The electric bicycle

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We’re talking more and more about electric bicycles but we don’t come across them on every street corner … So we’re going to try to gain a better understanding of what an electric bicycle is, how it works, and what both its advantages and disadvantages are in order to better assess its chances of flooding our streets one day!

Introducing the electric bicycle:

An electric bicycle, or more precisely, a "power-assisted bicycle" is a traditional bicycle to which a small electric engine and a battery have been added, with the aim of assisting the rider at ‘’difficult’’ moments: hills, headwind, recovery period …it’s enough to have you make friends with your bicycle again ;-)

It’s not the same as a motorised bicycle! In fact, in legislative terms, it is a traditional bicycle:

- No specific insurance required (other than personal liability, which is highly recommended);

- No vehicle registration required;

- A helmet is not compulsory (but strongly recommended);

- No need for a specific licence;

- No minimum age required …

And moreover, the electric engine only gets going if you’re pedalling and so does not completely replace the rider’s endeavours (hence the name "power-assisted bicycle").

How does an electric bicycle work?

As we mentioned above, an electric bicycle is originally a traditional bicycle. But we’re going to see how the attachments that make up the power-assisted bicycle, and allow it to function efficiently, distinguish it from the traditional version.

An electric bicycle is made up of:

- An electric engine fitted at front/back wheel level or at crankset level that will be used to support the rider’s efforts

- A battery, which is the energy reserve and which charges up when the bicycle is in use or at home (depending on the model) and a charge indicator, to let you know how much energy is left in the battery.

- A pedal sensor, which is there to detect the rotational speed of the crankset (or the pressure on it, still depending on the model).

- A control unit, which, according to the information relayed by the pedal sensor, will start sending current to the battery in the engine (in order to activate it).

A combination of all these attachments will, therefore, at the required moment, turn a simple traditional bicycle into a power-assisted bicycle.

Advantages of the electric bicycle:

The electric bicycle has, of course, certain considerable assets to help get itself established …

- It can support the rider’s efforts, in particular, on slopes, in case of headwind, or just simply because you’re a little tired;

- It can help you make longer journeys but without having to arrive exhausted and drenched in sweat (very practical if you go to work in a suit);

- And finally, it is accessible for everyone! (Well, we haven’t mentioned the price yet…)

Disadvantages of the electric bicycle:

Obviously, it’s not all a bed of roses, and the electric bicycle also has certain disadvantages that have to be considered: the main current disadvantage is the price, a blackspot that could hold back many consumers (but we can reasonably expect to see the price go down over the coming years).

Then there’s the weight, which could turn out to be a real problem for the transport, especially if you live in town and don’t have a garage. Whether you’re in the car or on foot (if you have to climb stairs, may the force be with you ;-)).

The last negative point concerns managing the battery charging (a problem only existing on  certain models)

In conclusion:

The electric bicycle is a rather practical invention to popularise the bicycle, but one which could put off even the greenest among us. What is more, the product remains relatively expensive, and therefore not within everyone’s means.

In summary, the electric bicycle could well have good times ahead, but it still needs to prove itself and convince us in certain aspects!

Founder & Director of Buzzecolo.com. Fabien Nicolardot is fascinated by sustainable development, by nature, by current events, by the Internet, and by many other things. He set up Buzzecolo.com in order to share his discoveries, his opinions and his questions... but also (and especially) in order to swap and share ideas on what has become an incontrovertible and essential subject!

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