Electric bicycles

iZip Enlightened Cruiser

2008 has proven to be a bumper year for electric bicycles. Sales are up - way up. Amazon.com Inc. says sales of electric bikes surged more than 6,000 percent in July from a year earlier, in part because of expanded available offerings. People are finding out about the convenience and versatility of electric bicycles.

Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, bridge the gap between bicycles and scooters by giving you a vehicle which is both human and electric-powered. In essence, e-bikes are human-electric hybrid vehicles, with you the rider providing some of the power and the electric motor providing the rest. This means you can go 2 or 3 times as far (and in some cases as fast) as a regular bicycle, and you can do it without breaking a sweat if you don’t want to.

Several electric bicycle brands have emerged as top contenders in the e-bike industry, and all have released some exciting new products this year. Here’s a list of the top five electric bicycles of 2008 as we see them.

iZip Enlightened Trekking

Currie Technologies’ iZip Enlightened Series

Currie Technologies is known for its innovation and quality eZip and iZip electric bicycle product lines, and the iZip Enlightened Series is no exception. The series features five models: Trailz, Mountain Trailz, Urban Cruiser, Trails Women, and Trekking.

Featuring iZip’s PTS (Pedal Torque Sensor) system which controls the bikes speed based on how hard you pedal, iZip Enlightened e-bikes also feature a 24V 9AH NiMH battery pack built-in to the bike frame, which means no external battery pack and sleek lines on the bikes frame. iZip enlightened e-bikes retail for about $1,800.

Some other iZip Enlightened Bicycle specs:

• 8-Speed Geared System with SRAM X.7 Rear Derailleur
• Top Speed Up to 15 Mph / 24 Kph (Rider Weight Contingent)
• Range Up to 23 - 30 Miles / 38 - 48 Km with Normal Pedaling (Rider Weight Contingent)
• NiMH Currie High Power Smart Charger with LED status display
• Net Weight 48 lbs / 22 kg

Optibike 800Li

The Optibike 800Li

If you’re looking for the best of the best in an electric bicycle, then the Optibike 800Li is right at the top of the list. Each bike is hand built in Boulder, Colorado by a team of professionals with an eye for detail and a taste for speed. Optibike claims that its 800Li is the fastest electric bicycle available; with moderate pedaling, you can get the 800Li going up to about 35 mph.

The Optibike 800Li is a top-of-the-line electric bicycle with a massive 800 watt electric motor, front and rear Fox Talas RLC suspension and carbon fiber hydraulic disk brakes, and a space-age frame. Climbing up hills is an absolute breeze with the powerful electric motor. Expect a 30 mile range with the stock battery, which can be doubled to 60 miles with an optional battery pack.

Optibike allows you to fully customize your e-bike when you purchase it. This bike definitely has a high-end price to go with it’s features - expect to spend upwards of $8,995 for yours.

Ultra Motors’ A2B

Ultra Motor’s A2B

The A2B electric bicycle was designed as a commuter’s e-bike - thus the name, because it gets you from point A to point B, and does it in style. This futuristic-looking electric bicycle packs some performance technology.

The A2B sports a proprietary 500 Watt (2/3 Horsepower) motor, which is more than adequate to let you cruise along at 20 mph with minimal to no pedaling. This bikes hardware specs include a Shimano Alivio derailleur, Hayes disc brakes and full suspension with an aluminum frame.

The battery on the A2B will provide you with about 20 miles range, and takes about three to five hours to recharge. The A2B retails for about $2,500 and you can find a dealer here.

Schwinn Transit

Schwinn Transit Electric Bicycles

Schwinn’s Transit e-bikes pack a great combination of quality, innovation, and affordability. At a retail price of between $1500 to $2000, Schwinn’s e-bikes are definitely the most affordable on this list. But the relatively inexpensive price doesn’t mean these bikes are light on innovation. These e-bikes have their electric motors and batteries integrated seamlessly into their design, like some of the more expensive e-bikes available.

Schwinn claims that the hi-tech patent-pending lithium polymer battery included with these bikes is the lightest and most durable on the market. One battery charge will last you between 40-60 miles. The battery also charges faster than those found on most electric bikes - you can fully charge it in about four hours. The batteries are detachable, so there are no wires on the bike itself. The bikes use a 250 Watt electric front hub motor controlled by a throttle on the handlebar which can propel the bike up to 18 mph without pedaling.

E+ Cruiser by EMS

E+ Cruiser By Electric Motion Systems

The E+ Cruiser by Electric Motion Systems is simply one of the best electric bicycles available on the market today. EMS spared nothing in building this e-bike. The E+ is available with motors from 750 Watts to a whopping 1000 Watts, which will have you going 30 mph with practically no effort. With no pedaling on your part, the E+ can easily has a twenty mile range on a single charge of its 36 volt nickel metal hydride pack, which is uniquely mounted in the front hub.

The E+ also includes some high-end features not found on other electric bicycles. The E+ supports regenerative braking, which helps recharge the batteries every time the rider uses the brakes. The E+ also includes a motion-sensitive alarm system, which makes it very difficult for someone to walk off with your bike. other goodies such as a handlebar-mounted LCD display which shows speed, distance traversed, battery level and whether or not cruise control is enabled are included. Oh yeah - this e-bike has cruise control.