The Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute expected the sale of power-assisted bikes in 2008 to exceed 300,000 units. One reason why these bikes are gaining in popularity is because a new Road Traffic Law has been enacted that enables electric bike manufacturers to double a bike’s maximum motor output – thereby increasing it’s power and making it more attractive to consumers.
In particular, this means elderly consumers will now be able to pedal up a 20 degree slope even with “heavy luggage” – or groceries, or a grandchild sitting in the bike trailer!
The first “power-assisted” bicycle was introduced to Japan in November 1993. It was called the PAS, was released by Yamaha, and could travel up to 20 kilometers on a 10-hour charge. The price was 153,470 yen, more than three times the cost of a conventional bicycle.
The bicycles have come a long way since then. The designs are more sleek, and now more powerful, and a lot less expensive. Indeed, Yamaha predicts that in the not-too-distant future, every urban household will own a power-assisted cycle.
Yamaha has competition of course, from Sanyo Electric, Panasonic Cycle Technology Co. and Bridgestone Cycle Co., all of whom are launching models geared mainly at housewives.
