I got my first ebike 4 years ago, at the time I was over weight and seriously unfit. I now run half marathons. (Wish I could say marathons, but had to pull out of my first with a foot injury.) My daily commute to work on the bike is 13 minutes, on public transport is 1 hour 30, at best! Ebikes really can be life changing.
@@bluceree7312 I live in Malta. The problem with the public transport (bus) system here is that it relies on a central hub, the capital Valletta. So unless you're on a direct line, you have to take a bus to the hub and then another bus out to your destination. On one of the worlds most densely populated islands. Oh, had a large proportion of other traffic has to go the same way as well. I got the ebike after discovering that it was quicker to walk the 11km to my first home here than to take a bus home in the evening. It's a hilly island, and I was in no way fit enough to manage those hills at the time on a normally aspirated bike. Since then, both I and the company I work for have moved, I'm now only 5.6km away. So taking the best / safest route on the bike is 13 minutes in / 16 minutes out. There is a quicker bus route, but its timing is massively unreliable in the morning. Standing in the baking sun with no shade for up to 30 minutes every morning isn't a good option. (And I can now run to work in that time.) Fun note, getting home from work via the central hub. I've never done that in less than 2 hours. I will now always sing the praises of ebikes. I didn't need to be fit to start using it for my daily commute, it covered me for that. But using it got me to a fitness level I've not been able to achieve in almost 30 years since an RTA near destroyed my knee's.
I live in Brisbane Australia, and while not quite so pronounced my experience is similar. My current work is almost directly next to the bus stop, but I have to walk 10mins from home to get that bus. So it's at least 30min to get the bus, because they stop to pick up others. My old job was in Fortitude Valley, just past the city and the bus had to go through the city to get there so it was about 50min. That assumes that traffic is not unusually bad. I used to race triathlon, so I'm fairly handy on a bike, and on my race bike I can do my current work door to door in under 25min, and my old one in 30min. We have bike paths which help (and I see lots of ebikes about in the mornings), but to use them I actually have to ride further than the bus travels. The advantage is no lights, and I can average close to 40km/h because it's fairly flat. So I ride further in less time.
Until I moved I was in the same position. The buses here tend to rely on a central hub, the city of Wakefield in the UK and the majority of services travel to and from the city centre. This means you can have two smaller towns or villages just 15-20 minutes apart by car but an hour and a half to two hours by bus. Like you I bought an e bike to get me to and from work and it was a godsend, the only downside being the fact that despite what our local authority says cycling isn't that safe round here. Country roads that are unlit, boy racers that pass way too close, trucks on the busier roads, large roundabouts. Our local authority's idea of bike lanes is to paint a white line down a bit of the road that abruptly ends at a large junction and the cycle lanes are full of parked cars. The council doesn't tend to enforce the rules when it comes to parking on bike lanes either. I've recently had to move into a first floor flat too, with a narrow entrance staircase so the bike now sits in a storage cupboard simply because at 24Kg it's a heavy beast to lug up and down the stairs, especially after a 10 hour shift. Not to mention I am now living on a direct bus route to and from work. I do have a lockable secure storage cupboard at the bottom of the stairs but it's too small for the current bike, hopefully once lockdown ends I can sell it and replace it with a folding e-bike instead that can be stored in that outside cupboard.
Maddie's cheerful attitude is really enjoyable. Her sincere approach is really good for people who are thinking about an e-bike, like me :) Thank you, you're welcome, I'll keep watching!!
Yay, nice to see e-bikes getting some attention in the UK (they are totally normal in many parts of Europe). When not in "lock down" I would cycle 30-40km per day on mine, barely slower than the train (in terms of door-to-door time). My recommendation for beginners is (a) always test ride the bikes over a couple of km including a hill or two (b) consider choices like "chain vs belt" or "center vs wheel motor" carefully (there's a bunch of trade-offs there as regards maintenance and ease of use). Since e-bikes are a bit of an investment, don't make a quick decision and make sure you get what works for you. When riding on roads, also be very aware that pedestrians and other road users will not expect a bicycle to be going at that speed (up to 30mph for my bike), so be extra careful of things like people waiting to cross, or cars waiting to pull out from junctions. My bike is currently a Kalkhoff Integrale (no idea if that's available in the UK). It's a belt drive with hub gearing (so no oil or chain maintenance) and a centered motor at the pedals (so I get the benefit of gearing for hills, and a more balanced weight distribution). It has a range of 110km (70 miles) which means no range anxiety. However it doesn't do regenerative braking, which is a minor negative on super long, hilly rides. Not cheap, but since I've never owned a car, it's great for mid-distance riding.
We have a 15mph max assist in the UK. That has to be pedal assist as well, no pedalling = no assistance. Obviously it will go faster, but then it’s down to thigh power.
@@bumblebee9337 I chose a belt drive for ease of maintenance. It doesn't stretch or wear out like a chain and sprockets, and won't need much cleaning (a wash with water and a small amount of PTFE spray once in a while). I normally do about 5000km a year and barely have to think about it. It does mean you need to have enclosed gearing though, which while also easy to maintain is more expensive, and you won't get as many gears (but on an e-bike that's not so important). It's also super quiet, which can actually be a problem if pedestrians don't hear you. I think the trade off is worth it, but you should try both and see which you prefer.
got myself a 750€ E-bike from amazon to avoid public transport when going to work. turns out im 5minutes faster door to door than with public transport. lol im so glad i did this.
Bus to work takes about 40 minutes including walks to and from the bus stop. Driving, just over 30 minutes in rush traffic. eBike - 17 minutes, if I don't mind a shower after, or 25 minutes with no sweat 8)
I bought an e-bike (Cyclotricity) for £800 in 2017 to commute the 13 miles(one way) between home and work, as I calculated it would cost me £1200 a year to to just fuel my car for a years commute to work. So the bike already paid for itself within a year. The cost in electricity to charge it at home for a year probably amounted to about £30 a year. This year the frame broke(hit by a van the previous year) and I couldn't get a replacement frame as they had discontinued it. As I felt my fitness had increased and I knew I could cope I bought a normal bike(£350), which is 10 kg lighter than my e-bike(22 kg) was. So as they mentioned an e-bike is a "gateway" bike to starting or getting back into cycling. The benefits to your wallet and health will increase with that purchase.
I got into bike racing, and to justify the cost I ride it to work. I work in the city, so fuel is expensive and I have to pay for parking. Just fuel and parking would easily clear $5k a year, and public transport was about $2k a year at the time for the commute. My bike was faster than both door to door, and cost me $4.5k. So paid for within a year vs driving, and 2-ish vs the bus, but saved me time vs both (who needs a gym membership when you ride a couple hundred km a week?) That was nearly 5 years ago.
its quite worrying to see that you continued to use the ebike AFTER it got hit by a van. Its really important to have any bike checked over thoroughly after any accident, as a faulty or weakened frame can collapse at any time. The friction from the road produces vibration and harmonics that can twist a frame. Ive had bikes that shook uncontrollably when i went over certain speeds just because they werent ballanced properly. This is an important safety issue thats even more of a hazard with electric bikes. Please be careful.
I'd like to thank all of the team on fully charged for their time and dedication during lockdown please keep up the good work, keep safe & best wishes.
The odd and interesting thing about e-bikes is that, although they're electrically powered, they are actually getting more people interested in bicycling in general, which is getting more people to actually exercise! That's a good thing!
The other interesting thing is that you need a BMW i3 - a car designed with sustainability in mind - carrying 3 passengers at every trip, charged only with renewables, to beat a normal carbon fibre bike charged with food from a lifecycle emissions standpoint.
@@Wookey. That assumes they 'move' on to a normal bike but that is not what is happening (at least in the netherlands) most put it on full power and just go quicker, faster, further and use it more. It flattens the road, kills the difference between wind conditions and just makes sense.... Its a gateway drug in using it more not as a gateway to a normal bike at least that is how i see it looking around me.
The sausage roll is both more expensive and has a higher carbon footprint than charging up an e-bike battery. And I say that as someone who owns both a regular bike and an e-bike.
My first electric vehicle was upgrading my regular bike with an electric kit. Absolutely fantastic!! I rode to and from work for most of the summer, Ive done over 1000KM on it now. I have released the lease on my park at work, and going to use that money saved to upgrade to a purpose built bike later in the year. Then the kids can join me on rides too. Just before the lockdown here in NZ, I went on my first EVER long range bike ride, over 60KM in about three hours including a break for a quick lunch. I have NEVER ridden a bike so far. It was awesome.
Ignore the advice to "not get one unless you need one" just get one anyway and find ways to use it, this will help to prevent needless car use and give exercise to all. E-bikes are BRILLIANT I have one, my wife has one and my son has one I cannot recommend them enough and I am a lycra clad 64 year old with 3 un-powered road bikes. Get an e-bike it will change the way you travel!
I am trying to find an application for an e-bike as I find them amazing and want to justify the expense. Speed limits of 25 km/h seems a bit of a deterrent as a fit person such as yourself can maintain that speed for hours without power ? I can see them for people who are not exactly fit tough which is great. Maybe a cargo bike for hauling groceries (or kids)? Another application: e-mountain bikes, where you can haul a seriously fast nd therefore heavy downhill bike up a mountain with ease?
@@ToniMiller12 It's a good question, and we think that there are a couple of often overlooked answers: Ebikes can be "quicker" without being "faster". Despite a restrictive top speed for fit cyclists, ebikes have very good acceleration. On a journey with lots of start-stop traffic (eg. busy city centre) this can mean that you'll have a shorter journey, even for some fit cyclists. Many riders also say that this also makes them feel safer as they can quickly pull away at lights, reducing the risk of being hooked by a turning vehicle. Ebikes flatten "Dutch mountains". Ebikes get a lot of press for what they do to hills, but it's a lot harder to show on video what they do to headwinds. In flatter places like Cambridge where the headwinds can be brutal, this can be the difference between someone cycling every day and not. You can ebike in (almost) any temperature. Everyone talks about how unpleasant cycling is in winter, but many people can also be put off by high summer temperatures, particularly if they don't have the luxury of shower and changing facilities at work. This is also why ebikes are so popular in holiday destinations. Cargo ebikes and eMTBs are also great suggestions, but different use cases - luckily there are now different types of ebike for pretty much any day-to-day job you could want to do, from overcoming an injury to hauling 500kg loads to a construction site. We would never advocate that someone already happy with their cycle commute should switch to an ebike, but they are great for broadening participation.
Matthias Amrein What was not clear on the video is that e-bikes give power assistance - you still need to pedal - and it is this assistance that is limited to 25 km/h. You can go faster so long as you do all the work yourself (on a bike that it heavier than a standard pedal-bike).
