Electric bikes selling briskly as gas prices climb

August 15, 2008 By DAN STRUMPF , AP Business Writer

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Ed Poor, who works at New York-based electric bike and scooter dealership NYCeWheels, rides an eZee Quando II electric bike Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008 in New York. The surging cost of gasoline and, for many, a desire for a greener commute is turning some to less conventional forms of transportation, like the electric bike. They function like a conventional two-wheeler, but with a battery-powered assist, and bike dealers, riders and experts say they are flying off the racks. (AP Photos/Mark Lennihan)

(AP) -- When Honora Wolfe and her husband moved to the outskirts of Boulder, Colo., she wanted an environmentally friendly way to commute to her job as a bookshop owner in the city. Wolfe, 60, found her solution about a month ago: an electric bicycle. It gets her to work quickly, is easy on her arthritis and is better for the environment than a car.

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• Doug_Huffman - Aug 15, 2008
  • Rank: 2.5 / 5 (2)
  Electric bikes only move the pollution from distributed to a point-source at the power plant.
  
  Battery powered alternatives put more toxic metals into circulation. Not that I have a problem with the toxicity of metals but the champions of alternatives do seem to have such a problem. Hypocrites.
  
  This AM, I rode to b'fast in 16 minutes at 16 mph average and then did errands on the way home - riding my Greenspeed recumbent tricycle.
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• Soylent - Aug 15, 2008
  • Rank: 4.5 / 5 (2)

  Electric bikes only move the pollution from distributed to a point-source at the power plant.

  
  
  Centralized power sources with the exception of coal power emit far less pollution per unit quantity of energy and they use the fuel more efficiently even including distribution and battery charge/discharge efficiency.
  
  

  Battery powered alternatives put more toxic metals into circulation. Not that I have a problem with the toxicity of metals but the champions of alternatives do seem to have such a problem. Hypocrites.

  
  
  Particulates are the big killer but they're not as sexy to talk about for some reason. Still, a battery does not gasify mercury and cadmium compounds and dump them into the air like a coal plant will.
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• Doug_Huffman - Aug 16, 2008
  • Rank: not rated yet
  I was not arguing the relative amounts of energy production pollution rate.
  
  If you don't like mercury or cadmium then don't use it. Like a secret, 'once bared, forever shared.'
  
  Particulates? Hah. My TDI gets an honest 50 mpg. Choose your poison.
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