Electric Bikes Won Over China. Is the U.S. Next?

Post by Gibbon1 » Sat, Jun 04, 2016, 5:14 AM UTC

chillwaves wrote: post #152

Gibbon1 wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People downvote stuff when they dislike the implications of something even if it's true, actually especially if it's true. As to your point, a friend of mine has an electric motorcycle. He said that it's silent is scary because in traffic cars don't notice he's there. He has to always be on guard for people merging into his lane.

The idea that people will hear you on a motorcycle and that will protect you is absurd. The only way to ride safe is to ride as if cars do not see you.

Post by jjcc » Sat, Jun 04, 2016, 6:00 AM UTC

Cerium wrote: post #34

URSpider94 wrote: post #16

The e-bike situation in China is very different from the US. These are people who are moving UP from human-powered bikes, or walking, to their first vehicle -- not buying them so that they can leave their car at home and feel the wind in their hair. Here's a photo of a very typical Chinese e-bike: http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00zsrEyYQIYOqo/Chinese-El... As you can see, it has a second seat in the back for a pa…

How people charge them depends on where they live and where they work. People who live in the modern pencil thin 30 story buildings you see on the news simply ride them into the elevator. Since they are electric and Chinese buildings usually have tile hallways (or bare concrete) this causes no problems. The shorter 6 story buildings do not have elevators, so people who live in these simply hang a cord out their windo…

Post by 2muchcoffeeman » Sat, Jun 04, 2016, 6:28 AM UTC

sandworm101 wrote: post #161

rakoo wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another huge reason is that China outright banned the use of gasoline powered motorcycles in many big cities; since the majority of people just can't afford a car, the only replacement they could have is electric bikes. Maybe one day we'll also see gasoline powered personal vehicles be banned in the West ? I kind of doubt it, seeing how important the car is in our society, even though there is some progress towards i…

Paris and SF maybe, but a nation-wide ban is a long long way off. Until electrics have power enough to move something akin to a fully loaded pickup truck 300+km, there will be a place for petro. Just look at the Fort MacMurry evacuation. Not many electrics could have made that drive. I doubt Tesla will ever sell many units in the Canadian north. Ask them how those batteries deal with -40c. It's a problem ignored by n…

Post by technofiend » Sat, Jun 04, 2016, 6:55 AM UTC

Rumudiez wrote: post #40

pm90 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it would work in the US. Such models might replace the gasoline powered vespas that a small minority of people use. But a car is central to the lifestyle of most Americans: you go to work, get groceries etc. That said, the more bicycle looking ebikes... I am very tempted to get one. They can be a fun way to explore the neighborhood. But I would still need a car for commuting to work.

> But I would still need a car for commuting to work. And that sums up why the typical US mentality will continue to impede transportation progress. I can easily carry over a week's worth of groceries to cook three meals per day for two people in one trip on my motorcycle. I ride to work every day of the year in Seattle . It's kind of like, you know, living in pretty much any other country in the world where cars are…

Post by semi-extrinsic » Sat, Jun 04, 2016, 7:32 AM UTC

2muchcoffeeman wrote: post #166

sandworm101 wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Paris and SF maybe, but a nation-wide ban is a long long way off. Until electrics have power enough to move something akin to a fully loaded pickup truck 300+km, there will be a place for petro. Just look at the Fort MacMurry evacuation. Not many electrics could have made that drive. I doubt Tesla will ever sell many units in the Canadian north. Ask them how those batteries deal with -40c. It's a problem ignored by n…

I bet we could make a decent impact by simply banning SUVs. In Sydney so many people drive around these pristine 4WDs for their 3-4 person family or just for image.