@@FlitBike As a dutch person i fully agree its not the topspeed but remember as a kid (well in our country) using a bike was never bad unless it was windy and going up 'dutch mountains' (mostly bridges and overpasses).... And as our prime-minister stated a few days ago (when talking about covid) the bikes are helping up but remember when you leave home to go to work you will have a headwind... but don't worry when going back in the afternoon you will probably have a headwind too :) ... We have lots of tesla's and electric cars in our country but the real revolution is putting electric motors on anything else with 2 or 3 wheels from normal bikes, handicap bikes, delivery bikes, foodbikes, postal and package bikes....
I purchased an Ebike just over a year ago, having a double hernia and seriously bad lower back, along with being very unfit in my mid-fifties meant a normal pushbike traveled a mind blowing 167km over 4 years prior. In the last year I have ridden 2500km on my ebike with all my injuries, only just this week I've ridden over 150km and will be out tomorrow doing a further 55km ride. Ebike's are the best thing ever for people like me. Oh and today the bike travels 25 to 50% of the time completely from my own output. I can hardly believe how much fitter I'm becoming and how enthusiastic and wonderful riding makes me feel.
A big plus for commuting is that you can avoid arriving at work sweaty by turning the assistance up, but then turn the assistance down, or off, if you want more of a work-out on the way home.
As a 60 yo who has been commuting since I was 12, I think e-Bikes are a tremendous idea. I don't want one at the moment but one day… maybe! But at work we have a few people, overweight, hilly commute and distant who are riding e-Bike to great success. As an alternative or entry to riding, these are a game changer.
I got a $600 while from Wal-Mart and $200 imotor front wheel (conversion) from eBay. Now I have an all wheel commuter ebike. I even used it during ice and sleet when even 4wd cars would skid off the road , my bike worked fine. Has been my commuter for over a year now.
E-bikes should change the world. I made mine 5 years ago from a 20 year old mountain bike, a £400 1.5kW hub motor and 2kWh battery made from 224 harvested laptop cells (14S16P) for free. Changed my life forever, and I scrapped a Nissan 300ZX and a Pajero because I didn't need them anymore.
As I got older, I found that although I still enjoyed cycling, I wasn't going more than around 15 miles per ride. Decided to, get myself an e-bike, so that I could go further without getting completely knackered. Love it ! (Using moderate assistance, the battery will give me around 50-60 miles of range)
I changed to commuting by ebike in june last year and never looked back. I do an 8 mile commute (so 16 miles a day) to Antwerp. We have the luxery of having a 'Bike Highway' so I don't have to mix too much in car traffic. I don't even mind getting having a rainy commute. If on a rainy day I take the car it takes me longer to reach work. On a normal day it's only a bit faster with the bike, but also a lot less stressful. I'm absolutely not very sporty, so I was supprised I liked it so much.
I’ve had ebikes since a friend of my mother’s gave me his old one when he got a Segway. This was 18yrs ago. This was a conversion kit with sealed lead acid batteries. After a couple more kits added to existing frames I ordered an original SONDORS on Indiegogo. Loved it! Got a FOLD -X next loved it but wanted full suspension...also more power. So I ordered an Onyx on Indiegogo. It was taking quite a while to be delivered, was admiring a SurRon on UA-cam and my wife said “get one if you like it so much “! I don’t think she realized I had the Onyx on order. Anyway, the Saturday the SurRon arrived I received a phone call asking where I wanted the Onyx delivered. I now exercise my 10# Pekingese with my SurRon. I’m currently trying to decide which more conventional(one with pedals and power assist. I want/need the exercise and like fat tires) ebike I want. After writing this I just decided on the SONDORS XS. One kilowatt, front suspension, sprung seat post, fat tires and an aluminum frame. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write this. I’m 77 and trying to enjoy my life and the electric vehicle revolution fits my lifestyle. I have a Cybertruck on order and can hardly wait!
77 and having a cybertruck on order ... good on you sir... Hope you get one of the first models i am sure you will turn some heads when you lower the window at the traffic lights.
This video made my day. I have to say that I am thoroughly happy at how much of a leap forward the channel has made. It has always been good but a new level has been reached recently. Good luck in all future endeavors and looking forward to the next video whenever it is posted.
I'm on to my second ebike. I've been riding them for almost 10 years. The battery on the first one was really heavy, but the technology is getting smaller and lighter. The one I have now is half the size and the new ones are half the size again. I live in hilly West Yorkshire and I wouldn't be cycling today if I didn't have assisted cycling. I go out every day on it. Absolutely love them.
First time on an e-bike was like what I remember from first learning to bike when I was a kid - the pure joy. Since then I’ve used to to transport me, the boy and all our camping supplies into the forest for an overnight (using a small trailer) or to the shops. Can’t recommend it enough, has reduced the use of my Diesel estate by at least 60%.
my Commute is 5 miles, I have a motorbike and a car but when the weather is good I always use my e-bike. It makes the ride to work accessible and means you're not sweaty and tired when you get in! its also good exercise!
I think it's worth noting that part of the problem in cycling to work (for hilly places like Devon) is needing a shower when you get to work. By using high assistance going to work, you avoid overheating and the need for the shower. And you can always turn the assistance down for exercise on the way home.
I don't own an ebike but have some experience of them, and the key thing that impressed me on one occasion was cycling it in the rain (and some wind). I had full waterproof coat and trousers on, but cycled five miles and arrived non-sweaty! A bike which can deal with both rain and headwinds has to be the perfect bike, surely? The one I really want, but can't quite find an excuse to buy, is the Tern GSD...
For anyone who doesn't know of Cambridge, it's not quite as flat as The Netherlands, but it's borderline close. Most frequent cyclists wouldn't need the boost unless it was a hot day and they wanted an easier journey. I really see e-bikes making urban commutes in hillier areas go from "yes but I would never be able to pedal up that hill" to "I just use the boost on the harder parts". More office blocks in Birmingham are installing showers and cycle storage, so I hope we see a trend of cycling increasing in our cities.
I LOVE my e-bike. As an older person, it makes my commuting by bike so much more pleasant and less sweaty. I frequently ride to the supermarket to do a small amount of grocery shopping and bring my shopping home in my front and rear baskets. Highly recommend e-bikes.
We tryed the uber power assisted bikes in London in Feb and loved them. We were addicted to them by the time we got to Paris...coated and berets on we buzzed around all day ..it ended up costing a bit but what a wow of a time. A great way to see the sights! Hope you are all well in the uk. Xfe
Quick guide for anyone that wants to do this. Do not worry about the 15.5 mph limit. You only really need the extra power uphill. If you buy a mid-drive it does hammer the chain and sprockets, which will need you to maintain it. I've done 2500 miles on mine in 18 months and gone from 120kg to 95kg in weight. I have gone from a hater in to a lover. I live in Sheffield which is built on seven hills. My ebike is in the dealers for a gearbox repair and my acoustic bike exhausts me. Getting my ebike back tomorrow and I cant wait.
I have a full suspension mountain bike I built in 03. I'm looking at getting a mid drive kit. Love fully charged. I recommend you folks to all my friends who are intrested in what's possible in the ev/renewable/ sustainable world we are moving towards. The information you provide gives hope to what's possible. Thanks!!
Seeing the surprise and joy of cyclists experiencing ebikes for the first time is similar to the reactions of people first experiencing EVs. You can get quite easy and inexpensive conversion kits on line for your own bikes. Front wheel drive is particularly easy to fit but rear wheel drive is preferable for traction.
My home town too. I wrote to Cambridge Council with an idea I called "City Link" which is a form of multi-model transport, combining two forms of transport to complete one journey. Put simply combining bikes/e-bikes and bus transport, to allow people to use bikes/e-bikes to travel greater distances, similar to car journeys. By adding special quick loading bike trailers to busses and creating special point to point bus (link) routes for them, commuters could cycle 2-3 miles to a city-link station from home, then 2-3 miles to work after getting off the city-link bus. This would allow most people in Cambridgshire to commute directly, point to point without using a car but as quickly as a car, quicker at rush hour. Plus it's more social, would bring people thought the city(+pubs), as opposed to sitting in traffic jams on the A14. I work at lots of places where almost everyone drives to work, but after asking around, everyone agreed a City-Link scheme sounded fantastic and they would use one to commute if they could. The only people who didn't like the idea (in a big way)was Cambridge City Council, given up trying now. Soon Cambridge will be one long river of polluting cars again. I'm fed up of pulling out onto Shelford Road in my Ampera in EV mode and crawling along inbetween rangerovers and Porsche cayennes, just because people can't cycle the last 2 miles of their journey. I always cycle from home into Cambridge it's not hard.
They make a good presenting duo, these two. Some friends have had e-bikes for a couple of years now, and they’re putting in high mileages because of them...full day trips sometimes. They’d not previously cycled as a recreation, or for work etc, and appreciate the reduced wear on their ‘over 55 yr’ joints.
When they accelerated away from the traffic lights, their faces reminded me of people in a Tesla when it launches. Great fun to watch these two enjoying reviewing great products. And an honest opinion at the end. Great work Fully Charged.
I am the sort of old man Maddie refers to; and I am on my second e-bike now. The first was a folding one - nowhere near as nice as the one shown in this video - and a fair bit of it is now worn out as I used it so much. The company that sold it are quite poor for support. The second is a mountain bike, and has the motor integrated into the driving chainwheel. It is miles faster, longer ranged and more comfortable (and expensive) - I ended up putting a rack on the car for those times when I want to visit distant places with it. By preference, this will include taking it on holidays from now on. For me, the bike is my preferred way to go shopping. Around here it is not much slower to ride than drive. For me, having the extra push just encourages me to push the bike a bit harder; so I still get a very good work-out on it. As is also commented on, as yet I cannot afford an electric car; in Australia they are ridiculously expensive with no governmental support at all and precious little charging infrastructure.
Totally agree with the comment below. If you have a bicycle you like consider converting it. I did this nearly a decade ago and have not looked back. (Apart from when turning right!). I did not find the conversion very difficult and I would say if you feel competent to repair your trusty cycle you can convert it. The E-kit helped me get back on a bicycle after a cancer operation and chemo when I was not fit enough to cycle any worthwhile distance. It let me build up my stamina and I would honestly recommend to anyone who wants to extend the reach of their cycling. Think of cycling with no hills as when you see a hill the assist kicks in and you cycle almost as if you were on the flat...
conversion kits are more and more popular this days. me personally i think more companies are investing in that than in a bike itself nowdays vs few years back
I commute on an almost daily basis with a speed-pedelec (e-bike capable of 45 km/h). I do 106 km a day on my bike. Takes me 3 hours a day instead of 2 hours/day with the car and 3h45/day with my race bike. It's a perfect training for me (hartbeat typically in between 125-145 for 3 hours a day).
