Tag Archives: Fuel Costs


Is An Electric Bicycle Better Than A Car?

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Every day ownership of electric bicycles is increasing . Which is understandable when you weigh up the benefits over other types of vehicles. I had better start by explaining what an electric bicycle is. It is a regular bike with one main difference – it is fitted with a powerful electric bike motor which is powered by a rechargeable battery.

The majority of electric bicycles come in two varieties – throttle activated or pedal activated.

With the pedal activated bicycle the electric bike motor kicks in when you start to pedal. So, not only are these types good for longer distances, but because of the pedaling action, you still get the beneficial exercise too – but without the strain and sweat.

You also get the same benefits from a throttle activated electric bike too. But with this type, just like a motorbike you activate the motor with a grip on the handlebars .

The other major component of an electric bicycle is the battery. The type of battery to use depends on what use you intend for the bike and the riders weight.

So, the main advantages of an electric bike are :

  • Riding one will not make you hot and sweaty
  • There are no toxic fumes
  • They do not make any noise
  • They are extremely cheap to run

To recharge the battery only takes around three hours , and at around 5 cents per charge. Recharging can be carried out from any regular household wall electrical outlet.

A wide range of electric bicycles are available in different styles, sizes and speeds, so you can be sure to find one that is just right for you.

If you regularly commute short distances everyday, then you will find that an electric bike is ideal. Just think, no more traffic jams, no more high fuel costs and insurance, and no more hunting around for a parking space when you arrive at your destination. And an electric bicycle is ideal when you need to pop to the store for one or two items.

Are you wondering how fast can these bikes go? Well, they can reach a top speed of around 30mph, which is a lot faster than you can go in a car on a traffic congested road. And unlike a car, the cost of maintenance is practically nothing.

You do not have to buy an electric bicycle to experience the sheer joy and fun of riding one. If you already have a bike, you can simply upgrade it by fitting one of the easily obtained electric bike conversion kits. These come in various flavors for all types of regular bikes.

Once you have experienced riding an electric bicycle, you will never go back to riding a regular bike – the experience will spoil you for life.

The Good And The Not So Good About Hybrids

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Ever wondered why increasingly more people are choosing to buy hybrid cars instead of conventional ones despite the fact that hybrids are so much pricier?

The fact is – the long term benefits a hybrid car can give. Those who own hybrids pay about half in fuel costs than those who own similar combustion engine cars do. The reason: because hybrid cars run on two engines. The first engine is still an internal combustion engine but the second engine is actually made up of an electric motor with its own batteries. Hybrid cars are basically cars that combine electric energy and gasoline energy. This balance of energy sources also makes it is less noisy, it’s cleaner and is significantly more efficient than its contemporaries. These are the reason hybrid cars are in such high demand right now.

Another advantage is that you will be able to save more money from tax breaks imposed by the US government.

To be sure, there are also a few cons of hybrid car ownership to consider as well. Chief among them is that the main advantage of hybrid cars, the electric motor, can also be considered one of its biggest flaws. When it stops working properly, it’s considerably more expensive to service or replace. Add to that the fact that rescuers trying to free you from an accident run the risk of an electric shock, because of the extreme volume of voltage stored within the electric engine at any given time.

Another disadvantages of hybrid cars is the often prohibitive price versus the lower cost of similar-sized combustion engine cars. However, the hybrid car still wins out in that it saves its owners money over the life of the car. Work Do the math on the amount of gasoline both cars will consume over the course of its life and then add this cost to the full cost of your car. It should work out that the hybrid actually costs less in the long run after all.

Visit this website for more information on hybrid cars