Electric bicycles offer ‘best application of technology’

Following a back-to-back test of electric cars, electric motorcycles and an electric bicycle this week, the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) concluded that the bicycle offered the best application of the technology.

Yannick Read of the ETA said: “In terms of price, range and usability the bicycle is the most practical option for those who want the benefits of an electric vehicle today.”

Electric vehicles of every description are currently in development, from aircraft to jet skis, but batteries remain expensive, heavy and troublesome to charge without widespread charging points.

Bicycles are easy to convert to electric power and light enough to be carried into a house to be re-charged.

Furthermore, the electrically-assisted bicycle is the ultimate hybrid; if the battery runs flat, the rider can switch to leg power in an instant.

Who needs an electric bicycle?

There will be those who will scoff at the idea of an electric bicycle, but for many more the bikes will be a revelation. Electric bicycles are at their most efficient when the rider works in tandem with the motor; electrically-assisted bikes can make a 30-mile round-trip commute a realistic option for even a novice cyclist. They also make cycling more accessible for the elderly or disabled.

Our verdict: Don’t knock electric bicycles until you have tried a good one. Over the next twenty years, electric bicycles have far more potential than electric cars to change the way we travel.

During our comparison, the bicycle we rode was a Wisper 905se, a carbon fibre-framed town bike that is able to travel a minimum of 56 miles on a single charge. The 905 model ranges in price from £999 to £2,500.

Cycle insurance

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes new-for-old, cover for accidental damage, third party insurance, personal accident cover and if you breakdown, we will even come out and recover you and your bike. Electric bicycles are covered by ETA cycle insurance.

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