Bravissimi!! Well done! Thanks for the super video, the short commute comment will hopefully convince a few people that using a car to move a few miles is crazy in our congested cities. You are both simply fantastic. Love and support from northern Italy
this has happened to me million times. took the car for a 5km ride and back and the people i saw on the red light with their small e-scooters are coming back home before me cause of all the traffic. hate it. prefer a bike nowdays
Years ago there was a programme called Kickstart which used trials bikes. There was both junior and adult competitions. I had a motocross bike at the time, which of course was very noisy, now I would have absolutely loved to have had an electric bike ! Now it would be great to have an electric trials bike !
i love my ebike, ive used it every day for work over the last 6 years and it makes life so much easier when carrying large loads of tools and spares, all in inc the bike i carry about 40kg before that had a raleigh ebike from 1998 24v nicad battery but it was great to, for hilly places and carrying weight they are brilliant, makes you cycle far more , even here in hilly scotland
@@avantech6120 my profile pic shows you, back and front rack with panniers , also quite often a Tesco bag on handlebars with other parts for that day overspill , look at my profile pic , it's a 36v 10a folding ebike from prorider been very reliable , on second battery now , first lasted about 20,000 miles
I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and really missed jumping on my bike. Invested in an ebike last year and while I can only go s short distance the freedom it gives me is huge!
Really enjoy Maddie and Greg, such great attitudes and presentation. Breaking down the info in applicable stages makes it easier to digest, as well as, very relevant. Thank you!
Fullycharged, please feature Maddie in more videos. I find her to be absolutely captivating. I actually looked away from the game I was playing on my phone to pay attention to the video. I have indeed been watching. 😃👌
Great show guys. I already have a small Ebike like the Flit, but I got it before the hand throttle regulations and a slightly larger motor and battery, but there are so many Ebikes out and about, they don't take a second look. I have heart and breathing problems and for all the fact that it is electric assist I do get a lot more exercise than I normally would, as I would not attempt or consider an unassisted bike. I do pedal when I can, but when I get puffed out, or start to get angina pain, I just twist the throttle and let the bike take over till I recover. I would not get any exercise of quality use and find my power and stamina building, as every time I go a run I can go farther and feel better. Even my walking is improving and getting better and better. As an older gent ( 63 )with health problems, I can fully recommend trying out one of these. If you are worried about spending what can be a substantial amount without knowing if you could take to this activity, A phone call to your local bike shop and let them know you would like a test drive to see if you like it, I am sure will result in an invitation to come down to try several models to find out if it is for you or not. OH ya, It is penny's to charge the battery. and the fun is immeasurable, the health benefits are fantastic, and when the isolation rules are no longer necessary, The social benefits are tremendous, as stopping to chat with people on your journey, who will inevitably ask all about your Ebike. TRY ONE PLEASE !
Cycling around Cambridge just after the lockdown (as my 1 hour exercise) has been just extrordinary in terms of how stress free the roads are now - there just aren't any cars! Cycling through Trumpington Street every day in rush hour used to be heaving with cars swapping lanes everywhere, and now it's an empty 4 lane cycle path. I'll be sad when the cars return to invade the quiet. P.S. I can sympathise with Maddie trying to find a hill to prove e-bikes' usefulness! I cycled over that railway bridge this morning and I have to say 'steep' is a word only us fenmen would use... maybe try them on castle hill next time :)
Upon discovering that a brand new 125cc motorbike was cheaper than the majority of e-bikes, I just had to investigate… This is what I discovered... 1. Nearly all e-bikes and components are built cheaply in China. 2. Unscrupulous companies import these, stick a brand name on it, and then sell it to you at astronomical profit margins. 3. Very few of these brand names have any after-sales support, especially after a few years, when spares are almost impossible to attain. 4. E-bikes in inexperienced hands can be very dangerous, with injuries more akin to those from motorcycles than from push bikes. Conclusion, in the ‘world of wheels’ e-bikes seem to be the new gold rush, through ruthlessly exploiting middle class conscience.
I love e-bikes. I leave my car at home much more often than when I was riding a regular bike. It gives you that extra oomph you need to use it instead of driving. :-)
First time I tried one I was nearly emotional - hadn't had that level of desire for something for a long time. Prices appear to have come down in the last 3 years
A nice thing about many ebikes is you can pedal if you want, or use the throttle if you don't. A great way to enjoy being outside and off the couch and cell phone.
Where I live in Austria you see a lot of older retired people investing in e-bikes as it allows them to cycle up the mountain paths with ease and keep up with younger family, its definitely gaining popularity in that over 55 demographic you mentioned!
Wow, a max speed of 25kph! I topped out at 50kph and averaged 25kph over a 20km circuit this morning on my unassisted pushbike, and I'm 66 yrs old! Low carb is the way to go.
Its for going from place a to b, For many ( at least in my country, netherlands ) its doing 20km/day at say 22km/hour avg in your normal outsit and being ready for a meeting or work without the need for a shower.
a bit of info on UK law regarding e-bikes, we are covered by 2 laws; the UK one which states max power of 200W and max speed of 15mph pedal assist or twist grip throttle. and the EU one which states max power 250W max speed 15mph and pedal assist only. most manufacturers go for the EU law as it allows more power but it is possible to get a twist grip throttle if you chose to abide by the UK law. daft I know. PS. previous posters advised awareness of e-bike theft. my e-bike was stolen, so yes it does happen, get a 'sold secure' lock if you have to leave it outside.
I was a to upgrade my regular bicycle by getting a conversion kit that replaced my front wheel with one that has a 1KW hub motor. The kit was $150 and a 750WH Lithium battery cost about $350. Even if I had had to buy a $200 bike, that's still hundreds less than most purpose built ebikes.
This is all good. Do you think ebikes might drive up the prices of normal push bikes or make them less available as a novelty item in say, 15-20 years time?
I lived in Cambridge for a couple of years and yes, it really is flat. Where I currently live an ebike woukd be really useful due to more undulating terain. I think that the biggest difference between powered and unpowered is not the time you spend riding, but the distance you cover. Especially for those who are nit as fit as they used to be.
This is so close to my reality. Last October I started a job which allowed me to commute on a bicycle as it was 5.5 miles away. The problem was, it was extremely hilly either way [nice going down of course]. There is always the problem of arriving at work rather hot and sometimes cheesed off because the wind and rain. And now a colleague who goes my way has got an e-bike. And she is so much more relaxed and comfortable on arriving at work. If I ask her anything about the e-bike experience her reply is always super-positive. I'm actually saving for an EV and/or thinking hard about leasing, but I wonder if an e-bike would be a great first edition. Or whether I should wait. The problem is, is that I have no driveway, and the residential charging infrastructure in Southampton, England is practically non-existent, and the City Council aren't progressive. If it was the same as in Dundee, Scotland for example, I'd be leasing right now. No question.
We've had a Tesla Model 3 for about one and a half years. (Love it, but it's my wife's car.) I'm retired and I just bought an e-bike. I drive the Tesla maybe once a week. The e-bike nearly every day.
love that you've branched out into eBikes, sure I'm not the first to point out the Raleigh does not have hydraulic brakes, they're cable operated disc brakes. Keep up the good work.
Robert, great choice to bring Maddie on board with Fully Charged (and now Greg). Like Jonny (Hated to see him leave). Not only does she bring some cuteness (Over your old mug. ;) to the show, she is very inviting, friendly and personable. She also seems to have a genuine curiosity about what she is reporting on. Maybe just great acting, but I am buying it. ;)
From 1:20 would giving my push bike an up grade to electric ....A resounding YES . I converted my first bike to electric DIY . The cost was less than £300 . Well worth it . The ear to ear smile you had on your face said it all you enjoyed every minute of the ride . Great show a most enjoyable watch .
The great thing about ebikes is that you can get one for any style of riding. I am a road cycling snob despite my best efforts. I rode on an e mountain bike and absolutely loved it! There are now fantastic e road bikes, mountain and city bikes. If I had the choice of riding in public transport or riding an ebike the bike would win. Ebikes should get more love from the EV world.
Start - You need to exercise so you get an E-Bike. After a while it gets too easy and have got enough to get a new bike. Middle - You get a normal bike. Much harder to use but also makes you much more fit. End - You are so well trained that you get a bike with a dynamo on it so you can charge your smart watch while you ride. Honestly I think dynamos should be a thing on bikes.
If you ask yourself why you don't ride a bike instead of driving, most of those reasons go away with a e-bike. Also some of the new e-bikes have much tougher tires along with central motor, belt drive and internal geared hub making them almost maintenance free and clean. I got a Rad-wagon cargo e-bike and it makes a fantastic commuter to work and stores in Calfornia.
I wouldn't consider anything other than an e-bike with a bottom bracket (ie. mid-drive) motor (ie. Bosch, Shimano, Impulse), not a hub motor. The mid-drive motors are always operating in their peak torque range which is especially good with slow climbs, whereas hub motors are hopeless at the slow end. Mid-drive motors also allow you to have a proper hub gearbox in the rear & a full chain case, rather than a messy derailleur setup. The former is far better for an all-round transport bicycle, using normal clothes, etc. It also reduces maintenance a LOT.
Ebikes fantastic, I love them I've been riding ebikes for years now great for getting around London, I built my own ebike from a kit to meet my requirements and get more for my money, I thing what might help move more car drivers out of their cars and maybe give another option for those who use public transport is if the laws around the legal limit could be adjusted to the same in the US and Canada where they can ride ebikes with at least a 500 watt motor and a 20mph speed limit and are aloud to have a accelerator be it a thumb or twist grip throttle you have then got a more powerful bike to get up steep hills if your tired or not feeling well you can use the throttle to save peddling home,
I agree about the regs. They feel poorly thought out. I'm disabled & an ebike has given me the chance to get back in the saddle after many years. But, sometimes I need more help with hills or when I get exhausted & my 250w motor isn't enough. In my case I don't want more speed, I need more torque & a throttle for when I physically can't pedal. We're not all trying to ride as fast as possible but we're lumped in with the inconsiderate. Rant over :-)
Great to see this addition to the channel, considering an E Bike for me & Mrs for leisure reasons as been using our ageing bikes recently. As we both mid 50’s the assistance would really help and would consider longer journeys and therefore leaving the car at home. Would be nice to see regular reviews and comparisons as really haven’t got a clue where to start. Have access to salary sacrifice scheme for bikes but would be great to see Government Subsidies too as E bikes are pricey.
wth? subsidies for electric bike? u got to be kidding me, ebikes aren't that expensive obviously depending on the model, range (how far u intend to go with it), use (where ur gonna use it, off road on-road) then u need to take into consideration the tire size as the size varies on price among many other things, but a decent fat tire bike that can be used for both offroad and on road with fat tires, 250w motor (eu legal), front light, bell / horn, u can buy it for about 680 pounds which isn't too bad considering people i know pay about 1.700 - 2.000 pounds or more for an ebike here in Copenhagen where i live. So stop expecting the government to subsidise everything for u all the time, every time i'm watching a video shot in the uk or anything related to the uk can be anything from government to ebikes always in the comments section their like "oh why government isn't doing enough they should subsidize this, subsidize that, i want this cheaper i want that cheaper" and im just think oh gosh please just go away, i'm not surprised why ur government doesn't want to make things easier for u guys because u keep nagging about everything, yet my country which is denmark we probably pay double or more for most items yet we don't ask for government to subsidize us on everything, just be happy with what u got save up a bit and buy the goddamnn bike urself instead of riding on the government all the time, im so sick and tired of people in uk always complaining about everything. I'm not saying people can't disagree they can but it's like every small thing u nitpick on which is unnecessary just go buy the stuff urselves instead of being lazy and riding on the government all the time. My mums 63 years old she bought her bike herself cuz she's got a job and saved up for it, i suggest u and ur mrs. do the same as what my mum did, no subsidisation no nothing just her own hard earning money.
