The concept of electric bicycles, whose riders can cruise up hills on
battery power when they are tired of pedaling, is slowly catching on in
cities around the world. The bicycles resemble their conventional
counterparts but have a heavier frame and carry a battery pack, which is
usually either behind the rider or integrated in the frame. The motor
transmits energy to the rear wheel, and the battery can be detached for
recharging. China is far and away the world leader in the technology, with over 100
million e-bikes on the road already. Demand is growing in Europe, where
Germany and the Netherlands are the largest markets and Paris has a program to provide subsidies
of up to €400, or nearly $500, to electric bike purchasers. In the
United States, electric bike shops have recently sprouted in
car-dependent cities like Austin and Houston, and an electric
bike-sharing project is getting under way in hilly San Francisco.
Safety is challenge in China, with e-bikes zipping down
sidewalks. Lead-acid batteries are not
adequately recycled, creating an environmental problem, and a
proliferation of small e-bike makers in China makes crafting effective
safety rules a challenge. NYT
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