Electric bicycles are coming of age. If the last one you rode was heavier than a fridge-freezer, fizzled out after a few miles and sported an astronomical price tag, you're in for a pleasant surprise with today's modern machines. Here are 10 good reasons for jumping on an electric bike today.
1. They're better value than scooters
Compared to a push bicycle, electric bicycles look expensive: they're generally twice the price of normal bikes with a similar spec. But because of the range and speed electric cycling offers, a fairer comparison is with electric scooters and mopeds. A poor-performing electric scooter, like the StreetScoota, will cost you £1,000. A top-of-the-range nippy electric bike such as the Wisper 905se, on the other hand, will set you back just £1,200.
But what about the running costs? They're tiny. The Electric Transport Shop, one of the UK's most popular electric bike retailers, reckons a full charge for most electric bikes will set you back 5p. Even if you ride 10 miles every day for 365 days a year, you'll only pay £9.10 each year. That's cheaper than a peak day Travelcard (Zones 1-6) in London. For full greenie points, make sure you're on a green electricity tariff.
2. There's a style for everyone
As you can see from the three models above, electrics come in all shapes and sizes. I've been riding the trio on loan from the Electric Transport Shop, and found there really is a design for everyone. Take the best-selling Windsor, pictured above right. A step-through model -- the modern parlance for "lady's bike" -- it costs a relatively affordable £600.
Although two female friends loved the Windsor for the sit-up-and-beg riding position and the slight boost it offered, a third female rider hated the weight, and it didn't float my boat. Compared to my normal push bike, it was heavier to lug through the house, slower on the flat and harder up hills because its lowest gear just isn't very low. Still, I can see how it'd at low speeds and short distances, it could be attractive, since it does give a gentle but tangible assist when you start off.
3. Great for commuting by train
If you fancy cutting the journey time on both sides of your rail commute, folding bicycles are a great option. And an electric folder is even more attractive if you're surrounded by hills or don't want to sweat en route to work.
I've been testing the GreenEdge Silverado, pictured above. This is a powerful bike that zooms you up steep hills. I went up Primrose Hill in London at 13mph, which is fast for such an incline. It's also easy to fold in under 30 seconds and you can wheel the bike once it's folded, which is handy.
There are some niggles. One is the weight -- carrying this on buses and trains is no mean feat, as it clocks in at 19kg. Then there's the fact you can't roll it backwards when folded, which can be a pain on public transport. Some riders have said the gearing is too low, but I found it fine for a folder.
4. Style
Riding an electric bike doesn't have to involve a run-in with the cool police. Many models are just as hip and sleek as trendy conventional bikes. Take the Wisper 905se City above, for example. I didn't want to give it back.
The joy of the Wisper is that it's very, very powerful. I whizzed up hills in fourth or fifth gear rather than the first gear I'd use on my push bike. It climbed a steep 1 in 11 hill without the need for any pedalling. In other words, this is an electric bike where -- if you want -- you really don't have to cycle. Obviously, add your pedal power and you increase your speed and extend the battery range.
5. You can recharge at your desk
Most electric bicycles take between two and five hours to charge fully, and will then run for anywhere between 15 and 30 miles before the battery runs out. On a dead battery, you can pedal like you're on a normal -- albeit rather heavy -- bike.
So it pays to keep the battery topped up. One good way to keep your bike charged for free is to power it at work. Almost all electric bikes have a removable battery, meaning you can lock your bike outside and plug in the battery under your desk. Provided your bosses don't ban mobile phone chargers like Ryanair, you should be fine.
6. Hills
Living in an insanely hilly area like Bath or Crystal Palace is a fair reason for not cycling. But electric bikes make hills a realistic proposition. Some models, such as the Wisper, have motors so powerful you don't even need to pedal.
Choose your bike carefully, and ensure you get one with a powerful motor if you're going to tackle steep gradients. Cheaper and slower bikes like the Windsor mean you'll still be pedalling and puffing while climbing hills.
7. 25mph is a reality
By law, electric bicycle motors are limited to 15mph. But that doesn't mean you can't go faster by pedalling simultaneously. With a powerful bike, casual cyclists will find it possible to reach speeds of 25mph on the flat, or 30mph at a push.
The net result for you: a quicker journey and more thrills. Some cyclists would argue that your ride will be safer, too, because you're travelling at a speed closer to most motor vehicles.
8. No sweat
This is one of the greatest things about electric bicycles. Whether you arrive at work simply by gently pedalling or letting the electric motor do all the work, electrics hold out the promise of sweat-free commuting. Riding the Wisper, for example, I cycled a 7.3 mile journey in under 45 minutes without breaking sweat.
9. They're getting lighter
There's no getting round one bummer about electrics: they are heavier than normal push bikes. But as battery technology improves and the makers pick better frames, weights are slowly dropping below 20kg. Most normal push bikes weigh less than 15kg.
10. Traffic light starts are always easy
As any cyclist knows, stopping unexpectedly at traffic lights in a high gear is annoying. When you start off, you're in an impossibly hard and slow gear: not good if you're in busy traffic with a queue of bikers behind you.
But electric bikes mean you're always in the right gear -- you can simply use the electric motor to get up to speed. Out of the three bikes I rode for this article, the Wisper was easily the best for assisted starts. Faster starts also feel safer, as you're quicker to get away from traffic.
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