Brilliant episode! E-bikes get people out of their cars and help more people to cycle who otherwise wouldn’t. Especially in urban areas where average journeys are under 3 miles - e-bikes can reduce car usage and congestion. Like all EVs they pay for themselves in the long-term - my Gocycle costs roughly 4p to charge for a 40 mile range - much cheaper than my £190 monthly travelcard in London - and I feel healthier! More e-mobility please
I bought an e-bike over 6 years ago and to be honest I thought by 2020 that battery technology would have moved on. The range is more or less the same now as when I bought. If we could get a reasonable range of say around 50 miles on a high setting and not just eco then Im sure e-bikes will become a more practical vehicle alternative. Good video.
Previously I've done quite a bit of research into E-bikes, down to sign wave controllers, mid drive, rear hub drive, 52V batteries, ... . I've test ridden a few too for days at a time. Value for money wise, just get a conversion kit for a regular STEEL bike. I've bought an old, reliable Honda Civic for a similar price to lower end e-bikes, although obviously there are more costs on top of that. The foldaway E-bikes can be much cheaper though so they may be the exception. If you're after something fun though I'd be tempted just saving my money for a lower end E-motorbike (probably a death trap though) or E-scooter with some better value ones coming out. The hop on and go aspect of E-bikes is appealing though. With E-bikes speed limited in the UK to the 15.5mph there is literally no point in using one in a flat area over moderate distance; the motor cuts out at what feels like a genuinely low speed on the flat... In that scenario the battery/motor are just dead weight, simple as. Personally I can't avoid fast dangerous roads easily too unfortunately. Perhaps rides of an hour or two, even on the flat, would make sense for the average person but there is a definite limit to how comfortable any bike is for longer than that (and I'm more of a cyclist than car person myself). Bikes do need regular maintenance too and a host of safety equipment and possibly grim whether clothing also which can be a faff. Many other countries seem to have extensive cycle paths, different geographies and some even fewer restrictions. So that make things easier compared with some of the UK, Cambridge and a few other areas aside. They are perfect for hilly, cycle friendly areas though. A great environmental option too even bearing in mind Lithium mines that have left some regions poisoned and baron but I digress... I wouldn't hesitate to rig something up given different geography, although sourcing a value battery from the UK to avoid additional fees could be a hassle.
I'm using an Orbea Gain electric road bike for my 62 mile round-trip cycle commute from Woking into central London (or at least I would be, if it wasn't for lock down). Although I can manage the commute on a regular road bike, an eBike enables me to do it more often, without getting fatigued. I do wish the speed limit was 18 mph, as in the US, as the 16 mph limit feels quite slow.
its extremely easy and cheap to turn your existing bike into an ebike that is actually worth using. would like to see you guys do that in an upcoming video, like the bafang 750 watt, would get a lot more views because its the motor to get, it would basically pay for its self! plus its a good hobby to do in isolation
The government should only provide grants to purchase machines that are made in the UK, not in some far Eastern dictatorship that routinely breeches human rights.
These bikes are great just as long as you don’t need to leave them locked while out. At that price nicked within an hour 😂 They rent them to do the great Glen way along the Caledonian canal from Fortwilliam to Inverness. The ones they rent are Pedal assist to do full on do nothing settings for around 50 miles.
Ebikes are the most fun riding you can have if you are unfit, overweight or have health problems and I have all 3, I have a giant ebike hybrid that is superb, on one 500w battery I can go anywhere from my house and it will do 50 miles on one charge and I live mostly where there are hills. If your thinking of buying one go to your local dealer and ask if they have open/trial days were you can try out different ebikes and choose the one that suit/fits you best👍 they really are that good, I think I should do a video 😂👍
I've owned and sold EV bikes. They are way too heavy. I loved the umph up the hills. They're way too expensive for most people to be honest (£2k for the most part!). I imported a pallet of five or more and sold them to business people. I also serviced them. Personally I wouldn't bother after the fact. You are better off getting a decent push-bike with a good group set and use the gears up the hills. The new bikes are so light, that peddling is a doddle. If you are looking for a way back into cycling and you are maybe older and need a city bike with some EV range, perhaps. All-in-all though, you will save more money and get more exercise with a normal bike. They're more of a fad. I sold mine in the end and wouldn't buy one again. Now if a really lightweight battery came to market with really good density and a really lightweight motor printed in 3D carbon-fibre came to be, then maybe, just maybe I'd look again. Personally I'd like to see a really smart e-bike that can go fast and replace the motor-bike. Zero-EV seem to be going this route. For now, this technology isn't there yet and bike shops take your wallet and extract the p***. I know how much they really cost and anybody who has been and had a good look at Alibaba knows you can pick up a decent Chinese e-bike for little money. Over the pond here, the bike shops are making a killing reselling imports. My advice, keep your money in your pocket and use it to buy bikes for you and your family and go out together and explore the country side. Once the battery runs out on a heavy e-bike, they are really hard work!
As some old bloke who is in the pre-thinking stage of converting my 1977 Peugeot City Cruiser into an electric bike, this video came when my interest is piqued. I have to get on the cycle, my prosthetic knee is acting "wonky," and I feel long distances on om pedal bike can be daunting. I plan on converting the Peugeot, sort of combing old and new technology, and also purchasing a factory made e-bike. I have to research if these are available to me in teh United States. Thank you for the video. These two folks make a wonderful addition to the team.
I’m in the over 55 crowd here in the US. I have a Pedego electric trike that is excellent and I highly recommend it. It’s made in California. Makes it much easier for me with my stupid knees to get up hills.
I went to Cambridge last summer for a few days, purely to cycle around and it was awesome. I love my ebike, and I love my regular bike. I’ll always have both for different purposes. I can take the ebike on adventures on and off road, and I can ride my Brompton to the station and then around wherever I take the train to. Or presumably pretty soon I could take it with me on a RoboTaxi ride.
A great video as you are always both so happy and great presenters so the video is a joy to watch. Keep making the videos, a great addition to fully charged 👌
You should try a crank motor as opposed to a hub motor. You'd get better milage out of the battery as the crank motor can use the bike's gearing. A hub motor pretty much goes top speed at the level you set it too. I ride an older e-bike and that's been my experience.
It's not the riding, it's not the e-bike that's the problem. It's the security when you get there. I would _never_ leave mine outside a shop anywhere near where I live. So that just leaves social/excursion rides, which often means transporting the thing. So you need either a van/pickup or a car with a tow bar to take a carrier that will take the bike. The folding bike might be an exception for commuting if you've got somewhere secure to keep it at your place of work.
Maddie if you like your cruiser you can get a conversion kit that replaces your front tire for not a ton of money. Good option for those who want to electrify but don't want to buy a whole new bicycle.
I live in NYS (New York State) and we have 21 Waterfalls with 20 US Miles from me! Plus in Tesla the folding e-Bike would be good getting places from Tesla Chargers!
I got my first ebike 4 years ago, at the time I was over weight and seriously unfit.
I now run half marathons. (Wish I could say marathons, but had to pull out of my first with a foot injury.)
My daily commute to work on the bike is 13 minutes, on public transport is 1 hour 30, at best!
Ebikes really can be life changing.
Am I reading this right? 13m vs 1h30m? Can I ask where do you live?
@@bluceree7312 I live in Malta.
The problem with the public transport (bus) system here is that it relies on a central hub, the capital Valletta. So unless you're on a direct line, you have to take a bus to the hub and then another bus out to your destination. On one of the worlds most densely populated islands. Oh, had a large proportion of other traffic has to go the same way as well.
I got the ebike after discovering that it was quicker to walk the 11km to my first home here than to take a bus home in the evening. It's a hilly island, and I was in no way fit enough to manage those hills at the time on a normally aspirated bike.
Since then, both I and the company I work for have moved, I'm now only 5.6km away. So taking the best / safest route on the bike is 13 minutes in / 16 minutes out.
There is a quicker bus route, but its timing is massively unreliable in the morning. Standing in the baking sun with no shade for up to 30 minutes every morning isn't a good option. (And I can now run to work in that time.)
Fun note, getting home from work via the central hub. I've never done that in less than 2 hours.
I will now always sing the praises of ebikes. I didn't need to be fit to start using it for my daily commute, it covered me for that. But using it got me to a fitness level I've not been able to achieve in almost 30 years since an RTA near destroyed my knee's.
@@mattmcc72 Wow. you are the perfect case study for an ebike advert :)
I live in Brisbane Australia, and while not quite so pronounced my experience is similar. My current work is almost directly next to the bus stop, but I have to walk 10mins from home to get that bus. So it's at least 30min to get the bus, because they stop to pick up others. My old job was in Fortitude Valley, just past the city and the bus had to go through the city to get there so it was about 50min. That assumes that traffic is not unusually bad.
I used to race triathlon, so I'm fairly handy on a bike, and on my race bike I can do my current work door to door in under 25min, and my old one in 30min. We have bike paths which help (and I see lots of ebikes about in the mornings), but to use them I actually have to ride further than the bus travels. The advantage is no lights, and I can average close to 40km/h because it's fairly flat.
So I ride further in less time.
