If you are considering the possibility of buying an electric bicycle for the first time, you may have many questions. In our blog, we have explained everything from whether it is necessary to register an electric bicycle to how to maintain it or how many km you can travel. If you are taller, you can get the bike for 6 feet tall.
Even so, one of the easiest ways to discover if an electric bicycle suits what you are looking for is to weigh its advantages and disadvantages. Below, we summarize some of the main ones.
Benefits of the electric bicycle
The advantages of the electric bicycle with respect to other means of transport such as the motorcycle, the car, the scooter or even the conventional bikes themselves are many:
It does not pollute
Electric bikes are an environmentally friendly option. More and more people are concerned about the state of our planet and we are aware that going to work by car or motorcycle every morning contributes to the deterioration of the atmosphere. It is in our hands to change habits and the electric bicycle can be a good start. You may also like to read https://greateryellowstonescience.org/how-it-affects-the-length-of-the-cranks-of-a-bicycle/
Activate and move your body
Although the physical exercise that is performed is less than that of a standard bike, you will undoubtedly activate and work the lower body, strengthening the muscles in the area. You can even choose whether, on certain occasions, you want to use the motor assistance or pedal without assistance for greater exercise.
This type of bicycle is highly recommended for all those who start doing sports after a long period of hiatus, who are not used to moving or who are even overweight. Thanks to the pedaling assistance, our muscles do not have to work more than necessary and the joints do not load so much.
Don’t worry about the slopes
If your way to work is not as flat as you would like and there is a steep slope that makes your mornings bitter, the electric bike will be your ideal ally. Thanks to the “little push” of its motor when you need it most, you will be able to climb slopes and ramps more easily than with other bicycles. This will ensure that you don’t arrive tired or sweaty at the office or at your appointments.
You do not pay gasoline or parking
In addition to being cheaper than a motorcycle or a car, electric bicycles have another great advantage: they are very cheap to maintain. There is no need to pay circulation taxes, registration, insurance or ITV. In addition, you save on weekly gasoline since charging the battery of the electric bicycle costs about 10 cents on the electricity bill. And you won’t have to worry about parking either since you can leave the bike at the office, at home or anywhere you visit.
And let’s not talk about whether you depend on public transport, since depending on your voucher you may spend more than €3 a day, plus the waiting time and the inconvenience of the crowds of people who use them.
They are safer
Electric bikes are safer than scooters or motorcycles as they go slower and cannot ride on highways or high-speed intersections. In addition, within the city, they have special lanes that they share with other bikes and scooters so that they are separated from the most dangerous vehicles.
They are also safer than small folding bikes. Carmela, for example, has 24-inch wheels, a perfect size to give the bike lightness and stability. Conversely, smaller wheels can cause instability on potholes or puddles.
You escape traffic jams and are compatible with other means of transport
In urban trips, you can easily get where you want, easily avoiding traffic jams that vehicles such as cars have no choice but to swallow. In addition, the electric bicycle is compatible with most public transport, such as the metro, the bus or the train, so you can combine them if you need to.
Disadvantages of the electric bicycle
In the section on disadvantages, we can also find several to highlight. Despite this, you will see that we name Carmela as a type of electric bike that minimizes several of these drawbacks to the maximum:
They are heavy bikes
In general, it is true that they are heavier than conventional bikes since the weight of the bicycle must be added to that of the motor and the battery, weighing about 20-25 kilos. However, Carmela weighs only 15 kilos, making it one of the lightest on the market. This allows you to easily carry it upstairs or even walk with it next to it without any effort.
You will not be able to travel long distances
Electric bikes are designed to move around the city, so to get out of it, you will need another means of transport. There is a type of electric bike, called an e-bike of 45 km/h or speed bike, that allows you to reach higher speeds but needs to be treated like a moped or a motorcycle.
In addition, they are designed for cities that are well connected to their metropolitan areas, such as in Switzerland, where there are exclusive highways for bicycles that link different towns or cities.
On rainy days they are uncomfortable
The reality is that the situation is the same as that experienced by motorcyclists when it rains and they do not stop using their usual means of transport for that reason. Nowadays, there are all kinds of accessories that allow you to be prepared for the rain, from long raincoats to waterproof pants and shoes. There are even bags, so your phone doesn’t get wet!
They are dirty vehicles
Without a doubt, there is more risk of getting dirty riding a bike than by car. In addition to any puddles or accidental rubbing, you may have the misfortune of staining yourself with grease from the bicycle itself. Carmela, however, has a system that prevents grease from leaking out, so you don’t have to worry about staining your pants or dress.
