Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improving Air Quality
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to a speed of 28 mph (45 kmph) (Bike Law, 2017; NCSL, 2018). The manufacture and sale of e- bikes that meet the US federal definition are regulated
by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and must meet bicycle safety
standards (NCSL, 2018). The electric two- wheeled vehicles that have more
power than those described above are treated as motor vehicles that must
meet the requirements of other motor vehicles.
In the USA, there are differences from state to state with regard to the
rules and regulations that must be followed in operating e- bikes (NCSL,
2018; TREC, 2018). Some states require a license to operate an e- bike,
whereas others do not. Registration of e- bikes is required in some states
but not in others. Even pedals are required in some states but not in others
(TREC, 2018). Helmet requirements vary from state to state (across all
manner of cycles) and may be required only with the Class 3 e- bikes in
some states.
There are larger two- wheeled electric vehicles that do not qualify as ebikes and are expected to drive on roads rather than bike paths. Safety is
an important issue for e- bikes. Following riding regulations is important.
Wearing a helmet is not required in all parts of the world, but there are good
safety reasons to wear one anyway. One of the problems with e- bike riders
is that they and regular bike riders do not follow all the rules for safe riding,
and a number of accidents occur because of riders not following regulations
(Lin, 2016)
4.4 Electric Buses
Electric buses share many of the characteristics and advantages of electric
cars, but there are some additional considerations. Buses are, of course,
larger than cars, but they also carry more people and typically have fixed
routes of known distances. The different uses of buses in the world include
transportation for many people to work, to school, and for other purposes.
Distances within cities are often appropriate for the range of electric buses,
and there is a transition to electric buses underway in many cities. China
moved forward with the purchase of about 100,000 electric buses per year
in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and there is significant progress towards the electrification of their city bus fleets. In the USA, there are many school buses that
have well- defined schedules and modest distances where electric buses can
be put into service.
TCO analysis shows that the purchase price is greater for electric buses
than for ICE buses, but energy and maintenance costs are less, making
the TCO comparable (Lajunen and Lipman, 2016; Tong et al., 2017; Rogge
et al., 2018). Like electric cars, the batteries in electric buses are a major
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46
to a speed of 28 mph (45 kmph) (Bike Law, 2017; NCSL, 2018). The manufacture and sale of e- bikes that meet the US federal definition are regulated
by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and must meet bicycle safety
standards (NCSL, 2018). The electric two- wheeled vehicles that have more
power than those described above are treated as motor vehicles that must
meet the requirements of other motor vehicles.
In the USA, there are differences from state to state with regard to the
rules and regulations that must be followed in operating e- bikes (NCSL,
2018; TREC, 2018). Some states require a license to operate an e- bike,
whereas others do not. Registration of e- bikes is required in some states
but not in others. Even pedals are required in some states but not in others
(TREC, 2018). Helmet requirements vary from state to state (across all
manner of cycles) and may be required only with the Class 3 e- bikes in
some states.
There are larger two- wheeled electric vehicles that do not qualify as ebikes and are expected to drive on roads rather than bike paths. Safety is
an important issue for e- bikes. Following riding regulations is important.
Wearing a helmet is not required in all parts of the world, but there are good
safety reasons to wear one anyway. One of the problems with e- bike riders
is that they and regular bike riders do not follow all the rules for safe riding,
and a number of accidents occur because of riders not following regulations
(Lin, 2016)
4.4 Electric Buses
Electric buses share many of the characteristics and advantages of electric
cars, but there are some additional considerations. Buses are, of course,
larger than cars, but they also carry more people and typically have fixed
routes of known distances. The different uses of buses in the world include
transportation for many people to work, to school, and for other purposes.
Distances within cities are often appropriate for the range of electric buses,
and there is a transition to electric buses underway in many cities. China
moved forward with the purchase of about 100,000 electric buses per year
in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and there is significant progress towards the electrification of their city bus fleets. In the USA, there are many school buses that
have well- defined schedules and modest distances where electric buses can
be put into service.
TCO analysis shows that the purchase price is greater for electric buses
than for ICE buses, but energy and maintenance costs are less, making
the TCO comparable (Lajunen and Lipman, 2016; Tong et al., 2017; Rogge
et al., 2018). Like electric cars, the batteries in electric buses are a major