Until I moved I was in the same position. The buses here tend to rely on a central hub, the city of Wakefield in the UK and the majority of services travel to and from the city centre. This means you can have two smaller towns or villages just 15-20 minutes apart by car but an hour and a half to two hours by bus. Like you I bought an e bike to get me to and from work and it was a godsend, the only downside being the fact that despite what our local authority says cycling isn't that safe round here. Country roads that are unlit, boy racers that pass way too close, trucks on the busier roads, large roundabouts. Our local authority's idea of bike lanes is to paint a white line down a bit of the road that abruptly ends at a large junction and the cycle lanes are full of parked cars. The council doesn't tend to enforce the rules when it comes to parking on bike lanes either. I've recently had to move into a first floor flat too, with a narrow entrance staircase so the bike now sits in a storage cupboard simply because at 24Kg it's a heavy beast to lug up and down the stairs, especially after a 10 hour shift. Not to mention I am now living on a direct bus route to and from work. I do have a lockable secure storage cupboard at the bottom of the stairs but it's too small for the current bike, hopefully once lockdown ends I can sell it and replace it with a folding e-bike instead that can be stored in that outside cupboard.
Maddie's cheerful attitude is really enjoyable. Her sincere approach is really good for people who are thinking about an e-bike, like me :) Thank you, you're welcome, I'll keep watching!!
Totally agree and her other half ditto. They are a very cute couple.
Need more of her attitude nowadays! Keep up the good work Maddie!
I hate the cheery primary school teacher delivery.
@@julianshepherd2038 Thought it was just me.
Yay, nice to see e-bikes getting some attention in the UK (they are totally normal in many parts of Europe). When not in "lock down" I would cycle 30-40km per day on mine, barely slower than the train (in terms of door-to-door time).
My recommendation for beginners is (a) always test ride the bikes over a couple of km including a hill or two (b) consider choices like "chain vs belt" or "center vs wheel motor" carefully (there's a bunch of trade-offs there as regards maintenance and ease of use). Since e-bikes are a bit of an investment, don't make a quick decision and make sure you get what works for you.
When riding on roads, also be very aware that pedestrians and other road users will not expect a bicycle to be going at that speed (up to 30mph for my bike), so be extra careful of things like people waiting to cross, or cars waiting to pull out from junctions.
My bike is currently a Kalkhoff Integrale (no idea if that's available in the UK). It's a belt drive with hub gearing (so no oil or chain maintenance) and a centered motor at the pedals (so I get the benefit of gearing for hills, and a more balanced weight distribution). It has a range of 110km (70 miles) which means no range anxiety. However it doesn't do regenerative braking, which is a minor negative on super long, hilly rides. Not cheap, but since I've never owned a car, it's great for mid-distance riding.
What are the pros and cons of a belt drive?
We have a 15mph max assist in the UK. That has to be pedal assist as well, no pedalling = no assistance. Obviously it will go faster, but then it’s down to thigh power.
No one cares what you think.
@@jep1912 you cared enough to reply.
@@bumblebee9337 I chose a belt drive for ease of maintenance. It doesn't stretch or wear out like a chain and sprockets, and won't need much cleaning (a wash with water and a small amount of PTFE spray once in a while). I normally do about 5000km a year and barely have to think about it. It does mean you need to have enclosed gearing though, which while also easy to maintain is more expensive, and you won't get as many gears (but on an e-bike that's not so important). It's also super quiet, which can actually be a problem if pedestrians don't hear you. I think the trade off is worth it, but you should try both and see which you prefer.
got myself a 750€ E-bike from amazon to avoid public transport when going to work. turns out im 5minutes faster door to door than with public transport. lol
im so glad i did this.
Cool - welcome to the reliability of cycling.
Bus to work takes about 40 minutes including walks to and from the bus stop. Driving, just over 30 minutes in rush traffic. eBike - 17 minutes, if I don't mind a shower after, or 25 minutes with no sweat 8)
Which model did you get?
reliability is big question, isn't it??
@@MKamTech no, tech is much more reliable now and getting better all the time, especially batteries
Maddie and Greg are a great addition to the fully charge team.
yes
Yes
Agreed
What a great dynamic duo.
yep
I bought an e-bike (Cyclotricity) for £800 in 2017 to commute the 13 miles(one way) between home and work, as I calculated it would cost me £1200 a year to to just fuel my car for a years commute to work. So the bike already paid for itself within a year. The cost in electricity to charge it at home for a year probably amounted to about £30 a year. This year the frame broke(hit by a van the previous year) and I couldn't get a replacement frame as they had discontinued it. As I felt my fitness had increased and I knew I could cope I bought a normal bike(£350), which is 10 kg lighter than my e-bike(22 kg) was. So as they mentioned an e-bike is a "gateway" bike to starting or getting back into cycling. The benefits to your wallet and health will increase with that purchase.
Same here after 1.5 year paid back. Now every journey is "kling" money in my pocket.
what was the 'normal' bike that was 12kg that you bought? and where did you buy from?
Probably depends on where you live, it's fu#%ing hilly where I live.
I got into bike racing, and to justify the cost I ride it to work. I work in the city, so fuel is expensive and I have to pay for parking.
Just fuel and parking would easily clear $5k a year, and public transport was about $2k a year at the time for the commute.
My bike was faster than both door to door, and cost me $4.5k. So paid for within a year vs driving, and 2-ish vs the bus, but saved me time vs both (who needs a gym membership when you ride a couple hundred km a week?)
That was nearly 5 years ago.
its quite worrying to see that you continued to use the ebike AFTER it got hit by a van. Its really important to have any bike checked over thoroughly after any accident, as a faulty or weakened frame can collapse at any time. The friction from the road produces vibration and harmonics that can twist a frame. Ive had bikes that shook uncontrollably when i went over certain speeds just because they werent ballanced properly. This is an important safety issue thats even more of a hazard with electric bikes. Please be careful.
I'd like to thank all of the team on fully charged for their time and dedication during lockdown please keep up the good work, keep safe & best wishes.
Very much appreciated Daz, at times it’s been tough. Ben - Director of Production
The odd and interesting thing about e-bikes is that, although they're electrically powered, they are actually getting more people interested in bicycling in general, which is getting more people to actually exercise! That's a good thing!
It's a gateway drug :-)
The other interesting thing is that you need a BMW i3 - a car designed with sustainability in mind - carrying 3 passengers at every trip, charged only with renewables, to beat a normal carbon fibre bike charged with food from a lifecycle emissions standpoint.
yup! killin 2 birds with 1 stone hih
@@Wookey. That assumes they 'move' on to a normal bike but that is not what is happening (at least in the netherlands) most put it on full power and just go quicker, faster, further and use it more. It flattens the road, kills the difference between wind conditions and just makes sense.... Its a gateway drug in using it more not as a gateway to a normal bike at least that is how i see it looking around me.
@@scb2scb2 even so it still means there are less cars on the road, win win
My human-powered bike goes for zero to fully charged in under 30 seconds by plugging my face directly into a sausage roll.
And for super charging you just need amphetamine or cocaine, take your pick!
Ludicrous mode is pre warming before a ride with several espressos and a mars bar 😂
😆😆
The sausage roll is both more expensive and has a higher carbon footprint than charging up an e-bike battery. And I say that as someone who owns both a regular bike and an e-bike.
oh dear!! I can picture that, can others too?
My first electric vehicle was upgrading my regular bike with an electric kit. Absolutely fantastic!! I rode to and from work for most of the summer, Ive done over 1000KM on it now. I have released the lease on my park at work, and going to use that money saved to upgrade to a purpose built bike later in the year. Then the kids can join me on rides too. Just before the lockdown here in NZ, I went on my first EVER long range bike ride, over 60KM in about three hours including a break for a quick lunch. I have NEVER ridden a bike so far. It was awesome.
the conversion kits are booming right now...more and more people decide to go that road
Ignore the advice to "not get one unless you need one" just get one anyway and find ways to use it, this will help to prevent needless car use and give exercise to all. E-bikes are BRILLIANT I have one, my wife has one and my son has one I cannot recommend them enough and I am a lycra clad 64 year old with 3 un-powered road bikes. Get an e-bike it will change the way you travel!
I am trying to find an application for an e-bike as I find them amazing and want to justify the expense. Speed limits of 25 km/h seems a bit of a deterrent as a fit person such as yourself can maintain that speed for hours without power ? I can see them for people who are not exactly fit tough which is great. Maybe a cargo bike for hauling groceries (or kids)? Another application: e-mountain bikes, where you can haul a seriously fast nd therefore heavy downhill bike up a mountain with ease?
@@ToniMiller12 It's a good question, and we think that there are a couple of often overlooked answers:
Ebikes can be "quicker" without being "faster". Despite a restrictive top speed for fit cyclists, ebikes have very good acceleration. On a journey with lots of start-stop traffic (eg. busy city centre) this can mean that you'll have a shorter journey, even for some fit cyclists. Many riders also say that this also makes them feel safer as they can quickly pull away at lights, reducing the risk of being hooked by a turning vehicle.
Ebikes flatten "Dutch mountains". Ebikes get a lot of press for what they do to hills, but it's a lot harder to show on video what they do to headwinds. In flatter places like Cambridge where the headwinds can be brutal, this can be the difference between someone cycling every day and not.
You can ebike in (almost) any temperature. Everyone talks about how unpleasant cycling is in winter, but many people can also be put off by high summer temperatures, particularly if they don't have the luxury of shower and changing facilities at work. This is also why ebikes are so popular in holiday destinations.
Cargo ebikes and eMTBs are also great suggestions, but different use cases - luckily there are now different types of ebike for pretty much any day-to-day job you could want to do, from overcoming an injury to hauling 500kg loads to a construction site.
We would never advocate that someone already happy with their cycle commute should switch to an ebike, but they are great for broadening participation.
haha great advice
Matthias Amrein What was not clear on the video is that e-bikes give power assistance - you still need to pedal - and it is this assistance that is limited to 25 km/h. You can go faster so long as you do all the work yourself (on a bike that it heavier than a standard pedal-bike).
@@FlitBike As a dutch person i fully agree its not the topspeed but remember as a kid (well in our country) using a bike was never bad unless it was windy and going up 'dutch mountains' (mostly bridges and overpasses).... And as our prime-minister stated a few days ago (when talking about covid) the bikes are helping up but remember when you leave home to go to work you will have a headwind... but don't worry when going back in the afternoon you will probably have a headwind too :) ... We have lots of tesla's and electric cars in our country but the real revolution is putting electric motors on anything else with 2 or 3 wheels from normal bikes, handicap bikes, delivery bikes, foodbikes, postal and package bikes....
I purchased an Ebike just over a year ago, having a double hernia and seriously bad lower back, along with being very unfit in my mid-fifties meant a normal pushbike traveled a mind blowing 167km over 4 years prior. In the last year I have ridden 2500km on my ebike with all my injuries, only just this week I've ridden over 150km and will be out tomorrow doing a further 55km ride. Ebike's are the best thing ever for people like me. Oh and today the bike travels 25 to 50% of the time completely from my own output. I can hardly believe how much fitter I'm becoming and how enthusiastic and wonderful riding makes me feel.
ebikes are the future for all of us. even better than a tesla
A big plus for commuting is that you can avoid arriving at work sweaty by turning the assistance up, but then turn the assistance down, or off, if you want more of a work-out on the way home.
