Get a charge
out of cycling
Electric bicycles add some
kick to pedal powerElectric bike specs
By Leila Fujimori
Zappy-zipping a snap
Star-BulletinFor those of us occasional cyclists who walk our bikes up hills or whose knees ache after pedaling, the answer may be the electric bicycle. And if you don't want to fire up your gas-guzzling car just to run to the grocery store, this is a nonpolluting alternative.
Some electric bikes allow riders to hop on and go without pedal power. Others must be pedaled to get going, but then furnish electric power on demand. All can be pedaled to increase speed over that provided by their electric motors.
Physical conditioning is no longer a factor. The applications are numerous -- the elderly who no longer drive, those who want to get around in congested areas without a cumbersome car, even police and security personnel.
The Bike Shop's general manager, Faye Saiki, finds strong interest in electric bikes among students who are looking for alternative transportation.
All the bikes mentioned here have low-maintenance, sealed lead acid batteries that can be plugged into a standard wall outlet and do not have to be drained before recharging.
Even legendary automobile executive Lee Iacocca has entered the electric bicycle market.
Iacocca's E-Bike is the Cadillac of the electric bikes tested. Ride it and you'll hear and feel the difference. Its low center of gravity and adjustable front suspension gives a smooth, stable ride.
Iacocca's EV Global Motors Co. promotes its product as designed from the ground up, not simply a bike modified to run on electricity. Its retro look includes a wide frame that hides the battery instead of the usual tubular frame. The motor is built into the rear wheel hub.
Fully-charged, the bike has a range of 20 miles and a speed of 15 mph. (On a manual bike, a fast rider can do 25 mph on a level road; the average rider does 10-15 mph, according to Saiki.) No speed is lost going uphill and a full charge costs just a nickel's worth of electricity. Charge time is three and a half hours.
'You don't get all hot and
sweaty in business attire.'Paul Klink
BUSINESSMAN, ON RIDING
HIS E-BIKE TO WORKThe advantages to the electric bike include the psychological, it gives the rider easy speed and confidence in traffic, and the physical.
"You don't get all hot and sweaty in business attire," said Paul Klink, who rides his E-Bike from his Bishop Street office to Waikiki once a week.
He also rides his electric bike around downtown to avoid taking his car. "I'm right at 200 pounds, and it totes my booty up Alakea."
A key starts this bike. And from almost a standstill, apply thumb to throttle and the bike can fly.
One nice feature is cruise control, a big advantage over the competition. Achieve desired speed, press cruise control and the speed will be maintained until the brakes are applied. Cruise control only operates up to the 15 mph speed limit of the motor.
The bike frame, which is made of a chromium steel/molybdenum alloy called Chromoly, is a hefty 65 pounds with battery and charger on board. The 20-pound battery can be removed and must be secured with a bike lock to prevent theft.
Also hefty is the $995 price tag on a standard model plus $99 for shipping and a $34 documents fee. Bells and whistles are included -- headlamp lights, a rear brake light and an ear-splitting horn.
Aloha Electric Vehicles, exclusive dealer for the E-Bike, has built an elaborate indoor showroom, complete with volcano and waterfall, to test ride the bikes. "We've sold about 15 in the last 10 days," said Bill van den Hurk, owner and manager of Aloha Electric Vehicles. Accessories are available to upgrade the E-Bike, which also comes in "deluxe" and "comfort" models .
The Honolulu Police Department's Bicycle Detail got its first electric bike on July 21, an E-Bike on loan from Aloha Electric Vehicles.
"We'll evaluate the bike to see if it fits our needs," Lt. John Lum said. He also plans to contact other vendors to test their bikes.
The Electrobike, $300 less than the E-Bike, also has a motor built into the hub. It rides well, but with a bit less shock absorbency than the E-Bike.
Its battery is locked in with a key and it has a built-in charger.
Simpler in design than the E-Bike, the $800 Electrobike has standard bicycle parts that are easily replaced.
Although not yet available for sale, a demonstration model of this bike can be test ridden at The Bike Shop on South King Street. The store will be getting a shipment of an upgraded version of the bike this month. Upgrades will include V-brakes with more stopping power.
