Electrification of Transportation
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45
than riding a regular bicycle. People often get to their destination faster
with an e- bike compared to a regular bike (Berntsen et al., 2017).
One of the reasons for e- bike growth in China has to do with regulations
designed to improve air quality by not allowing ICE motorcycles in some
of the large cities. Lin (2016) reported that electric bicycles have become
popular in China because of their flexibility to travel directly to a destination (as compared to public transportation). At the same time, the electrical energy required for e- bikes is of the order of 2 kWh/ 100 km, compared
to about 20 kWh/ 100 km for an electric car. An e- bike is also inexpensive
compared to owning an automobile, and it enables many people to travel to
work, school, or other destinations conveniently and at a reasonable speed.
Lin (2016) reported that about 22% of users have paid less than 2000 CNY for
their e- bike, 24% paid between 2000 and 3000 CNY, 40% paid between 3000
and 4000 CNY, and 14% paid more than 4000 CNY (7 CNY = $1). For context,
the cost of an e- bike in China is about one month’s salary for some users. The
data on households with an e- bike in Nanjing shows that 37.72% have one
car, 22.33% have one motorcycle, and 40.69% have a bicycle. About 66% use
their e- bike to commute regularly to a destination, such as work.
4.3.2 Electric Bicycles in Other Countries
People in the United States can purchase an electric bicycle for less than
$3000, such as the e- bike marketed by Yamaha (Toll, 2018). In general, electric
bicycles can be purchased and operated without a license and insurance in
the USA, but there are both federal and state regulations that define e- bikes,
and these are important to understand.
One of the significant issues with e- bikes is the regulations that owners
need to follow; another is what qualifies as an e- bike. The e- bikes are expected
to travel on pathways designed for bicycles where they are available, and so
it is important to have power restrictions. This is also true for issues such as
any local requirements for a vehicle license and insurance.
In most countries, there are regulations on the power and/ or speed that
define e- bikes. In the United States, the definition of an e- bike is:
a two- or three- wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 W (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved
level surface when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an
operator who weighs 170 pounds (77 kg) is less than 20 mph (32 kmph).
(NCSL, 2018)
A Class 1 e- bike is a bicycle that is equipped with a motor that provides
assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases assistance when
the speed of the bicycle is 20 mph. A Class 2 e- bike has a motor that can
be used exclusively to propel the bicycle up to a speed of 20 mph. A Class
3 e- bike provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and only up
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45
than riding a regular bicycle. People often get to their destination faster
with an e- bike compared to a regular bike (Berntsen et al., 2017).
One of the reasons for e- bike growth in China has to do with regulations
designed to improve air quality by not allowing ICE motorcycles in some
of the large cities. Lin (2016) reported that electric bicycles have become
popular in China because of their flexibility to travel directly to a destination (as compared to public transportation). At the same time, the electrical energy required for e- bikes is of the order of 2 kWh/ 100 km, compared
to about 20 kWh/ 100 km for an electric car. An e- bike is also inexpensive
compared to owning an automobile, and it enables many people to travel to
work, school, or other destinations conveniently and at a reasonable speed.
Lin (2016) reported that about 22% of users have paid less than 2000 CNY for
their e- bike, 24% paid between 2000 and 3000 CNY, 40% paid between 3000
and 4000 CNY, and 14% paid more than 4000 CNY (7 CNY = $1). For context,
the cost of an e- bike in China is about one month’s salary for some users. The
data on households with an e- bike in Nanjing shows that 37.72% have one
car, 22.33% have one motorcycle, and 40.69% have a bicycle. About 66% use
their e- bike to commute regularly to a destination, such as work.
4.3.2 Electric Bicycles in Other Countries
People in the United States can purchase an electric bicycle for less than
$3000, such as the e- bike marketed by Yamaha (Toll, 2018). In general, electric
bicycles can be purchased and operated without a license and insurance in
the USA, but there are both federal and state regulations that define e- bikes,
and these are important to understand.
One of the significant issues with e- bikes is the regulations that owners
need to follow; another is what qualifies as an e- bike. The e- bikes are expected
to travel on pathways designed for bicycles where they are available, and so
it is important to have power restrictions. This is also true for issues such as
any local requirements for a vehicle license and insurance.
In most countries, there are regulations on the power and/ or speed that
define e- bikes. In the United States, the definition of an e- bike is:
a two- or three- wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 W (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved
level surface when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an
operator who weighs 170 pounds (77 kg) is less than 20 mph (32 kmph).
(NCSL, 2018)
A Class 1 e- bike is a bicycle that is equipped with a motor that provides
assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases assistance when
the speed of the bicycle is 20 mph. A Class 2 e- bike has a motor that can
be used exclusively to propel the bicycle up to a speed of 20 mph. A Class
3 e- bike provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and only up