As a 60 yo who has been commuting since I was 12, I think e-Bikes are a tremendous idea. I don't want one at the moment but one day… maybe! But at work we have a few people, overweight, hilly commute and distant who are riding e-Bike to great success. As an alternative or entry to riding, these are a game changer.
e bike sare the future of alll public transport i think
I got a $600 while from Wal-Mart and $200 imotor front wheel (conversion) from eBay. Now I have an all wheel commuter ebike. I even used it during ice and sleet when even 4wd cars would skid off the road , my bike worked fine. Has been my commuter for over a year now.
E-bikes should change the world.
I made mine 5 years ago from a 20 year old mountain bike, a £400 1.5kW hub motor and 2kWh battery made from 224 harvested laptop cells (14S16P) for free.
Changed my life forever, and I scrapped a Nissan 300ZX and a Pajero because I didn't need them anymore.
and the will. in 10-20 years tops
As I got older, I found that although I still enjoyed cycling, I wasn't going more than around 15 miles per ride. Decided to, get myself an e-bike, so that I could go further without getting completely knackered. Love it ! (Using moderate assistance, the battery will give me around 50-60 miles of range)
good for you!
I changed to commuting by ebike in june last year and never looked back. I do an 8 mile commute (so 16 miles a day) to Antwerp. We have the luxery of having a 'Bike Highway' so I don't have to mix too much in car traffic. I don't even mind getting having a rainy commute. If on a rainy day I take the car it takes me longer to reach work. On a normal day it's only a bit faster with the bike, but also a lot less stressful. I'm absolutely not very sporty, so I was supprised I liked it so much.
ciclying in the netherlands is heaven. you people truly live in the future.
I’ve had ebikes since a friend of my mother’s gave me his old one when he got a Segway. This was 18yrs ago. This was a conversion kit with sealed lead acid batteries. After a couple more kits added to existing frames I ordered an original SONDORS on Indiegogo. Loved it! Got a FOLD -X next loved it but wanted full suspension...also more power. So I ordered an Onyx on Indiegogo. It was taking quite a while to be delivered, was admiring a SurRon on UA-cam and my wife said “get one if you like it so much “! I don’t think she realized I had the Onyx on order. Anyway, the Saturday the SurRon arrived I received a phone call asking where I wanted the Onyx delivered. I now exercise my 10# Pekingese with my SurRon. I’m currently trying to decide which more conventional(one with pedals and power assist. I want/need the exercise and like fat tires) ebike I want. After writing this I just decided on the SONDORS XS. One kilowatt, front suspension, sprung seat post, fat tires and an aluminum frame. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write this. I’m 77 and trying to enjoy my life and the electric vehicle revolution fits my lifestyle. I have a Cybertruck on order and can hardly wait!
77 and having a cybertruck on order ... good on you sir... Hope you get one of the first models i am sure you will turn some heads when you lower the window at the traffic lights.
This video made my day. I have to say that I am thoroughly happy at how much of a leap forward the channel has made. It has always been good but a new level has been reached recently. Good luck in all future endeavors and looking forward to the next video whenever it is posted.
I'm on to my second ebike. I've been riding them for almost 10 years. The battery on the first one was really heavy, but the technology is getting smaller and lighter. The one I have now is half the size and the new ones are half the size again. I live in hilly West Yorkshire and I wouldn't be cycling today if I didn't have assisted cycling. I go out every day on it. Absolutely love them.
First time on an e-bike was like what I remember from first learning to bike when I was a kid - the pure joy. Since then I’ve used to to transport me, the boy and all our camping supplies into the forest for an overnight (using a small trailer) or to the shops. Can’t recommend it enough, has reduced the use of my Diesel estate by at least 60%.
my Commute is 5 miles, I have a motorbike and a car but when the weather is good I always use my e-bike. It makes the ride to work accessible and means you're not sweaty and tired when you get in! its also good exercise!
best investment of your life. just gotta make sure you have where to store it safely.
I think it's worth noting that part of the problem in cycling to work (for hilly places like Devon) is needing a shower when you get to work. By using high assistance going to work, you avoid overheating and the need for the shower. And you can always turn the assistance down for exercise on the way home.
I don't own an ebike but have some experience of them, and the key thing that impressed me on one occasion was cycling it in the rain (and some wind). I had full waterproof coat and trousers on, but cycled five miles and arrived non-sweaty! A bike which can deal with both rain and headwinds has to be the perfect bike, surely?
The one I really want, but can't quite find an excuse to buy, is the Tern GSD...
Yet again, wonderful presentation from Maddie and Greg. Love this video!
For anyone who doesn't know of Cambridge, it's not quite as flat as The Netherlands, but it's borderline close. Most frequent cyclists wouldn't need the boost unless it was a hot day and they wanted an easier journey.
I really see e-bikes making urban commutes in hillier areas go from "yes but I would never be able to pedal up that hill" to "I just use the boost on the harder parts". More office blocks in Birmingham are installing showers and cycle storage, so I hope we see a trend of cycling increasing in our cities.
ebikes should be endorsed by the gouvernments around the world and make them part of public transportation everywhere
I LOVE my e-bike. As an older person, it makes my commuting by bike so much more pleasant and less sweaty. I frequently ride to the supermarket to do a small amount of grocery shopping and bring my shopping home in my front and rear baskets. Highly recommend e-bikes.
We tryed the uber power assisted bikes in London in Feb and loved them.
We were addicted to them by the time we got to Paris...coated and berets on we buzzed around all day ..it ended up costing a bit but what a wow of a time.
A great way to see the sights! Hope you are all well in the uk. Xfe
Quick guide for anyone that wants to do this. Do not worry about the 15.5 mph limit. You only really need the extra power uphill. If you buy a mid-drive it does hammer the chain and sprockets, which will need you to maintain it. I've done 2500 miles on mine in 18 months and gone from 120kg to 95kg in weight. I have gone from a hater in to a lover. I live in Sheffield which is built on seven hills. My ebike is in the dealers for a gearbox repair and my acoustic bike exhausts me. Getting my ebike back tomorrow and I cant wait.
I have a full suspension mountain bike I built in 03. I'm looking at getting a mid drive kit. Love fully charged. I recommend you folks to all my friends who are intrested in what's possible in the ev/renewable/ sustainable world we are moving towards. The information you provide gives hope to what's possible. Thanks!!
Seeing the surprise and joy of cyclists experiencing ebikes for the first time is similar to the reactions of people first experiencing EVs. You can get quite easy and inexpensive conversion kits on line for your own bikes. Front wheel drive is particularly easy to fit but rear wheel drive is preferable for traction.
My home town too.
I wrote to Cambridge Council with an idea I called "City Link" which is a form of multi-model transport, combining two forms of transport to complete one journey. Put simply combining bikes/e-bikes and bus transport, to allow people to use bikes/e-bikes to travel greater distances, similar to car journeys.
By adding special quick loading bike trailers to busses and creating special point to point bus (link) routes for them, commuters could cycle 2-3 miles to a city-link station from home, then 2-3 miles to work after getting off the city-link bus. This would allow most people in Cambridgshire to commute directly, point to point without using a car but as quickly as a car, quicker at rush hour. Plus it's more social, would bring people thought the city(+pubs), as opposed to sitting in traffic jams on the A14. I work at lots of places where almost everyone drives to work, but after asking around, everyone agreed a City-Link scheme sounded fantastic and they would use one to commute if they could. The only people who didn't like the idea (in a big way)was Cambridge City Council, given up trying now.
Soon Cambridge will be one long river of polluting cars again. I'm fed up of pulling out onto Shelford Road in my Ampera in EV mode and crawling along inbetween rangerovers and Porsche cayennes, just because people can't cycle the last 2 miles of their journey. I always cycle from home into Cambridge it's not hard.
e-bikes should be a part of public transportation all around the globe
They make a good presenting duo, these two.
Some friends have had e-bikes for a couple of years now, and they’re putting in high mileages because of them...full day trips sometimes. They’d not previously cycled as a recreation, or for work etc, and appreciate the reduced wear on their ‘over 55 yr’ joints.
When they accelerated away from the traffic lights, their faces reminded me of people in a Tesla when it launches. Great fun to watch these two enjoying reviewing great products. And an honest opinion at the end. Great work Fully Charged.
I love the honesty! It's great, this is not a pure commercial :)
Another good piece of entertainment. Thank you FULLY CHARGED!
I am the sort of old man Maddie refers to; and I am on my second e-bike now. The first was a folding one - nowhere near as nice as the one shown in this video - and a fair bit of it is now worn out as I used it so much. The company that sold it are quite poor for support.
The second is a mountain bike, and has the motor integrated into the driving chainwheel. It is miles faster, longer ranged and more comfortable (and expensive) - I ended up putting a rack on the car for those times when I want to visit distant places with it. By preference, this will include taking it on holidays from now on.
For me, the bike is my preferred way to go shopping. Around here it is not much slower to ride than drive. For me, having the extra push just encourages me to push the bike a bit harder; so I still get a very good work-out on it. As is also commented on, as yet I cannot afford an electric car; in Australia they are ridiculously expensive with no governmental support at all and precious little charging infrastructure.
Totally agree with the comment below. If you have a bicycle you like consider converting it. I did this nearly a decade ago and have not looked back. (Apart from when turning right!). I did not find the conversion very difficult and I would say if you feel competent to repair your trusty cycle you can convert it. The E-kit helped me get back on a bicycle after a cancer operation and chemo when I was not fit enough to cycle any worthwhile distance. It let me build up my stamina and I would honestly recommend to anyone who wants to extend the reach of their cycling. Think of cycling with no hills as when you see a hill the assist kicks in and you cycle almost as if you were on the flat...
conversion kits are more and more popular this days. me personally i think more companies are investing in that than in a bike itself nowdays vs few years back
I love the boundless enthusiasm you both bring to the channel, your endless smile makes your reviews so much enjoyable, Thank you both 👏👏👏.
I commute on an almost daily basis with a speed-pedelec (e-bike capable of 45 km/h). I do 106 km a day on my bike. Takes me 3 hours a day instead of 2 hours/day with the car and 3h45/day with my race bike. It's a perfect training for me (hartbeat typically in between 125-145 for 3 hours a day).
