Are Ebikes worth it?

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Are Ebikes worth it?

• By Ponderly

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(No Transcript)
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Fact Box

• An Ebike is short for electronic bike, which
  is a bicycle mounted with a small electric motor
  powered by a rechargeable battery designed to
  assist the rider while pedaling.
• The bicycle, known at the time as swiftwalker,
  was invented in 1817 by German inventor Karl von
  Drais.
• The first Ebike was invented by Michael Kutter in
  Switzerland in the 1990s.
• On average, ebikes take between 3.5 to 6 hours to
  go from no battery life to fully charged. Once
  fully charged, they can be expected to last
  anywhere from a 25- to 70-mile ride.
• Ebike batteries are noted to last between 3-5
  years, equivalent to 25,000 miles or a 500-800
  charging cycle lifetime.
• It is estimated that 42 of households own at
  least one bicycle globally. This means, about 580
  million bicycles have been purchased.

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Andrew (Yes)

• According to the EPA, 27 of all
  US emissions come from transportation, with the
  vast majority resulting from personal cars and
  medium to heavy-duty trucks. To avoid climate
  catastrophe, we must reduce our greenhouse gas
  emissions, and ebikes provide a realistic
  option for many people to ditch their cars. While
  it is true that any electric device is only as
  clean as the energy that charges it, the amount
  of energy ebikes use is minuscule compared to
  that of cars. This is especially true in the
  manufacturing process. Ebikes are
  also significantly less expensive to buy,
  maintain, and operate, especially when one
  considers additional charges like insurance,
  maintenance inspections, and parking. Further,
  the health benefits from cycling can help
  to reduce future illness and keep people fit.

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Andrew (Yes)

• While having many more people utilize cycling as
  a primary mode of transportation would
  be significantly better for the environment, for
  many communities, we must recognize that
  pedal-powered bicycles may not be the best option
  for all situations. This can be especially
  important in rural areas. We often think of
  cycling as a way to reduce congestion and air
  pollution in urban areas, but people living in
  more rural areas may find the assistance given by
  an electric motor useful for the longer distances
  they often have to travel. 
• Finally, ebikes are better for communities. When
  people are out of their cars, speaking to each
  other at red lights, a sense of community can
  develop, which can be important in our
  increasingly atomized suburban lives. Many
  communities would benefit from having fewer
  cars lining streets and utilizing parking lots
  for other purposes. 

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Rob (No)

• Ebikes are becoming increasingly popular,
  even outselling electric and hybrid vehicles in
  the US. While this new technology is exciting and
  fun to some extent, there are also several
  reasons why ebikes are not worth the investment
  and why traditional bikes are more worthwhile.
• Firstly, ebikes are significantly more expensive
  than traditional bikes, often priced over 1000.
  They also require routine maintenance, generating
  high upkeep costs, which adds to the initial cost
  of ownership. Replacing parts, such as a battery
  that degrades over time, resulting in less range
  and poor performance, can quickly become
  expensive. Ebikes are also more risky to own as
  theyre more likely to be stolen due to their
  high value. 

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Rob (No)

• Regarding functionality, ebikes require charging,
  which is time-consuming and inconvenient. Charging
  the bikes' batteries can also cause fires,
  creating a dangerous hazard to riders and the
  environment. For those that lack regenerative
  charging technology (charging as you pedal), it's
  pretty heavy to pedal when the batteries die
  since the bikes are bulky and considerably
  heavier than regular bikes, also making them more
  difficult to store and transport. Its increase in
  parts also means ebikes are harder to handle on
  the road, often requiring additional knowledge,
  strength, and skill. 
• Some trails and bike paths prohibit the use of
  ebikes, which limits their overall use and takes
  some fun out of owning one, as bikes are supposed
  to be simple and convenient. Most important are
  the missing health benefits when choosing to ride
  an ebike. Traditional bikes have proven to be a
  great source of heart-strengthening exercise and
  to burn calories. But ebikes allow the rider to
  choose not to pedal, which means fewer calories
  burned and fewer health benefits. Considering all
  of its drawbacks and risks, it's not worth the
  investment.

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