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Questions:
 

What is an Electric Bicycle?

Are there different types of Electric Bicycles?

What is Pedelec?

What is better -- a conversion, or an electric bike built as such?

How does Power Assisted Bicycle work?

Are Electric Bicycles legal in Canada?

Can I ride an electric bicycle or an electric scooter in the rain?

Answers:

Electric Bicycles are the most practical and the most affordable electric powered vehicles at the current state of technology.  The main problem with all electric vehicles today is the battery and their relatively small capacity providing rather limited driving range.  The electric bicycles are achieving the best range/capacity ratio with the average power assisted range being around 30 kms (20 miles) for some 'normal' cycling conditions.  Plus, they are not limited to that power assisted range, i.e. to the battery capacity, because even if the battery is exhausted the electric bicycles still can be pedaled as any other bicycle.  They are also pretty affordable with  average prices somewhere between $900 and $1700 in Canada today.  The cost of consumed electricity is really small - just a few cents per a power assisted range (this would be around 5 cents here in BC for a complete charge).

There are two main types of electric bicycles:

• Electrically propelled ones where electrical motor can completely  replace pedaling.

• Power assisted ones, or Pedelecs (Pedal Electric Cycle) where electrical motor is active only during pedaling and it augments the pedaling action.

Some bicycle models provide a combination of these two, as well as different modes of riding (fast, economical, etc.)

Power assisted electrical bicycles are more advanced, and from the user perspective much easier to ride.  The rider just needs to pedal and change gears as with any other, non-electric bicycle.  A computerized sensor monitors force applied to the pedals and multiplies rider’s power.  Output from the battery-powered motor is greatest when rider needs it the most: starting and climbing.  To maximize the range, the power assist decreases as speed increases.  The assist tapers to zero above the specified speed.  The max assisted speed depends on the bike model and it is usually 24 km/h (max speed as per Japan’s regulations), although number of models have max assisted speed of 32 km/h (as per Canadian and US regulations). Please see the illustration below borrowed from the National Bicycle (Panasonic) site:

Which bike design -- an Electric Conversion, or a Bike designed from the ground up to be electric -  this is actually a false type of a dilemma.  The end result is the most important.  For example there are so many electric monsters that are designed from scratch as electric bikes and they are more then often simply junk.  On the other hand you can get the top results with an add-on kit -- please take a look at the Smart-E by EPS.  This kit in a combination with a good bike produces simply the best pedal assist system you can possibly have today.
Simply said -- look at the end result.  Is this a good quality bike first of all? What is the quality of electric parts?  Do you want absolutely silent brushless motor, or you are happy with a hum of brushed engines? Do you like the type of the bike (pedal assist, or power on demand)?  Are you happy with the weight, and some other 'features' of the particular bike?
When all these elements are satisfied then you can look into advantages and disadvantages of two designs:
An Electric Bike designed from the ground up usually has a cleaner look (cables are hidden, battery holder is part of the frame, etc.)  A good quality electric bike has a fine balance and integration of the electric parts and the bike itself -- good examples are Merida bikes, and Giant LAfree bikes.  On the other hand the disadvantage is that you are probably getting bike that does not have exactly features or look that you would like.  Furthermore, all modification and improvements are very limited; all fixes, particularly for electric components, are possible only with the original parts.
An Electric Conversion if not done properly could look very ugly and the balance between the motor, the battery, and the bike itself could sometime go directly to Ripley's book.  It's amazing what some people are capable of doing when they get some of these kits into their hands.  On the other side if done properly, an electric conversion can produce beautiful results rivalling and surpassing originally designed electric bikes.  Please take a look at our Beach Cruisers or tricycles.  So many times people asked is this really electric?  The biggest advantage of the electric conversion is that you are able to choose a bike that you really like and then add an electric improvement to it -- please take a look into this Performance Commuter Conversion.  Furthermore -- there is so much flexibility for further improvements on your bike, or even replacing or upgrading electric and electronic parts.  For example, a conversion kit like Wilderness Energy B-36 is completely modular: you can replace with the ease any of the main components: motor, controller, throttle, cut-off brakes, battery, or even cables.  You want a lighter battery -- just simply replace the standard Lead-acid with NiMH ones that will even fit into the same nylon bag, or if you are really reach with Li-polymer ones.  You have a need for speed (and to defy government's laws) you can simply  ... sorry, we will not instruct how to do this. Actually we would rather advocate against that kind of modification because it can produce very unsafe results.
One more reasonable improvements (and to stay inside legal and safe speed) is to add a 'torquer' motor, or even a two speed motor that integrates a high-torque and a high speed motors in one hub.
The bottom line -- the end result is the most important.  The electric conversions will give you more flexibility but they can produce also ugly and sometimes even unsafe results.  Please remain at least on the safe side!

Electric Bicycles are perfectly legal in Canada minding that they comply with the Transport Canada amendment to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR).
Here is the relevant part of the MVSR.
The British Columbia Regulations state on the similar way the complete legality of Electric Bicycles.  The ICBC press release also indicates that the Electric Bicycles are perfectly legal and considered as standard bicycles in terms that there is no need for a special licence or an ICBC insurance.

Yes, you can ride them in the rain. Our electric bicycles and scooters are completely safe to be driven in the rain.  Motor and batteries are well sealed and protected that even Vancouver's rain will not hurt them.  You should not drive through the water though, which is definitely not recommended for any standard bicycle or a scooter.

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Last modified: 26-Dec-2004