Bravissimi!! Well done! Thanks for the super video, the short commute comment will hopefully convince a few people that using a car to move a few miles is crazy in our congested cities. You are both simply fantastic. Love and support from northern Italy
this has happened to me million times. took the car for a 5km ride and back and the people i saw on the red light with their small e-scooters are coming back home before me cause of all the traffic. hate it. prefer a bike nowdays
Years ago there was a programme called Kickstart which used trials bikes. There was both junior and adult competitions. I had a motocross bike at the time, which of course was very noisy, now I would have absolutely loved to have had an electric bike ! Now it would be great to have an electric trials bike !
i love my ebike, ive used it every day for work over the last 6 years and it makes life so much easier when carrying large loads of tools and spares, all in inc the bike i carry about 40kg before that had a raleigh ebike from 1998 24v nicad battery but it was great to, for hilly places and carrying weight they are brilliant, makes you cycle far more , even here in hilly scotland
wow you are transporting 40kg of tools on your back?
@@avantech6120 my profile pic shows you, back and front rack with panniers , also quite often a Tesco bag on handlebars with other parts for that day overspill , look at my profile pic , it's a 36v 10a folding ebike from prorider been very reliable , on second battery now , first lasted about 20,000 miles
Superb little film, bright, bubbly and brilliant for anyone and everyone to enjoy and learn from.
I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and really missed jumping on my bike. Invested in an ebike last year and while I can only go s short distance the freedom it gives me is huge!
Really enjoy Maddie and Greg, such great attitudes and presentation. Breaking down the info in applicable stages makes it easier to digest, as well as, very relevant. Thank you!
Love watching Maddie and Greg do reviews.. please do more.. looking forward to the next report.
I should like one, being disabled it would make getting around much easier I should think. Thank you Greg and Maddie!
You have to pedal as well all the new legal bikes so you want a pre 2016 one or do as I did and build your own.😉
Fullycharged, please feature Maddie in more videos. I find her to be absolutely captivating. I actually looked away from the game I was playing on my phone to pay attention to the video. I have indeed been watching. 😃👌
Great show guys. I already have a small Ebike like the Flit, but I got it before the hand throttle regulations and a slightly larger motor and battery, but there are so many Ebikes out and about, they don't take a second look. I have heart and breathing problems and for all the fact that it is electric assist I do get a lot more exercise than I normally would, as I would not attempt or consider an unassisted bike. I do pedal when I can, but when I get puffed out, or start to get angina pain, I just twist the throttle and let the bike take over till I recover. I would not get any exercise of quality use and find my power and stamina building, as every time I go a run I can go farther and feel better. Even my walking is improving and getting better and better. As an older gent ( 63 )with health problems, I can fully recommend trying out one of these. If you are worried about spending what can be a substantial amount without knowing if you could take to this activity, A phone call to your local bike shop and let them know you would like a test drive to see if you like it, I am sure will result in an invitation to come down to try several models to find out if it is for you or not. OH ya, It is penny's to charge the battery. and the fun is immeasurable, the health benefits are fantastic, and when the isolation rules are no longer necessary, The social benefits are tremendous, as stopping to chat with people on your journey, who will inevitably ask all about your Ebike. TRY ONE PLEASE !
If you live in the UK it’s still illegal to use it, you’ll find that out very quickly if you’re involved in an accident.
Cycling around Cambridge just after the lockdown (as my 1 hour exercise) has been just extrordinary in terms of how stress free the roads are now - there just aren't any cars! Cycling through Trumpington Street every day in rush hour used to be heaving with cars swapping lanes everywhere, and now it's an empty 4 lane cycle path. I'll be sad when the cars return to invade the quiet.
P.S. I can sympathise with Maddie trying to find a hill to prove e-bikes' usefulness! I cycled over that railway bridge this morning and I have to say 'steep' is a word only us fenmen would use... maybe try them on castle hill next time :)
sadly they already started. life had some positives in that quarantine for sure.
Upon discovering that a brand new 125cc motorbike was cheaper than the majority of e-bikes, I just had to investigate… This is what I discovered... 1. Nearly all e-bikes and components are built cheaply in China. 2. Unscrupulous companies import these, stick a brand name on it, and then sell it to you at astronomical profit margins. 3. Very few of these brand names have any after-sales support, especially after a few years, when spares are almost impossible to attain. 4. E-bikes in inexperienced hands can be very dangerous, with injuries more akin to those from motorcycles than from push bikes. Conclusion, in the ‘world of wheels’ e-bikes seem to be the new gold rush, through ruthlessly exploiting middle class conscience.
I love e-bikes. I leave my car at home much more often than when I was riding a regular bike. It gives you that extra oomph you need to use it instead of driving. :-)
First time I tried one I was nearly emotional - hadn't had that level of desire for something for a long time. Prices appear to have come down in the last 3 years
Ordered an electric bike yesterday (not arrived yet) and were wondering what were going to expect. After this video, we suddenly feel very excited.
you should be! ebikes are awesome
A nice thing about many ebikes is you can pedal if you want, or use the throttle if you don't. A great way to enjoy being outside and off the couch and cell phone.
Where I live in Austria you see a lot of older retired people investing in e-bikes as it allows them to cycle up the mountain paths with ease and keep up with younger family, its definitely gaining popularity in that over 55 demographic you mentioned!
its completely logical and with population gettin older and older ebikes are an awesome bizz
Wow, a max speed of 25kph! I topped out at 50kph and averaged 25kph over a 20km circuit this morning on my unassisted pushbike, and I'm 66 yrs old! Low carb is the way to go.
wow! love you comment man! 66yo I wish imma be like you at that age!
Its for going from place a to b, For many ( at least in my country, netherlands ) its doing 20km/day at say 22km/hour avg in your normal outsit and being ready for a meeting or work without the need for a shower.
a bit of info on UK law regarding e-bikes, we are covered by 2 laws; the UK one which states max power of 200W and max speed of 15mph pedal assist or twist grip throttle.
and the EU one which states max power 250W max speed 15mph and pedal assist only.
most manufacturers go for the EU law as it allows more power but it is possible to get a twist grip throttle if you chose to abide by the UK law. daft I know.
PS. previous posters advised awareness of e-bike theft. my e-bike was stolen, so yes it does happen, get a 'sold secure' lock if you have to leave it outside.
great info man!
I love my ebike. Had it for 6 years and it enables me to keep cycling (I have Fibromyalgia).
Production value is excellent on this video. Keep it up!
I was a to upgrade my regular bicycle by getting a conversion kit that replaced my front wheel with one that has a 1KW hub motor. The kit was $150 and a 750WH Lithium battery cost about $350. Even if I had had to buy a $200 bike, that's still hundreds less than most purpose built ebikes.
that is true. altho not many people will do that and the final product is not so finished as some ebikes. yet...price is big factor for me too
This is all good. Do you think ebikes might drive up the prices of normal push bikes or make them less available as a novelty item in say, 15-20 years time?
I lived in Cambridge for a couple of years and yes, it really is flat. Where I currently live an ebike woukd be really useful due to more undulating terain. I think that the biggest difference between powered and unpowered is not the time you spend riding, but the distance you cover. Especially for those who are nit as fit as they used to be.
This is so close to my reality. Last October I started a job which allowed me to commute on a bicycle as it was 5.5 miles away. The problem was, it was extremely hilly either way [nice going down of course]. There is always the problem of arriving at work rather hot and sometimes cheesed off because the wind and rain. And now a colleague who goes my way has got an e-bike. And she is so much more relaxed and comfortable on arriving at work. If I ask her anything about the e-bike experience her reply is always super-positive.
I'm actually saving for an EV and/or thinking hard about leasing, but I wonder if an e-bike would be a great first edition. Or whether I should wait. The problem is, is that I have no driveway, and the residential charging infrastructure in Southampton, England is practically non-existent, and the City Council aren't progressive. If it was the same as in Dundee, Scotland for example, I'd be leasing right now. No question.
yeah. infrastrusture is needed if we wanna implement e-bikes and replace large % of public transport or cars
We've had a Tesla Model 3 for about one and a half years. (Love it, but it's my wife's car.) I'm retired and I just bought an e-bike. I drive the Tesla maybe once a week. The e-bike nearly every day.
good foryou!
love that you've branched out into eBikes, sure I'm not the first to point out the Raleigh does not have hydraulic brakes, they're cable operated disc brakes. Keep up the good work.
Robert, great choice to bring Maddie on board with Fully Charged (and now Greg). Like Jonny (Hated to see him leave).
Not only does she bring some cuteness (Over your old mug. ;) to the show, she is very inviting, friendly and personable. She also seems to have a genuine curiosity about what she is reporting on. Maybe just great acting, but I am buying it. ;)
From 1:20 would giving my push bike an up grade to electric ....A resounding YES . I converted my first bike to electric DIY . The cost was less than £300 . Well worth it . The ear to ear smile you had on your face said it all you enjoyed every minute of the ride . Great show a most enjoyable watch .
The great thing about ebikes is that you can get one for any style of riding. I am a road cycling snob despite my best efforts. I rode on an e mountain bike and absolutely loved it! There are now fantastic e road bikes, mountain and city bikes. If I had the choice of riding in public transport or riding an ebike the bike would win. Ebikes should get more love from the EV world.
Start - You need to exercise so you get an E-Bike. After a while it gets too easy and have got enough to get a new bike.
Middle - You get a normal bike. Much harder to use but also makes you much more fit.
End - You are so well trained that you get a bike with a dynamo on it so you can charge your smart watch while you ride.
Honestly I think dynamos should be a thing on bikes.
If you ask yourself why you don't ride a bike instead of driving, most of those reasons go away with a e-bike. Also some of the new e-bikes have much tougher tires along with central motor, belt drive and internal geared hub making them almost maintenance free and clean. I got a Rad-wagon cargo e-bike and it makes a fantastic commuter to work and stores in Calfornia.
I wouldn't consider anything other than an e-bike with a bottom bracket (ie. mid-drive) motor (ie. Bosch, Shimano, Impulse), not a hub motor. The mid-drive motors are always operating in their peak torque range which is especially good with slow climbs, whereas hub motors are hopeless at the slow end. Mid-drive motors also allow you to have a proper hub gearbox in the rear & a full chain case, rather than a messy derailleur setup. The former is far better for an all-round transport bicycle, using normal clothes, etc. It also reduces maintenance a LOT.
