As of now, the world is in the middle of an economic and financial turmoil. That is why each and every individual is doing their part just to get by and save up some cash for even more important needs. From buying food in bulk and using old stuff, people have tried it so that they can get by this tough times. And one effective way of tightening the budget is using more efficient ways of transportation. It is a known fact that petroleum products such as gasoline for cars have been skyrocketing like crazy in the last few decades. That is why several ways to cut back in gasoline-consumption has been bombarding the media today, including biofuel and other alternative energy source. But the more simple people chose to go back to their transportation roots and take a step back by using good ol’ pedal-power in forms of bicycles.

But let’s be honest, bicycles are efficient only if used to travel short distances. But if you’re home is so far away from your work, school or wherever you’re trying to go to, it actually becomes a bit of a hassle. But what if there us a way to give those bikes of yours a bit of power boost? Well, it simple and they are called e-Bikes or electric bikes.

An electric bike, just like what the names implies, is a normal everyday bicycle that has been equipped with an electric motor to assist in its propulsion. These motors as stated by Federal Laws, are limited to only 750 watts of power and 20 miles per hour top speed. Most electric bikes are built to meet that specification But some build them with power exceeding that of what the laws require just for the kick of it. And obviously, they are not going to be street-legal.

Electric bicycles can be built using ordinary bike frames and electric bike kits that cost around $500 to $800 dollars. But there are also e-Bikes that are ready made which goes for about $400 to $3500. Electric bicycles require no licenses or insurance to operate but many states do have age limitations.

These electric bikes have motors that are powered by rechargeable batteries that can run the bikes for an average range of around 20 miles. But of course, the power still ranges depending on the weight of the bike and rider, wheel size, style of riding and terrain.

The most common type of motor used in electric bikes is a hub motor, which is an electric motor built directly into the hub of the front or rear wheel.  An advantage to this design is that no additional transmission system is needed, thereby increasing the efficiency of the drive system. This design also does not require chains, belts or gears. Essentially the motor is the hub of the wheel and contains two concentric rings of opposing electromagnets. When power from the battery is applied to the motor the opposing magnetic force causes the wheel to spin. This type of motor is almost completely silent and requires no maintenance. The higher the wattage of the motor, the more power it provides.

However because electric motors are most efficient at high rates of revolution, this type of motor tends to be inefficient. Integrated planetary gear drivetrains are sometimes included, but reintroduce transmission losses. Also, there are no standards for measuring wattage. Most hub motor marketers use peak output numbers as opposed to the operating output numbers, which means for example a motor rated at 1000 watts peak may be a 500-watt motor in its standard operating output. That is why purchasing hub motors can be a bit tricky at times.

An advice for people who wants to own an electric bike, e-Bikes that are built from kits are usually your best bet when it comes to performance, quality and savings. Building your own will actually give you an option to choose a more powerful motor, better battery, and many other features. Also, you get to choose which bike you can use as your foundation, be it your old bicycle that you’ve grown into or a much better bike than those factory-built e-Bikes in terms of weight and comfortability. A good kit should have the motor pre-built into a wheel, dual brake motor cutoff, a twist or thumb throttle, a motor controller, wiring harness and a battery mounting rack with a lock mechanism. One more tip is to buy a front wheel kit which is easier to install. A really good kit also includes wiring diagrams, mounting hardware, wire ties and complete step-by-step instructions for the installation. Lastly, purchase your kit from a company with good customer support because you would want to be able to call them if ever you have trouble putting up your electric bike. Anyone that can ride a bicycle can ride an electric bike and anyone with basic tool skills can install an electric bike conversion kit.

Electric bicycle is definitely the green transportation that everyone have been looking for. It can provide a very efficient alternative to the cars and trucks we have today. And at the same time, it also helps lessen air pollution and our dependence on fossil fuels. Also, using electric bicycles also give you a little exercise while going about your daily life. Many pros to this very simple solution. True, it won’t solve all of our problems in just a day, but it’s a good start.

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