Saiki said she has looked at several electric bikes and decided to carry the Electrobike because of the built-in motor. Motors that use rollers that come in contact with the rear wheel can cause things to loosen and break, she said.
Her staff test rode the bike up Ward Avenue and only at five feet from the top did they have to pedal. The motor speed tops out at 17 mph, with a range of 20 miles on a full charge.
For $500, the Neobike Traveler by ETC is an alternative for those who don't want to spend $800 or more for a fully electric bike.
A big plus is it folds down to 28-by-11-by-22 inches, weighs 50 pounds and can be ridden without the engine and battery. The 2-pound charger is separate.
The low-profile, one-speed bike doesn't have much shock absorption, but rides well for a 16-inch-wheel bike.
To engage the electric motor, the rider must first pedal up to the desired speed, then engage the throttle. The motor comes in a box that straddles the rear wheel and protrudes 4 inches from both sides of the wheel, which could get caught if going through a narrow area. The box rattles when going over bumps.
The drawback with the motor style is it engages by using a roller that comes in full contact with the tire. If water or oil touches the roller, the motor won't give full power, according to Bikefactory Sportshop owner Wally Parcels. The Traveler is usually available at Bikefactory along with ETC's New Century, a three-speed, 20-inch wheel bike more suitable for distance travel.
The ETC Express, the drive system on these two bikes, also is sold separately and can be installed on mountain bikes or cruisers. It goes for $369 with an optional $25 installation charge. It's the cheapest alternative to go electric if you already own a bike.
Also offered at Bikefactory is GT's Charger. It's the fastest of the bikes tested, getting 25 mph. The speed restrictor cuts power to the motor upon reaching 25 mph. It will travel 25 miles on a full charge.
There's one big but. Those expecting power at a mere pull of the throttle won't get it. The Charger must be pedaled continuously for power.
Don't count this one out, though. The 7-speed bike has four power settings. At its highest setting, the bike has a lot of get-up-and-go even set at the highest speed when you might expect a lot of resistance. Just a little pedaling gets this bike cranking. Controlling the power, though, takes getting used to at its highest setting.
The motor is under the seat stem and runs using a chain drive system. The bicycle uses a personal identification number instead of a key.
The Charger has a mountain bike chromoly frame and weighs five pounds less than the E-Bike. The Rock Shox suspension helps smooth the ride, but it doesn't come close to the E-Bike. For someone who wants to pedal anyway, this is probably a good choice.
Finally, ZAP makes a drive system that can be attached to most bicycles. It sells for $449.99 and has a $25 freight cost. The system, like the ETC Express, uses a motor attached to a metal roller that has full contact with the rear tire. It takes about an hour to install yourself, or you can pay the $45 installation charge.
An added bonus is the regenerative power capability. With the flip of a handle, the system can regenerate and store up to 40 amps going downhill, while pedaling or when used on charging/exercise stand.
Jack Bowman, who sells ZAP products at U.S. Electricar Inc., recommends a special rear tire that will accommodate the roller, especially if the bike is equipped with knobby tires.
Bowman acknowledges water or oil on the tire could cause some loss of power, but he hasn't had any complaints from customers.
For $899.99, plus $90 for shipping, you can get a two-speed ElectriCruizer. A single-speed runs $699.95. It is simply a cruiser with the ZAP system attached. ZAP does not make any of the bicycles it sells, merely the drive systems. All the bikes come unassembled. An optional $45 fee is charged for assembly.
The ElectriCruizer worked fine and moved well. But rough customer handling caused the throttle's outer covering to break and had to be given a temporary repair at the time of testing. The throttle is a short-stemmed toggle switch covered with rubber and appeared to be easily subject to wear and tear. But Bowman has never had a customer come back with a problem with the switch.
Bowman said one of his customers lives on Tantalus and likes the assistance of the ZAP system, but cannot make it up without pedal power.
