those of you beginning your research.  I also want to give a shout out to the folks at Fast Lanes Electric Bikes, Pedal Power, and roll-n (aka Segway of Cincinnati) for taking time with me and letting me ride their electric bikes.  Thanks, guys!

Electric Bike Resources

• http://www.electric-bikes.com/bikes/bikes.html#BEST BETS:  A little dated, but a nice breakdown of the manufacturers and the bikes they offer.
• http://www.nycewheels.com/:  Hands down the best quality video reviews of ebikes around.  The only limitation is that they only have reviews of the bikes they sell, but it’s pretty much all quality stuff.
• http://electricbikereport.com/:  A great resource for those interested in electric bikes, including some reviews of bikes not offered by nycewheels.