Electric Bicycles

mjr600

My company is joining the cycle2work scheme from July. It allows a member to lease a bike with monthly payments paid to the employer and a final purchase price of 5% of the original cost.

With tax relief a £1000 bike ends up costing the individual about £550 and at the end of the lease they own it.

Anyway, there has been an explosion of bikes with electric assistance and now that the latest Li-ion batteries have replaced lead acid they are lighter and will carry the rider further.

Perfect if you live in a hilly part of the country and make a number of short local trips in the car.

Nothing to do with the enviroment just the cost of fuel, I intend cycling to work and back using an ebike a few days a week.

There are a couple of forums for ebike users out there, anyone on here pedalling with electrical assistance who can offer and useful tips.

geordie_joe

Thanks for this post, have you got any more details, such as a web site for the scheme and for the bikes etc.

mjr600

The scheme...

http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/
http://www.cycle2work.info/

You can choose a normal non electric bike of course but for those of us in hilly areas or with ailments an electric rechargeable version has great benefits.

Having looked into it bikes range from £300 to £3000 but the best compromise is at about the £6-800 mark ( remember you will only end up paying about 1/2 that).

These companies/bikes are on my shortlist.

http://www.urbanmover.com/products_bicycles_main.htm
http://www.powacycle.co.uk/PDF-brochures.asp
http://www.electricbikesales.co.uk/
http://www.wisper-bikes.co.uk/index.html

geordie_joe

Thanks mjr600, I want one of those.

In fact I NEED ONE! I especially need a folding one, or run a power cable into the garden shed for recharging.

mjr600

It looks like the electric bike market is set to explode because of rising fuel costs, all I need is a solar charger then I can commute totally 'off grid'.

cazrobinson

i'm on the cycle to work scheme : this is my bike : http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/dahon_cadenza.htm

i cycle 10 miles into work and back, using the car for half of my journey and the worst hilly bit. folds up lovely in the boot of my nissan micra, great option for me.

this is going to be my next bike on cycle scheme: http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/dahon_tournado.htm

or this:
http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/


the only thing about battery power is that this can be dead weight if not charged (or if it runs out half-way).

: )