[sustran] Re: UNEP, electric bicycles?

Sujit Patwardhan sujit at vsnl.com
Tue Apr 24 13:46:09 JST 2001


24 April 2001


Alok Jain's has a valid point.

There isn't much difference between an electric cycle and an electric
scooter...UNLESS the battery is so small that it cannot propel the cycle
any faster than pedalling can and the only purpose it serves is to assist
steep climbs WITH the feet still pushing the pedals.

There are two issues involved here. The fuel shouldn't be polluting and
belong to the non-renewable category. The second concerns our views on
promotion of private (personal) vehicles on the roads. Non polluting
vehicles in excessive numbers can also cause congestion and if the bike
doesn't need human effort for propulsion it CAN be brought on the roads for
superfluous trips..I feel when human effort (of pedalling) is involved one
is less likely to make needless trips on the vehicle. But this is a tricky
issue and needs to be seen from all sides I feel.
--
Sujit






At 09:29 AM 4/24/01 +0800, you wrote:
>What is the difference between an electric bicycle and electric scooter?
>
>Can somebody enlighten?
>
>Alok Jain
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Eric Bruun [mailto:ebruun at rci.rutgers.edu]
>> Sent: 24 April, 2001 4:27 AM
>> To: sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org
>> Subject: [sustran] Re: UNEP, electric bicycles?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I agree with Walter. Eric Bruun
>> 
>> On Mon, 23 Apr 2001 mobility at igc.org wrote:
>> 
>> > i don't have any problem with electric bikes or electric 
>> assist pedicabs.  battery weight remains a problem, however, 
>> or cost. probably tighter emission controls on motorcycles 
>> would help the economic viability of this sector, no? 
>> > 
>> > walter 
>> > 
>> > 
>> > sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org wrote:
>> > > It seems UNEP's pro-car statement (see Car Busters #25 - 
>> sent by Paul Barter, 19 April) shows the extent of the car 
>> industry's vision of 
>> > sustainable cities -- paved and congested, but with much less 
>> > pollution.  (Incidentally, the hydrogen BMW's were also a 
>> key feature of 
>> > Bangkok's International Motor Show earlier this month.)
>> > 
>> > Curiously, hidden among Ford's "environmental" cars and now 
>> featured in a 
>> > new Lee Iacocca company (see New York Times article 
>> reference below) are 
>> > electric assisted bicycles.
>> > 
>> > I believe I am as skeptical of EV/alt-fuel solutions as 
>> anyone, but the 
>> > bicycles are intriguing.  As far as I know, they are still 
>> bicycles, but 
>> > with a small electric motor and battery added.  Thus they 
>> are not fast, not 
>> > congesting, and perhaps can allow use by segments of the 
>> elderly and the 
>> > physically challenged who could not previously use a bicycle.
>> > 
>> > Is this a really sustainable EV?
>> > 
>> > John
>> > 
>> > 
>> >  From the New York Times, 19April:
>> > 
>> > "Electric bicycles are a natural for people who are starting
>> > to gray in America," said Lee Iacocca, the former Chrysler
>> > chairman who is now president of EV Global Motors Company,
>> > which makes a line of electric bicycles called E-Bikes.
>> > Indeed, electric bikes let batteries (and chips) do much of
>> > the work when muscles aren't enough. But companies are still
>> > waiting for the sales to kick in.
>> > http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/19/technology/19BIKE.html?0419ci
>> > 
>> > Video of the Think Electric Bike in action:
>> > http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/reference/041901bike.ram
>> > 
>> > 
>> > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>> > John Ernst   -  Asia Regional Director
>> > 
>> > ITDP - The Institute for Transport and Development Policy   
> www.itdp.org
>> 
>> 8 Sukhumvit Soi 49/9    Bangkok 10110    Thailand
>> Tel +66 (1) 813-1819    Fax +1 (801) 365-5914
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
PARISAR, 
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Tel: 5537955
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