Motorized Bicycles were first documented as early as the 1890’s, where mainly combustion engines were added to a bicycle to assist in pedaling in uphill situations. A motorized bike used the motor as a backup and pedaling was normally required for the motor kick in. Today’s motorized bikes are known as electric bicycles, in that the motor is based on an electric battery powered motor that is rechargeable.
Today, there are ebikes, power bikes, pedelec and electric bicycles, all of which are referred to as light electric vehicle, (LEV) with a motor assisted pedaling. You can buy kits to make your existing bike an electric motorized bike. In countries where bicycles are almost as popular as cars for transportation, such as in China, the LEV’s account for almost half of the transportation vehicles on the streets. Many have equipped them with after market electric hub motor conversion kits, with the battery pack placed on a rear carrier rack.
Electric bicycles differ from motorcycles and mopeds, in that the bikes are mainly pedal powered, with the motor as an assist. On a moped, they are mainly motorized, with pedals for use in emergency. With energy prices rising, the electric bicycle offers an affordable alternative means of transportation, and has health benefits, as well. These electric powered motor assisted bicycles are increasingly popular in Europe and Asia, to allow easy maneuverability in congested traffic. In the United States, in places like New York City, where there is little parking or very costly parking, the electric bicycle offers an alternative to a gas power vehicle or taxicab.
Some current manufacturers such as Golden Eagle, Stanton, Whizzer, Dax and King use either a rack mounted with chain drive system or centrally frame mounted again using the chain drive system, and some are hub motor kits to motorize the bikes for speed of 25-40 mph. As these motors are run on battery power, and normally are controlled by pedaling assist, the trip duration on the battery charge is lengthened based upon the amount of pedaling, braking, and inclines. These electric motors usually range from 250 watts to 400 watts, although there is a known 2000 watt motor in existence, but much more than the average cyclist would need. Range on electric bikes can be from 7-70 miles, depending on the amount of pedal assist involved.
Electric motorized bicycles can be motor powered by handle bar controlled activation or pedalec, (pedal electric). Most of the motors have a recharging ability based on braking or pedal action, or maybe recharging on downhills. They are experimenting with fuel cell based motors for bikes, and those will soon become part of the electric bicycle or LEV, as is already available on electric scooters and mopeds.
Some authorities are starting to use the electric bicycles such as officers in Little Rock, Arkansas and California officers have been seen on Zap’s electric bicycles. Since they have little or no environmental impact, the electric powered bikes are being looked at as ways to save fuel costs, lower emissions, allow transportation quickly through congested streets, and give exercise for health benefits. In the United States, normally electric bikes that go under 20 mph, under 750 watt electric motors, or under 50cc in the case of gas assisted motors, are not subject to licensing.
You can buy the ebikes, or electric bicycles, on line as a whole manufactured package, or it is popular to buy the motorized hub kit and customize your own favorite bike by mounting and adapting it to the chain drive or hub. There are places on the Internet and ebay that sell the electric bicycle motor kits for several hundred dollars, depending on the output and kind of drive system you choose.