What Are the Benefits of Electric Bikes?
Electric bikes continue to grow in popularity and share of the bike market. For more and more people, e-bikes have become convenient ways to exercise and travel efficiently around town. However, the technology remains novel, unexplored, and even potentially confusing for some. Let's review some of the benefits of electric bikes to help you to understand better whether an electric bike is a suitable choice for your next ride.
How Does an Electric Bike Work?
Despite their growing adoption, many people may still not fully understand an electric bike. They may think of it as an electric motorcycle, for instance.
On the contrary, electric bikes are closer to traditional bicycles. They are regular bikes that boost power and speed from a rechargeable battery connected to an electric motor. Unlike a motorcycle, they do require human power to operate.
What Are the Benefits of an E-Bike?
The advantages of electric bicycle use are multifaceted. The most obvious is the ability to move more quickly and farther than you would under pedal power, but the benefits are more complex and nuanced than you might think.
Easier to Ride
An electric bike's most commonly used advantage is that it provides a "boost" to your standard bike trip. This can be helpful in multiple ways: it may allow you to traverse long distances more quickly and decrease wear on your body that comes from a long hill climb. It can also be beneficial on challenging terrain — steep inclines, ridges, city commutes, and other areas of more technical biking — where you might otherwise be overwhelmed by the challenges of the riding conditions.
In general, one of the main benefits of e-bikes is that you get the joys of riding a traditional bicycle, but with a little extra help along the way.
Good For Your Health
The benefits of electric bikes for health cannot be overstated. While critics sometimes point out that an electric bicycle does not provide the same workout as a regular bicycle, this hardly means that they do not offer the opportunity for vigorous exercise. Electric bikes can sometimes be better for your body than traditional bicycles by avoiding unnecessary strain and easing pressure on sensitive parts of your body. This may be especially true for individuals who tend to be less physically active but are looking for a way to become more active. Often, e-bikes can be a great way to start the transition to a more active lifestyle and begin to get into better shape.
All in all, electric bikes are a great way to get good exercise through biking without giving up convenience.
Environmentally Friendly
A central selling point for e-bike is that they are far more environmentally friendly than gas-powered vehicles while still offering the convenience of range. Electric bikes run on rechargeable electric batteries, meaning they require no gas or oil to run (a fact that is especially true if the electricity used for charging is being generated from a renewable power source). E-bikes thus offer the top form of eco-based transportation, particularly in cities, while avoiding contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.
Wide Variety
Electric bikes come in various models and styles, meaning there is probably a type of bike that suits your lifestyle and needs. Whether you intend to bike exclusively on pavement or will also spend time on gravel, dirt roads, or other uneven surfaces, there is undoubtedly an electric bike out there that can work for what you need.
Safe
Electric bikes are very safe, provide you with ride care, and can be a welcome alternative for urban commuters. They can be safer than regular bicycles in high-traffic areas because the power-assisted speeds they can achieve can allow you to keep up with traffic, avoiding traffic while you ride.
Also, if you have to accelerate abruptly while biking in an urban environment, an e-bike will give you more power and the ability to do so.
Reasonably Affordable To Maintain
Electric bikes, if treated well, will often not require extensive maintenance. Unlike a car or other gas-powered vehicle, you also do not have to fill it with fuel or oil — and electricity is cheaper than gasoline and better for the environment to cut down on refueling costs. While upfront costs of some e-bike models can be considerable, once you have your bike, it can last a long time if you treat it well.
Use With or Without Electricity
If your car runs out of fuel, it will stop running. But an electric bike is still usable even if its battery dies. It will function just like a regular bike, without the benefits of added power. This can be helpful if you go on a long ride and lose charge partway through.
What Is the Right Choice For Your Lifestyle?
An electric bike can be a significant investment, and so thoroughly understanding electric bike advantages and disadvantages is essential. There are, of course, some potential drawbacks: e-bikes tend to be expensive in the short term and require a high initial investment. If you do suffer a breakdown or require other maintenance, parts can be specialized, expensive, and sometimes a little hard to find. Electric bikes can also be heavy and sometimes more inconvenient for that reason.
That said, electric bikes offer a wealth of benefits that may well outweigh any disadvantages that you perceive. E-bikes can often serve as a great "middle ground" between a bicycle and car, allowing you the convenience and speed of a mechanized automobile in an environmentally-friendly and active way.
Get Your Electric Bike Today
If you have decided an electric bike is right for you, it's time to start shopping! ZuGo Bike makes e-bikes and accessories perfect for all riders, regardless of experience with e-bikes. Shop our bikes online, contact us with any questions, and schedule a test ride today!
