E+ Mountain Bike and E+ Cruiser offer bicycles with battery-operated motors that allow people to ride the bike like a scooter, as well as a regular bicycle.
Dan Robinson, owner of Golden Gate Veloteq and Velolectric EBikes in San Carlos, says that people are really embracing the bikes.
The E+ bike mimic previous models of electronic bikes, have a higher voltage; thus they have a higher maximum speed. According to Robinson, riders can get 20 to 40 miles from one battery.
The E+ bikes differentiate themselves from the other electronic bikes, such as the ECOBike, because they are more powerful. The E+ bikes’ highest available voltage is 1,000 watts with a top speed of 30 mph, while ECOBike’s highest available voltage is 360 watts with a maximum speed of 20 mph.
“The appeal of these bikes is that they are exempt from having to be registered by the DMV,” said Robinson.
NOTE: Any bike that exceeds 30 mph requires the owner to have a driver’s license, and to register the vehicle with the DMV for a one-time fee of $18. Other than that, to drive the slower models, California law requires the drivers to be at least 16 years old and to wear a bicycle helmet.
Source: Nicholas Gosling/Daily Journal
The E+ bikes have other features that set them apart. One of the features is a computer that tells the owner the battery life, mileage and speed. The computer also has set programs that allow the driver to pick the resistance and a program that, while the driver is pedaling, will charge the battery.
All of the electric bikes have the option of not using the motor and pedaling, and the option of just using the motor to ride like a scooter.
Because E+ bikes are more sophisticated, they cost more than other electronic bicycles. Prices for the E+ models range from $3,500 to $5,000 depending on the model, voltage, warranty and other customizations.
