Oh boy, developing countries can have vaporware too!

"The manufacturer, Giant, hopes that it will be popular in developing countries" [. . .] "and will cost about $2000."

Sounds like a perfect fit: It costs more than the per-capita income of most developing nations.

On the flip side, it looks like a fun way to integrate electric power into a bike. I'm happy to see bigger bike companies getting into the electric-assisted bike market, hopefully the battery tech will catch up and we'll see prices start coming down soon.

Kudos to Giant for getting into the ring, but shame on them for trying to dress it up as somehow ethical. That said, at this point in time Schwinn's offerings are much snazzier, and for the same cash:
http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_category.php?id=109

"Sounds like a perfect fit: It costs more than the per-capita income of most developing nations."

Yeah, but it's still less expensive than a car. Not all developing countries are in abject poverty, and not everybody in those countries have the same income. One more option, and a green one. Nothing wrong with that.

I want to find some reviews on products such as this an the Schwinn electrics. I'll buy one, but only if their battery life is really as good as they claim. And I'm not going to find that out the hard way 6 months after I buy one.

um...ok maybe I'm missing something here. That bike has pedals...and a motor?? why?? How is it any better then a regular old bike? or greener? And I thought one of the best things about bicycles is you were getting exercise while helping the environment and saving money... wouldn't an electric motor undermine this?

J,

You can still pedal and get exercise. The motor only helps you go faster, for longer distance or better deal with hilly roads.

It's kind of the step between a bike and a scooter. Not for everybody, but I think it' cool.

It seems like a good product and I look forward to hearing more about other companies joining this market of bikes. Since it is does have motorized parts, I wonder how much of an impact this will have on the environment in the end? Now we just have to wait for the prices to be more affordable.

From what I have read, the now discontinued Giant Lafree was a phenomenal electric-assist bike; there are still a lot in circulation, and the owners seem quite loyal. So this could be quite a good bike -- up there with Ezee and Bionx.

As for "J"s question -- electric-assisted bikes like this are exciting because they can replace CARS for regional commuters. Non-assisted bikes just aren't a reasonable option at first (or late in life) for many commuters, thanks to sweat, hills, laziness and/or flab. Think of this as training wheels for a future unassisted biker, a range extension for a 20-mile commuter, or a graceful step down for an aging rider.

I love this idea! I live about 26 miles from work, 15 of which is fairly urban. Currently I have to drive part way in my car and ride the rest of the way which cost about a gallon of gas a day. This would allow me to do the whole trip on my bike, saving the gas and wear and tear on my car.

I also like the idea that if the motor went halfway home I could still pedal home. Big plus over a scooter. It also love the idea that I could get my exercise in but get the extra help by the electric motor when I hit mile day five of my work week.

I will definitely be one of the 1st adopters of this technology. One big plus if any bike designers are listening, allow the battery to be detachable. This will allow me to ride to work and charge the battery on the company dime.

Check it out, Rob:

"The battery is installed on the lower frame using the water bottle mount. This technology allows installation or removal of the battery in 5 seconds."

This is from the Alien Scooters (local Austin electric bike/scooter shop) description of the Bion-X battery system:
http://www.alienscooters.com/component/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,36/category_id,7/manufacturer_id,0/

The more you know...

Rob -- many electric-assisted bikes already have removable batteries -- though the wear and tear on the contacts might not be worth it.

But for bike/train combos, folding electric-assist bikes are sweet -- because you can take the whole bike with you for the third leg of the journey, and then stow it under your desk during the day.

A 50cc motor scooter costs $1500 or less. My 125cc scoot cost $2500 and has four times the range and a 60mph top speed.

Yeah but how much does it weigh Icelander?
Electric assist bikes are surely the leanest way of us using powered vehicles.

In response to the comments about other modes of transportation (ie., scooter, train). I actually enjoy riding my bike every day for the exercise I get and the money I save not paying for public transportation ($140 per month). The down side is I live well over 20 miles from work and it would become exhausting to ride 800 miles a month. This concept of and electric bikes allows me to get my exercise but also gives me an easy out when I hit the wall.

I have to admit the electric scooters are fun. I rode one at a Green Expo last month and it was quiet, clean, quick, and fun.

Hmmm, maybe I could park my bike halfway to work, ride an electric scooter to my bike then ride the bike the rest of the way.

"Pedal harder and the motor settles down, take a rest and it kicks into overdrive."

Um, what if you want to pedal harder to go faster? Will the electric motor even out your speed? The same goes for slowing down. Hmm... I'm not sure about this, at least by the way it's explained.

This is dumb. I wonder if they are aware of the Mongoose Electric available at Wal Mart?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5391437

I saw this at our local Wal Mart months ago. The Mongoose has 450 W of power and has an 18 - 25 mile range for $299. For an order of magnitude less cost, I think I can pass on 85 miles with half the power.

Luc

So go test ride one in May if you guys are so curious. $2000 isn't that much money if you don't pay for a car, and a hand-built bike will cost you that just for the frame.

Anyone know what speed it is supposed to keep you at? As in MPH?

Buy it from a bike shop for over $2000 or wait and see if theres a demand for it. If so, there'll be a knock off at Wal-Mart for $500.

I commuted to work (about 20 miles roundtrip, depending on route) every day for 13 years until my retirement. It was an adventure I looked forward to twice each day. I did use a simple electric assist motor for a few months when I first started regular bike commuting, but I got rid of the motor and the heavy bike I'd put it on in favor of a light road bike (and later, a mountain bike). After I'd gotten in shape, the heavy motorized bike was slowing me down.

