At over £3,500 it’s certainly not cheap, but with its sleek hand-crafted aluminum frame and hidden battery, the LX1 is one of the world’s best looking electric bicycles.
A 250 watt rear hub motor boasts three levels of power plus a smart mode that assesses riding conditions and your pedalling power to decide on the optimal level of assistance – all of which can be controlled via your smartphone. Like your electric bicycles with extra power?
With its 4,000 watt motor and top assisted speed of 50 mph, the Stealth Bomber far exceeds the legal limits imposed on electric bicycles, but bypasses the need to be registered as a moped by being classified as an off-road vehicle.
The high-rate lithium cells are guaranteed for 1200 charges – enough juice to power the bike over 60,000 miles – and charge time is 2 hours via a 240v household outlet.
Regenerative braking prolongs the life of the brake pads and allows greater range by converting braking energy into electrical energy fed back into the battery pack. The law in Britain places a limit of 15.5 mph maximum assisted speed and 250 watts maximum power output on electric that allows them to be treated as conventional, non-electric cycle – that is, no requirement for a licence, helmet or cycle insurance.
Stealth by name, stealth by nature
The Stealth Bomber looks every inch a mountain bike, a very high-spec downhill model granted, but little about its appearance suggests its blistering – and silent – power. A button on the handlebars can limit the bike to 16 mph.
Germany and Switzerland have established a separate class of electric bike. These bikes can travel at speeds of 30mph and face less stringent requirements than mopeds.
This type of ‘super electric bicycle’ offers a cleaner, quieter and practical alternative to a traditional moped, but a proposal to extend this class of vehicle across the European Union was recently rejected by the EU government.
Bicycles currently represent the most efficient and practical application for electric motor technology; battery-powered cars and motorcycles are heavy and troublesome to charge without widespread charging points, but e-bikes are light enough to be carried into a house to be re-charged. The electrically-assisted bicycle (or the pedal-assisted electric moped) is the ultimate hybrid; if the battery runs flat, the rider can switch to leg power in an instant.
The main barrier to widespread uptake of exotic machines such as the Stealth Bomber is unlikely to be the law – at almost £10,000, it costs more than a good quality bicycle, scooter and enduro motorcycle combined.
Electric mopeds
Electric bicycle are a great way to wean motorists off the daily commute and steer them towards cycling, but you don’t need to add too much power before they are motorcycles. The Juicer 48 pictured right is a custom-built electric bike and a moped in the classic sense – a low-powered motor and pedals to help get the machine moving at low speeds.
The bike has been built very deliberately with styling as a priority – its appearance borrows heavily from American motorcycles of the 1920s. It’s ugly, but in a beautiful way.
The bike can manage 13 miles at 20mph, but can reach an unrestricted top speed of 46mph.
Many electric mopeds or e-bikes are lighter and offer a better range, but unfortunately mopeds are subject to different classifications and a bewildering array of regulation depending on where you are in the world.
Cycle insurance for electric bicycles
On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it.
ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – how ever old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model. The policy covers electric bicycles as standard and includes a breakdown service for your bike and you that will take you up to 25 miles if you suffer a mechanical problem or puncture. Your battery is covered against theft as standard.
For 25 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered. We never devalues bikes no matter their age, allow you to buy your replacement bike wherever you like, replace stolen quick release components and we handle claims in-house. Can your insurance provider say the same?
Furthermore, every cycle insurance policy you buy helps support the work of the ETA Trust, our charity campaigning for a cleaner, safer transport future.
Nick
These are all ok but there are much better more practical electric bikes available such as the Gocycle G2: http://www.fullycharged.com/gocycle-g2
yudhie
Very intelegent,, nice….