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iZip Enlightened Cruiser

2008 has proven to be a bumper year for electric bicycles. Sales are up - way up. Amazon.com Inc. says sales of electric bikes surged more than 6,000 percent in July from a year earlier, in part because of expanded available offerings. People are finding out about the convenience and versatility of electric bicycles.

Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, bridge the gap between bicycles and scooters by giving you a vehicle which is both human and electric-powered. In essence, e-bikes are human-electric hybrid vehicles, with you the rider providing some of the power and the electric motor providing the rest. This means you can go 2 or 3 times as far (and in some cases as fast) as a regular bicycle, and you can do it without breaking a sweat if you don’t want to.

Several electric bicycle brands have emerged as top contenders in the e-bike industry, and all have released some exciting new products this year. Here’s a list of the top five electric bicycles of 2008 as we see them.

iZip Enlightened Trekking

Currie Technologies’ iZip Enlightened Series

Currie Technologies is known for its innovation and quality eZip and iZip electric bicycle product lines, and the iZip Enlightened Series is no exception. The series features five models: Trailz, Mountain Trailz, Urban Cruiser, Trails Women, and Trekking.

Featuring iZip’s PTS (Pedal Torque Sensor) system which controls the bikes speed based on how hard you pedal, iZip Enlightened e-bikes also feature a 24V 9AH NiMH battery pack built-in to the bike frame, which means no external battery pack and sleek lines on the bikes frame. iZip enlightened e-bikes retail for about $1,800.

Some other iZip Enlightened Bicycle specs:

• 8-Speed Geared System with SRAM X.7 Rear Derailleur
• Top Speed Up to 15 Mph / 24 Kph (Rider Weight Contingent)
• Range Up to 23 - 30 Miles / 38 - 48 Km with Normal Pedaling (Rider Weight Contingent)
• NiMH Currie High Power Smart Charger with LED status display
• Net Weight 48 lbs / 22 kg

Optibike 800Li

The Optibike 800Li

If you’re looking for the best of the best in an electric bicycle, then the Optibike 800Li is right at the top of the list. Each bike is hand built in Boulder, Colorado by a team of professionals with an eye for detail and a taste for speed. Optibike claims that its 800Li is the fastest e-bike available; with moderate pedaling, you can get the 800Li going up to about 35 mph.

The Optibike 800Li is a top-of-the-line electric bicycle with a massive 800 watt electric motor, front and rear Fox Talas RLC suspension and carbon fiber hydraulic disk brakes, and a space-age frame. Climbing up hills is an absolute breeze with the powerful electric motor. Expect a 30 mile range with the stock battery, which can be doubled to 60 miles with an optional battery pack.

Optibike allows you to fully customize your e-bike when you purchase it. This bike definitely has a high-end price to go with it’s features - expect to spend upwards of $8,995 for yours.

Ultra Motors’ A2B

Ultra Motor’s A2B

The A2B electric bicycle was designed as a commuter’s e-bike - thus the name, because it gets you from point A to point B, and does it in style. This futuristic-looking electric bicycle packs some performance technology.

The A2B sports a proprietary 500 Watt (2/3 Horsepower) motor, which is more than adequate to let you cruise along at 20 mph with minimal to no pedaling. This bikes hardware specs include a Shimano Alivio derailleur, Hayes disc brakes and full suspension with an aluminum frame.

The battery on the A2B will provide you with about 20 miles range, and takes about three to five hours to recharge. The A2B retails for about $2,500 and you can find a dealer here.

Schwinn Transit

Schwinn Transit Electric Bicycles

Schwinn’s Transit e-bikes pack a great combination of quality, innovation, and affordability. At a retail price of between $1500 to $2000, Schwinn’s e-bikes are definitely the most affordable on this list. But the relatively inexpensive price doesn’t mean these bikes are light on innovation. These e-bikes have their electric motors and batteries integrated seamlessly into their design, like some of the more expensive e-bikes available.

Schwinn claims that the hi-tech patent-pending lithium polymer battery included with these bikes is the lightest and most durable on the market. One battery charge will last you between 40-60 miles. The battery also charges faster than those found on most electric bikes - you can fully charge it in about four hours. The batteries are detachable, so there are no wires on the bike itself. The bikes use a 250 Watt electric front hub motor controlled by a throttle on the handlebar which can propel the bike up to 18 mph without pedaling.

E+ Cruiser by EMS

E+ Cruiser By Electric Motion Systems

The E+ Cruiser by Electric Motion Systems is simply one of the best electric bicycles available on the market today. EMS spared nothing in building this e-bike. The E+ is available with motors from 750 Watts to a whopping 1000 Watts, which will have you going 30 mph with practically no effort. With no pedaling on your part, the E+ can easily has a twenty mile range on a single charge of its 36 volt nickel metal hydride pack, which is uniquely mounted in the front hub.

