When you listen to the blurb for that fairly quick E bike, they make the point that there are much fewer parts involved. The frame brakes and suspension might be worth $2500.00. So does the batteries and motor, account for $27,500.00. I just bought a made in China concrete mixer. Figured the steel parts should last, and if the E motor fails, I can get a new decent one for not much money.
Something else I thought about. A while back I read that there is enough E power in the system for everyone to run an E bike or car, if they plugged in after the busy hours. The other day I read that we need about 30% more E power if everyone switched. In the US natural gas in replacing coal. The entire cycle must be considered. Is E power from natural gas, more environmentally sound, than producing gas form oil, and burning it in modern engines. The production of the different types of vehicles would also need to be considered.
Up here, we are working on a new hydro dam. But as we are against most everything, we are against this too. We are also against twining an existing pipe line, to provide fuel for the increasing amount of vehicles.
We are against selling oil to overseas markets, because that would involve more ships. More offshore fuel sales, would help Alberta and BC, who along with Ontario pay all the bills up here. Although lately with the loonie left at the helm, we are not paying our share.
A $5,000.00 E bike, with a half decent range, could do well as a daily commuter. The E powered bicycles are currently filling that market. The lack of a licence helps. But the insurance industry is wondering if they should have the mandatory liability, that cars and bikes are required to have. Our government insurance company is a failure. They lose tons of $$$, but make it up on volume because it is mandatory. And it is getting worsa by the day.
UK
UK