By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Jack Bowman, local distributor for ZAP Power Systems,
shows off a cruiser bike equipped with one of the company's
electric-power systems. The electric bikes are available for
rent, but also can be purchased for $699 to $1,300.
A mainland company is betting
From staff and wire reports
that electric bicycles will get Hawaii
tourists' juices flowingElectric-powered bicycles have been buzzing along the streets of Waikiki and the California company behind the innovation hopes to bring more to the islands soon.
ZAP Power Systems of Sebastopol, Calif. adds the electric-drive unit -- which includes a battery, motor and charger -- to cruiser or mountain bikes.
The company itself has been cruising along at a fast clip lately, opening its first ZAP stores in San Francisco and in Shanghai, China last month. The San Francisco store, at Fisherman's Wharf, is believed to be the first electric bike store in the United States.
In Hawaii, the bikes can be purchased through distributor Electric Vehicles Hawaii on Cooke Street and ZAP Power hopes to have retail outlets on Maui and Kauai soon. ZAP said that businessman Greg Brown will open an electric-bike store at 900 Front Street in Lahaina on April 15.
The ZAP electric bikes sell for $699 to $1,300.
"Kits to add electric drive units to bikes also are available at about $450," said Jack Bowman, who is the local ZAP distributor and is also general manager of a separate Kakaako business U.S. Electricar, which converts gasoline cars to electric power.
Another Hawaii businessman, Steve Conklin, has talked to ZAP about opening a store in Hawaii, according to Gary Starr, ZAP's co-founder and managing director.
Conklin has been renting the electric bikes in Waikiki, behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel for about six months. The rentals, through Hawaii's Best Rentals, cost $5 an hour or $20 for the day.
ZAP (the name stands for Zero Air Pollution) is hoping that tourists -- and even residents -- will rent the bikes and be so impressed that they'll eventually buy one.
"We think most people kind of want to get out of their gas cars," said Starr, who is an evangelist for clean air. "With a ZAP bike, you can get exercise if you want to, but if you want a little help going up hills or just riding around seeing things, you've got the power when you need it."
ZAP bikes look like regular bikes, with gears, brakes and pedals that let you ride them in a normal fashion. The only difference is the cassette-sized battery mounted in the center of the frame, and the drive gear that turns the rear wheel when the power-assist feature is engaged.
ZAP bike riders can use leg power or push a two-speed lever forward or back to engage the electric motor. With the power assist, a bike can go for about 15 miles at about 15 miles per hour.
The bikes are cheap to ride -- the battery can be recharged for about a nickel. However, recharging takes up to three hours.
The number of companies selling electric bikes has blossomed in recent years, particularly in Asia, where bicycles are a primary form of transportation. Both Yamaha and Honda are in the game there.
Founded in 1994, ZAP is the largest of about half-dozen U.S. competitors.
Last summer, ZAP was one of the first companies to go public via the Internet, raising about $2.5 million.
Publicity generated by the Internet initial public offering convinced ZAP officials that the time was right to enter the retail market with franchise stores of its own.
"I think we're just beginning to understand the potential for electric bikes," Starr said, adding that studies he has seen suggest that the market could reach $50 billion.
By year-end, Starr predicts that there will be 20 franchises around the country renting and selling his bikes and scooters.
ZAP says it has sold more than 9,000 bikes and upgrade kits worldwide in 60 countries, either through direct mail or bike stores that distribute its products. Today, it has 44 employees, including half a dozen at the new San Francisco store.
Star-Bulletin reporter Jerry Tune and the
San Francisco Chronicle contributed to this report.