The E+ also includes some high-end features not found on other electric bicycles. The E+ supports regenerative braking, which helps recharge the batteries everytime the rider uses the brakes. The E+ also includes a motion-sensitive alarm system, which makes it very difficult for someone to walk off with your bike. other goodies such as a handlebar-mounted LCD display which shows speed, distance traversed, battery level and whether or not cruise control is enabled are included. Oh yeah - this e-bike has cruise control.

The E+ can be purchased from the EMS website for $3,495.

BERTRAND MAROTTE
globeandmail.com

MONTREAL — Dorel Industries Inc. is betting that fear of soaring gas prices and a new battery technology will propel its latest electric bicycle further into the transportation mainstream.

It’s counting on a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery from Toshiba Corp. to make its e-bike - the Schwinn Tailwind - the breakthrough product that will truly crack open a market that is already growing rapidly.

To be introduced today at an international bike expo in Las Vegas, the Tailwind’s claim to fame is that it takes only 30 minutes to recharge the battery, compared with the four hours or more required to recharge any standard e-bike now available.

Montreal-based Dorel is also claiming bragging rights to an industry-leading 3,000 to 5,000 full recharges before the battery has to be replaced, compared with the standard 1,000.

The bike - which has a sleek, retro-chic look - has a cruising speed of about 25 kilometres an hour and weighs in at a relatively light 20 kilograms.

Officials at Dorel - which also makes high-end and mid-priced bicycles, strollers, car-seats and assemble-at-home furniture - say those selling points and others are more than sufficient to overcome consumer resistance to one potential sticking point: a suggested retail price of $3,200 (U.S.).

“This is right in line with the premium prices that are out there,” said Bruno Maier, executive vice-president and general manager of Dorel’s Cannondale Sports Group.

Schwinn’s existing lineup of six e-bike models runs along a price range from $1,400 to $2,100 and the company can barely keep up with demand, Mr. Maier said in a telephone interview from Las Vegas.

Albert Katzberg, the owner of Toronto bicycle retailer Inova Diversified Inc., isn’t convinced the Tailwind’s price won’t be an issue.

A $3,200 price tag is “a big of a drawback for most people. That’s not to say it’s not well worth it, given the growing concerns about the environment,” he said.

Mr. Maier says Dorel sees a bright future for the e-bike based on three key elements: high gas prices and the desire to lower carbon footprints; increased concerns over personal health and fitness; and growing frustration with urban traffic congestion.

As for the e-bike market as a whole, it is forecast to explode.

Via globeandmail.com

Bicycle manufacturer Schwinn announced their new Tailwind eBike today at the Interbike Trade Show in New York City. The Tailwind electric bicycle utilizes Toshiba’s Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) technology to deliver an industry-leading 30-minute recharge time.

According to Schwinn, the Tailwind electric bike represents the next generation of eBike and will be available in early 2009 at a suggested retail price of $3,199.99(US).

The Tailwind (like all Schwinn electric bicycles) is a so-called eBike hybrid and can be ridden in either motor-assist mode or as a conventional bike. The eight-speed Tailwind utilizes a lightweight, Schwinn-designed 6000 series aluminum alloy frame and an SR Suntour NEX-4610 suspension fork with lock-out.

The electric motor in the Tailwind is housed in the hub of the front wheel, an innovation found in all Schwinn electric bike models. In addition, all Schwinn eBike models (including the Tailwind) utilize the Plug N’ Drive removable battery pack which is built into stylishly designed rear bike rack systems, allowing riders to quickly detach the battery for recharging.

It is projected that Tailwind owners will realize an industry leading 2,000 recharge lifecycles with the eBike versus the industry standard of 1,000 charges before needing to replace the battery. Tailwind riders will find they can ride 25 to 30 miles per charge (depending upon such factors as climate, rider weight and terrain). The Tailwind also comes with a 20,000-mile or two-year limited warranty.

From the press release:

“The Tailwind sets a new standard of excellence in the eBike industry,” said Bruno Maier, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Cannondale Sports Group. “Through our new cooperation with Toshiba Corporation, the Tailwind is powered by the world’s most innovative and fastest charging battery, a battery that can be recharged in 30 minutes through a standard electrical outlet (or as little as five minutes through a commercial charger) versus the industry standard of four hours or more. That’s one-eighth the time or better of competing eBikes.

“We know that more and more people are riding bikes for a variety of reasons, including economic factors, health benefits and environmental concerns. Industry reports forecast a dramatic rise in electric bicycle sales here in the U.S. and around the world, and we expect a significant interest in the Tailwind eBike when it arrives in Independent Bicycle Retailers (IBDs) in early 2009.”

Via PPOL:News