Ebikes fantastic, I love them I've been riding ebikes for years now great for getting around London, I built my own ebike from a kit to meet my requirements and get more for my money, I thing what might help move more car drivers out of their cars and maybe give another option for those who use public transport is if the laws around the legal limit could be adjusted to the same in the US and Canada where they can ride ebikes with at least a 500 watt motor and a 20mph speed limit and are aloud to have a accelerator be it a thumb or twist grip throttle you have then got a more powerful bike to get up steep hills if your tired or not feeling well you can use the throttle to save peddling home,
I agree about the regs. They feel poorly thought out. I'm disabled & an ebike has given me the chance to get back in the saddle after many years. But, sometimes I need more help with hills or when I get exhausted & my 250w motor isn't enough. In my case I don't want more speed, I need more torque & a throttle for when I physically can't pedal. We're not all trying to ride as fast as possible but we're lumped in with the inconsiderate. Rant over :-)
@@bobconcussion9537 I agree with you very much
Great to see this addition to the channel, considering an E Bike for me & Mrs for leisure reasons as been using our ageing bikes recently. As we both mid 50’s the assistance would really help and would consider longer journeys and therefore leaving the car at home.
Would be nice to see regular reviews and comparisons as really haven’t got a clue where to start. Have access to salary sacrifice scheme for bikes but would be great to see Government Subsidies too as E bikes are pricey.
YES! EXACTLY MY POINT! GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES FOR ELECTRIC BIKES! THANK YOU!
wth? subsidies for electric bike? u got to be kidding me, ebikes aren't that expensive obviously depending on the model, range (how far u intend to go with it), use (where ur gonna use it, off road on-road) then u need to take into consideration the tire size as the size varies on price among many other things, but a decent fat tire bike that can be used for both offroad and on road with fat tires, 250w motor (eu legal), front light, bell / horn, u can buy it for about 680 pounds which isn't too bad considering people i know pay about 1.700 - 2.000 pounds or more for an ebike here in Copenhagen where i live. So stop expecting the government to subsidise everything for u all the time, every time i'm watching a video shot in the uk or anything related to the uk can be anything from government to ebikes always in the comments section their like "oh why government isn't doing enough they should subsidize this, subsidize that, i want this cheaper i want that cheaper" and im just think oh gosh please just go away, i'm not surprised why ur government doesn't want to make things easier for u guys because u keep nagging about everything, yet my country which is denmark we probably pay double or more for most items yet we don't ask for government to subsidize us on everything, just be happy with what u got save up a bit and buy the goddamnn bike urself instead of riding on the government all the time, im so sick and tired of people in uk always complaining about everything. I'm not saying people can't disagree they can but it's like every small thing u nitpick on which is unnecessary just go buy the stuff urselves instead of being lazy and riding on the government all the time. My mums 63 years old she bought her bike herself cuz she's got a job and saved up for it, i suggest u and ur mrs. do the same as what my mum did, no subsidisation no nothing just her own hard earning money.
Whaaat??? A new series!!! Made my day!!!
Brilliant episode! E-bikes get people out of their cars and help more people to cycle who otherwise wouldn’t. Especially in urban areas where average journeys are under 3 miles - e-bikes can reduce car usage and congestion. Like all EVs they pay for themselves in the long-term - my Gocycle costs roughly 4p to charge for a 40 mile range - much cheaper than my £190 monthly travelcard in London - and I feel healthier! More e-mobility please
i always forget how expensive is public transport in london...shame on the government
I bought an e-bike over 6 years ago and to be honest I thought by 2020 that battery technology would have moved on. The range is more or less the same now as when I bought. If we could get a reasonable range of say around 50 miles on a high setting and not just eco then Im sure e-bikes will become a more practical vehicle alternative. Good video.
Previously I've done quite a bit of research into E-bikes, down to sign wave controllers, mid drive, rear hub drive, 52V batteries, ... . I've test ridden a few too for days at a time. Value for money wise, just get a conversion kit for a regular STEEL bike. I've bought an old, reliable Honda Civic for a similar price to lower end e-bikes, although obviously there are more costs on top of that.
The foldaway E-bikes can be much cheaper though so they may be the exception. If you're after something fun though I'd be tempted just saving my money for a lower end E-motorbike (probably a death trap though) or E-scooter with some better value ones coming out. The hop on and go aspect of E-bikes is appealing though.
With E-bikes speed limited in the UK to the 15.5mph there is literally no point in using one in a flat area over moderate distance; the motor cuts out at what feels like a genuinely low speed on the flat... In that scenario the battery/motor are just dead weight, simple as. Personally I can't avoid fast dangerous roads easily too unfortunately. Perhaps rides of an hour or two, even on the flat, would make sense for the average person but there is a definite limit to how comfortable any bike is for longer than that (and I'm more of a cyclist than car person myself). Bikes do need regular maintenance too and a host of safety equipment and possibly grim whether clothing also which can be a faff.
Many other countries seem to have extensive cycle paths, different geographies and some even fewer restrictions. So that make things easier compared with some of the UK, Cambridge and a few other areas aside.
They are perfect for hilly, cycle friendly areas though. A great environmental option too even bearing in mind Lithium mines that have left some regions poisoned and baron but I digress... I wouldn't hesitate to rig something up given different geography, although sourcing a value battery from the UK to avoid additional fees could be a hassle.
wise man. conversion kits are the way to go but no everyone is gonna bother...people are lazy and some of the bikes looks gorgeous you know :)
I'm using an Orbea Gain electric road bike for my 62 mile round-trip cycle commute from Woking into central London (or at least I would be, if it wasn't for lock down). Although I can manage the commute on a regular road bike, an eBike enables me to do it more often, without getting fatigued.
I do wish the speed limit was 18 mph, as in the US, as the 16 mph limit feels quite slow.
Loved Maddie's series on ev cars and hope she does more on bikes particularly on velomobiles as automobile replacements with electric motor assist.
its extremely easy and cheap to turn your existing bike into an ebike that is actually worth using. would like to see you guys do that in an upcoming video, like the bafang 750 watt, would get a lot more views because its the motor to get, it would basically pay for its self! plus its a good hobby to do in isolation
I truly believe everyone should have an e-bike. Governements must support the industry and give grants for people that decide to invest in one
The government should only provide grants to purchase machines that are made in the UK, not in some far Eastern dictatorship that routinely breeches human rights.
These bikes are great just as long as you don’t need to leave them locked while out. At that price nicked within an hour 😂 They rent them to do the great Glen way along the Caledonian canal from Fortwilliam to Inverness. The ones they rent are Pedal assist to do full on do nothing settings for around 50 miles.
Thanks for translating the metric metrics into words the Americans can understand 🥰
Fantastic episode more maddie on the channel!
Ebikes are the most fun riding you can have if you are unfit, overweight or have health problems and I have all 3, I have a giant ebike hybrid that is superb, on one 500w battery I can go anywhere from my house and it will do 50 miles on one charge and I live mostly where there are hills. If your thinking of buying one go to your local dealer and ask if they have open/trial days were you can try out different ebikes and choose the one that suit/fits you best👍 they really are that good, I think I should do a video 😂👍
what is the model that you have?
I've owned and sold EV bikes. They are way too heavy. I loved the umph up the hills. They're way too expensive for most people to be honest (£2k for the most part!). I imported a pallet of five or more and sold them to business people. I also serviced them. Personally I wouldn't bother after the fact. You are better off getting a decent push-bike with a good group set and use the gears up the hills. The new bikes are so light, that peddling is a doddle. If you are looking for a way back into cycling and you are maybe older and need a city bike with some EV range, perhaps. All-in-all though, you will save more money and get more exercise with a normal bike. They're more of a fad. I sold mine in the end and wouldn't buy one again. Now if a really lightweight battery came to market with really good density and a really lightweight motor printed in 3D carbon-fibre came to be, then maybe, just maybe I'd look again.
Personally I'd like to see a really smart e-bike that can go fast and replace the motor-bike. Zero-EV seem to be going this route. For now, this technology isn't there yet and bike shops take your wallet and extract the p***. I know how much they really cost and anybody who has been and had a good look at Alibaba knows you can pick up a decent Chinese e-bike for little money. Over the pond here, the bike shops are making a killing reselling imports.
My advice, keep your money in your pocket and use it to buy bikes for you and your family and go out together and explore the country side. Once the battery runs out on a heavy e-bike, they are really hard work!
Maddie & Greg do E-bikes. About time Fully Charged goes bicycle. Great video.
As some old bloke who is in the pre-thinking stage of converting my 1977 Peugeot City Cruiser into an electric bike, this video came when my interest is piqued.
I have to get on the cycle, my prosthetic knee is acting "wonky," and I feel long distances on om pedal bike can be daunting. I plan on converting the Peugeot, sort of combing old and new technology, and also purchasing a factory made e-bike. I have to research if these are available to me in teh United States.
Thank you for the video. These two folks make a wonderful addition to the team.
Sondors is a good, cheap ebike that's easy to get in the states. As for converting your old bike, I'd recommend luna cycles
There are a lot of conversion kits available, however don't get a cheap one that does not peddle assist modes as the starting torque can be nasty.
Try Swytch. I'm on the waiting list. Says enough really
I’m in the over 55 crowd here in the US. I have a Pedego electric trike that is excellent and I highly recommend it. It’s made in California. Makes it much easier for me with my stupid knees to get up hills.
I went to Cambridge last summer for a few days, purely to cycle around and it was awesome.
I love my ebike, and I love my regular bike. I’ll always have both for different purposes. I can take the ebike on adventures on and off road, and I can ride my Brompton to the station and then around wherever I take the train to. Or presumably pretty soon I could take it with me on a RoboTaxi ride.
OMG! I just started looking at ebikes three days ago... when I received my notice from Tesla to start getting ready for my Model Y!!!!
You should have gotten the electro folding bike you could put into the back of your Tesla to get to far places while SuperCharging!
A great video as you are always both so happy and great presenters so the video is a joy to watch. Keep making the videos, a great addition to fully charged 👌
You should try a crank motor as opposed to a hub motor. You'd get better milage out of the battery as the crank motor can use the bike's gearing. A hub motor pretty much goes top speed at the level you set it too. I ride an older e-bike and that's been my experience.
No, the e-assist cuts out at 25km/h , but you still can pedal to go quicker, and still use the gears.
It's not the riding, it's not the e-bike that's the problem. It's the security when you get there. I would _never_ leave mine outside a shop anywhere near where I live. So that just leaves social/excursion rides, which often means transporting the thing. So you need either a van/pickup or a car with a tow bar to take a carrier that will take the bike. The folding bike might be an exception for commuting if you've got somewhere secure to keep it at your place of work.
Happy to see Maddie again
Maddie if you like your cruiser you can get a conversion kit that replaces your front tire for not a ton of money. Good option for those who want to electrify but don't want to buy a whole new bicycle.
I live in NYS (New York State) and we have 21 Waterfalls with 20 US Miles from me!
Plus in Tesla the folding e-Bike would be good getting places from Tesla Chargers!
At 64 just got an ebike. Got a great deal on a sale bike from my local shop and looking forward to start getting fitter this summer.