Myths & Facts on Electric Vehicle/Cycles

E-bikes are the new trend or new normal among many today. These are getting popular irrespective of areas and usage. Whether it is for your everyday commute or a passionate rider in you or just to frame a style statement, E-bikes have become the popular advice of choice. Also, one common thing is that they come in a sleek and stylish design that defines the rider in you.

Driving into the exciting world of e-bikes you will hear some most worded Myths. Because “Myths Spread just before the features or benefits get spreads.” Many agree on this, right? If it is a technology-driven invention, myths become word of mouth. But, do you ever think about the fact side of them? Don’t worry, let us together debunk the myths around electric bikes or e-bikes, so you can ride guilt-free.

Myth 1: E-Bikes Are Too Expensive.

Fact: The first word you hear if you put your thought of purchasing an e-bike is, “they are too expensive”. This is true way back in the initial days of the invention. Yet these days we can have high-performance e-bikes at affordable prices. Though the upfront cost of the E-bikes seems pricey, they are just One-Time.

In real-time, electric bicycles or e-bikes drop many annual costs like fueling and maintenance. If you compare the costs of other classic vehicles like motorcycles, cars, or other public transport, buying an e-bike is going to help you save some Money!

Think about the money you spent on fuel, regular servicing, Insurance, or Taxes, and the list goes on. Of course, your e-cycle also requires maintenance but you can have minimal if you handle it with care.

Moreover, the increase in tax rates or fuel prices makes us to less use traditional motorcycles or cars or public transportation less. Owning an electric bike avoids many extra expenses like parking, fueling, etc. Well worth it.

Myth 2: E-Bikes Aren’t Safe.

Fact: The primary reason people misunderstand that e-bikes are unsafe is that they run on battery-charged motors. But, e-bikes are not inherently any more dangerous than the traditional bicycle. There are no big safety differences between traditional and electric bicycles. Many e-bikes are now coming with standard lights & reflectors, which make the riding safer.

Although there are many news spreads on e-bikes or e-cycles exploding, they are rare. Most of them are using Lithium-ion batteries, proper usage and protection from damage are the keys to maintaining battery health. Make sure you use the right charger with a manufacturer-specified battery, they are unlikely to explode.

Aside from this, most e-bikes are built in an automated way that shuts up after the vehicle reaches a certain speed limit. These bikes have Pedal assist installed to assist you in reaching the legal speed in restricted areas. Additionally, many places are introducing separate lines for e-bike riding. So, riding is completely safe as long as you are conscious about yourself.

Myth 3: Riding E-Bikes Is Cheating!

Fact: The common question people ask is When a bicycle is meant to be human-powered, aren’t e-bikes cheating?

The answer to this question is simple. It all depends on the intended use of it.

• If you want to use it to train for sports or competitions, then we would say a regular bicycle is the best fit.
• If we want to use it for our regular commute, then it becomes a matter of choice and convenience.

But perhaps, instead of thinking of ‘Cheating’, if we could take them as ‘enabling’, we would better understand their usability. An e-bike helps you engage in active traveling. As most of the e-bikes are pedal-assisted, they run with the help of a motor that generates energy to run the bicycle which you would be pedaling in the case of a traditional bicycle. So it is helping you have some gym time without having to go for a cardio exercise.

Additionally, another advantage is e-bikes have separate lanes to ride. Which is better than that escaping from the usual heavy traffic?

Myth 4: We Cannot Ride E-Bikes In The Rain.

Fact: Indian climate truly challenges us. Of course, climate of foreign countries too. Many might think that an e-bike ride doesn’t go well in rain. This is because electricity and water do not go together. This isn’t entirely true.

The modern or the new e-bikes come with waterproof ratings that protect from moderate conditions of rain. But do not fully submerge in water for an extended period. We can ride most of the e-bikes in the rain. But probably should not ride through any fords or puddles that are at the height of the bike’s battery.

To know more about the water resistance of an e-bike, read the bike’s International Protection (IP) code.

Myth 5: E-Bikes Aren’t Environmentally-Friendly.

Fact: The idea behind the e-bike invention is to reduce environmental pollution. They are safe for the environment as they do not use any fuels that burn and emit harmful chemicals into the air.

But here, most of you might think that they are electrically charged battery run and how they can be safe. Your question is correct and here’s the answer to it.

We need to first charge the E-bikes battery and then run it. So this does not emit any greenhouse gases into the environment. Moreover, they are chargeable with clean and renewable energy sources. This way e-bikes reduce the carbon footprint.

Myth 6: E-Bikes Aren’t Suitable for All Trails.

Fact: This is a common myth but far from the truth. With motors being the only difference between traditional and e-bikes, paths and trails significantly have less impact. Most people think that e-bikes will fall short on longer trails due to battery. But high-performance e-bikes with high-range batteries will have battery ranges that are enough for longer trails.

Myth 7: E-Bikes Are Only For Shorter Rides As They Have Battery Restrictions.

Fact: People are hesitant to buy electric vehicles because they are more concerned about charging them. But, the fact is no one will travel more than 50 KM for an everyday commute. So, you can simply fully charge your battery for the next day and you do not need to hunt for public charging points.

Moreover, how far an e-bike can travel once fully charged depends on factors like battery chemistry and capacity, motor power, how much the rider pedals, the weight of the rider, and the terrain/hills on the route.

As a point of reference, the lithium-ion battery combined with a mid-mounted motor offers the right balance of everything.

Myth 8: You Don’t Exercise With An E-Bike

Fact: Before I justify the truth behind this myth, I would like you to think about this.

Are you getting exercised while riding your motorcycle? No right?

Instead, you might have to kill some time waiting in traffic and spending money maintaining it. But e-bikes address both these issues.

Though you put less effort most riders report that they end up riding more frequently for farther distances. Sometimes, people use pedal assist while driving to work and return on pedal power.

As you can control how much assistance an e-bike provides, they are equally effective as traditional bikes. This makes it possible for you to do a full bike workout on your own or to enjoy the same ride without as much effort - ideal for recovering from injuries. Additionally, the support it offers helps ease the strain on the knee and hip joints, enabling additional activity and flexibility in place of only pure aerobic/cardio training!

Conclusion

We said Facts for the most heard Myths. Now, it's your turn to start exploring the features of e-bikes. Choosing the right e-bike is a dicey decision as there are several options available. But before deciding to purchase, ask the appropriate questions and make a conscious move so that the e-bike suits your daily need.