No, it’s not a car or a truck. Right now the technology really doesn’t make sense for most people. You have to live in the Goldilocks Zone. That’s where it’s not too hot, too cold, too hilly and where electricity isn’t too expensive.
What does make sense are electric bicycles. They come in a variety of styles, sizes, and capabilities so there’s something that’ll fit your needs. You can even get models designed to haul considerable cargo. A few types only work with pedal assist; you have to pedal all the time. Most others have a throstle that basically makes it a small electric motorcycle. Electric bikes are becoming really popular here in hill country. Even older people can now pedal up steep hills with ease.
So will I get one? Not in the near term. A motor scooter makes more sense for me right now. Being able to travel with traffic on 50 – 55 mph roads makes sense. If I decided to go electric I’d probably just add a kit to my existing pedal bike. If you have a pedal bike you like that might be the way to go.
Electric bikes have one huge advantage over electric cars. If the battery dies you can still pedal it home.
-Sixbears
6 Bear speaking from experience the electric bike kits are not the way to go. A LOT of engineering is in a successful e-bike.
ReplyDeletePrice wise I found a 1600 dollar Rad power bike cheaper than most decent kits and works well out of the box.
I have a Rad Power Bike step through city bike because I'm not as agile about a "men's bike" as I used to be, and it has a Walk Mode.
I use the walk mode to use my 750 watt motor (about what 3 strong men can generate) as a sort of mule in my yard. I rebuilt my garden cart as a trailer and on my hilly property it's NICE.
Its speed limited to 20 mph even downhill and on my hilly area allows a 60+ year old to enjoy the rides with a realistic 40+ mile range.
I suspect when things get spicy it will be a prime target (like a running PU truck) for road thieves.
But as an electric mule pretty sweet and I can recharge it from my solar array.
PS I'm thinking hard about buying a second one as a backup, the folding model looks great.
ReplyDeleteBe careful that Rad recently changed battery style that both bikes can use the same ones.
Sorry final note DO salvage a set of caliper brakes for the garden cart as jackknifing a load of firewood is exciting. An extended cable is easy to get from a bike shop so you can apply braking action to your cart. ALSO nice when your man handling the cart.
ReplyDeleteNow if I could set that up as an emergency brake....
Thanks for the real world info. I've been following the company for a while. Currently I'm a bit heavy for their bikes. Working on that.
DeleteI actually sold my motorcycle and bought a Radwagon so I could haul my toddler around with my folks on their ebikes! So far loving it, as well as my kiddo.
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that? Congrats on the new addition too!
DeleteIf you have a pedal bike you like,you can keep it.
ReplyDeleteI've got a pedal bike that handles my weight. I used it a lot when camping. I wonder if a Swytch front wheel conversion would be worth it?
DeleteI just looked the Swytch up and am impressed that it has a pedal cadence sensor. Most front drives do not, so your throttle adjusting to your pedal effort and that wasn't enjoyable for me.
DeleteI'm less than impressed with a 250 watt 36 volt motor. The Rad uses a 750 watt 48 volt motor and even then, really steep hills is a mild workout.
For flatlander riding 250 watts is a mild e-bike. If your weight is in excess of the 275 pound limit of the Rad city bike and folding bike 250 watts will not be that useful in hilly NH. That and the Swytch doesn't have walk mode when you need to walk that bike around, like in a farmers market.
The Radwagon is sweet at 2K and has a 530 pound weight limit.
Personally, I feel Rad under rates their bikes weight capacity as my city bike is build more like a motor scooter than a "normal bike".
Correction fat fingers 350 pound weight limit on Radwagon. I've seen one and rode it, nice bike and I'd get the 2 batteries option. I think I could carry my wife at almost 200 pounds and myself on it. Built like a rickshaw taxi for driver and two small passengers.
DeleteCurrently over 400 pounds -yeah, I am a brute -or a lowland gorilla.
DeleteWe live at the end of a mountain gravel road in NC and have wanting to purchase e-bikes that are capable of carrying a cargo load as well as the rider that will handle the gravel roads and maintained mountain trails. I just looke at the Rad Wagon 4 and it is interesting. At 75 pounds it is a bit heavy and I would need a carrier to haul them on a rack behind my Jeep Wrangler.
ReplyDeleteSuch vehicles can't replace cars but they can supplement them. Great for short trips in decent weather when not a lot of cargo is involved.
ReplyDelete