Now that I'm much older and asthmatic, I can no longer ride a bike for any distance. I've used the 250 watt and the 350 watt BionX, but, while great for level terrain, they lacked the power for climbing the hills where I live. My present bike, which gets me the 6 or 7 miles to shopping sites in town and back, works very well. It has a powerful brushless motor, lithium nanophosphate batteries, and matching controller, all mounted, like the BionXs, on my old mountain bike.

The prospective buyer of an electric bike needs to critically assess the maximum range claimed by manufacturers. So much depends on the amount of rider power input, the terrain, wind conditions, rider weight, weight of any load carried, and speed. I'm sure that a younger healthy rider could get 75 miles out of one charge of the Giant's batteries, by adding his/her pedal power while traversing mostly level terrain at modest speed, and maybe with a tail-wind. I figure I could get 100 miles range on one charge of my system, going across Kansas, without pedalling, at 10 mph with no head wind. But, normally, my battery pack is close to exhaustion after 18 to 20 miles.

The price is a little high. Why not try Chinese electric bikes? China is called the country of bicycles and its bikes are in good quality and comparatively lower prices. Log onto http://www.madeinchina.com/trade_product_1/electric+bike.shtml and find the one you want!

"Yeah, but it's still less expensive than a car. Not all developing countries are in abject poverty, and not everybody in those countries have the same income. One more option, and a green one. Nothing wrong with that."

what a joke! Many modes of transport are less expensive than a car... for example in indonesia HONDA manufactures scooters for $900 and I have seen it carry 5 people going at 40km/h. this $2000 bicycle will never beat that and will never work for a developing country!!!!! most people in the developed country can't even afford the luxury to own one!!!

but personally if i were living in a developed country with clean air and can afford it, I will most definitely get one!

Do a bit of research Stan, electric bikes are selling very well in China. I expect they are selling quite well in other developing countries as well. People don't have to buy that pesky expensive gas.

A quick google found this article stating just that from Vietnam. People are abandoning cars and gas powered scooters for bicycles (electric and non-electric).
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02BUS081007

I think this is awesome! This is just the kind of thing I've been looking for! Would be perfect for the commute to work during the nice seasons! Just some light pedaling into work then work a bit harder on the way home!

I'm finding it extremely difficult to find an electric bike in Los Angeles! Very frustrating. Schwinn's models seems to be vaporware, and Giant's can't be found. I hope this one actually shows up this May. What other models are available (less than $2000, preferable around $1500)???

My work commute is 15 miles one way and would love to have an electric bike because a) with a bike, I can use the bike paths and avoid crazy drivers on the streets, b) with an electric bike I wouldn't have to shower and change once I get to work.

Richard Campbell

Not saying that electric bike won't work, just saying that this $2000 bicycle cannot be a replacement for other traditional modes of transport because of the price. they should be priced at less than usd200 for it to really fly in developing countries...

Just watch this video and you can tell me that vietnam is an electric bike convert... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebkogYErN3Y

There are guys like me who very much would like an electric bike to commute but, in my case, it might not be feasible. My commute isn't that long but part of it is up a long, steep hill. I'm NOT a bike rider and at my age and condition, I'll never get up that hill. But I don't think there's an electric bike around that will carry 200 pounds up a hill like that and, as I've said, I'm not going to dedicate the many hours needed to get in shape to do it. Straight and level? No problem. At any rate, I now use eith a 250cc scooter or a big motorcycle to commute. I guess both of those are better than a car but I'd very much like to use an electric bike. Looks like I need to wait for models with a little more power.

I was disappointed to see a beautiful new electric bike with one of those horrid, obsolete upright wedgie frames. When are bicycle manufacturers going to realize that comfortable recumbent bicycles are the wave of the future? I own both an electric and a recumbent. I almost never ride the electric because the range is so limited and sitting on it is painful. I think nothing of riding 100 kilometers in a day on my recumbent but cannot possibly do it on the electric which only has a range of 30 kilometers. I can actually cover more distance under my own power which is ironic.

There were some manufacturing problems related to the Schwinns--if I understand correctly, it had to do with bypassing the throttle to make them street legal in the US. But they aren't vaporware--I purchased one shortly after Trent's comment, and so far, it's exactly what I wanted. I am on my feet all day, and the ride home is uphill against a STIFF headwind. The pedal assist is awesome.

I use to be a scholarship college athlete.

Diagnosed Arthirtis at 28...

Most recently prelim test result indicate cushing diseases (causes excess weight gain and the person is unable to loose it)

I am 325+ in weight.

Diagnosed with MRI with a torn minscus in knee but they don't want to operate cause of my weight due to the recovery time it would take.

I have a recumbent bike stationary (lifecycle) that I can't use anymore becuase of my knee injury.

I want to exercise again and enjoy myself. Riding a bike normally doesn't seem to hurt my knee unless I am struggling to go up a small inclination.

I was hoping those of you who own these bikes could comment.

I was looking to get one to help me get back to exercising, so I don't kill myself doing so... And so I don't hurt my knee on difficult parts of the roads.

When Ihurt my knee I literally can barely walk and it swells to the size of a canolope.

Any comments about how these types of bikes or a particular type of bike would work for a overweight person like me?

I don't want to waste 1-3K buying a bike to find out it can't last that long.

And I am fine riding flat it is the small bumps or hilly areas I need helpl with...

Many thanks for your help :)

Angela

Great idea! I'm checking these out toorrow!