And for those who never learned to ride a bike, the ZapTrike has just arrived. This three-wheeler is perfect for elderly cyclists who want real stability. An ample basket in the rear can accommodate a couple of bags of groceries. It has a front-wheel drive system.
Electric bikes still have a way to go, said Parcels, since lighter, longer-lasting batteries and improvements must come before most people will buy them.
The technology for the better battery is available, just not at a reasonable cost. As with most new technology, electric bikes will continue to get cheaper. The Electrobike already has dropped $550 in three years.
Parcels promotes gas mopeds for those who want power.
"If you intend to keep up with traffic, you have to pedal," Saiki said. "You really have to think of it as a bicycle."
Under city ordinance, no one under 15 years of age is permitted to operate a bicycle with a motor on streets or highways and the bikes are never allowed to be ridden on sidewalks. But unlike a moped, they do not require a driver's license.
Electric Bike Specs
Photos by Dean Sensui, Star-BulletinStandard E-Bike
Cost: $995 + $99 shipping
Weight: 65 pounds
Battery charge time: 3.5 hours
Range on full charge: 20 miles
Top speed: 15 mph
Info: http://www.electricbikes.com
Electrobike
Cost: $800
Weight: approx. 65 pounds.
Battery charge time: 4-6 hours
Range on full charge: 20 miles
Top speed: 17 mph
Info: http://www.electrobike.com
ETC Traveler
Cost: $500
Weight: 50 pounds (separate charger 2 pounds)
Battery charge time: 4-6 hours
Range on full charge: 10-12 miles
Top speed: 16 mph
Info: http://www.etcbikes.com
ZAP ElectriCruizer
Cost: $899.99 + $90 shipping (approx.), $80 optional assembly
Weight: 47 pounds
Battery charge time: 3 hours
Range on full charge: 15 mph
Top speed: 18 mph
Info: http://www.zapbikes.com
GT Charger
Cost: $1,595
Weight: 60 pounds
Battery charge time: 3-4 hours
Range on full charge: 15-20 miles
Top speed: 20-25 mph (pedal-assist)
Info: http://www.gtbikes.com
Drive systems only
ZAP Power System
Cost: $449.95 + $25 shipping ($45 optional installation)
Battery charge time: 3 hours
Range on full charge: 15 mph
Top speed: 18 mph (faster with pedal-assist)
Info: http://www.zapbikes.com
ETC Express
Cost: $369 ($25 optional installation)
Battery charge time: 4-6 hours
Range on full charge: 15 mph
Top speed: 16 mph
Info: http://www.etcbikes.com
Zappy makes zipping
By Leila Fujimori
around a snap
Star-BulletinIf you think stand-up scooters are old-fashioned, think again. Zappy is a slim new electric stand-up scooter by ZAP that gets speeds of up to 13 mph. Any 15-year-old would love zipping around the neighborhood on one. But a 45-year-old could have fun just the same and find practical uses for it.
Anyone who can skateboard can ride the two-wheeled Zappy effortlessly. The rider assumes a skateboard-riding stance, placing the rear foot on a raised portion of the board. To get started, the rider pushes with foot power to gain a little momentum and balance, then pulls the throttle and away he or she goes. The upright steering column also has a rear wheel hand brake that allows for easy slow down.
Power is easily controlled, with no lag going uphill. It handles and maneuvers well.
The Zappy's beauty is it folds flat to about three feet long and can be stowed in a car trunk or taken on a plane and rolled on one wheel. The 37-pound steel-framed vehicle includes a lead acid battery, which will go as far as 8 miles on a full charge. The Zappy comes with either a 110-volt or 220-volt charger.
The Zappy retails for $699, said Jack Jackson of Jackson Auto Group, but he's offering one free with the purchase of a Mercury Mountaineer.
When customers who were wavering between vehicles were told about the Zappy, their 15-year-old son influenced them to buy the Mountaineer, said Marc Jackson, a sales consultant.
The Zappy will be available from Jack Bowman, a ZAP distributor at U.S. Electricar Inc. on Cooke Street, sometime this month for $649.99 plus shipping. Or order directly from ZAP on-line at http://zapbikes.com/zappy
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