Electric Bicycles: a New Choice for Urban and Rural Travel

Electric Bicycles: a New Choice for Urban and Rural Travel

Introduction

Over the past five years, electric bicycles (e-bikes) have transitioned from a niche market to a significant trend in urban mobility, revolutionizing the way we navigate our daily lives. With advancements in technology, sustainability concerns, and the increasing demand for efficient, cost-effective transportation, e-bikes have emerged as a popular choice for commuters, enthusiasts, and environmental advocates alike.Whether you’re considering making the switch to an e-bike or simply curious about their growing prominence, this article aims to equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate the e-bike landscape confidently.

1.Overview of Electric Bicycles

In last decades, as the non-renewable oil resources and the deterioration of the ecological environment, the e-bike as new mode of travel, and also more and more people choose it as the first choice as their ways to destination. E-bikes are capturing the attention of a broad audience, thanks to their remarkable blend of economic efficiency and operational simplicity.

1.1Origin and Development

The e-bikes are the products of the technology innovation, they combined with the concept of green energy development, which promote the e-bike industry come into being. At the beginning, this area is pure novel for all scientists and engineers. The biggest challenge of e-bikes is the battery technology. Thanks to the relentless efforts and persistent exploration of scientists and engineers, significant breakthroughs have been achieved in battery technology, providing a continuous impetus for the innovative development of electric bicycles.
1.2Current Market Status
In recent year, with the battery technology innovation, which made the price of e-bikes are affordable by more and more people. In the market share of vehicles, the share of e-bikes is about 1/4. What’s more, it is common situation that one family possesses two e-bikes. Convenience, long endurance and low-cost make it popular in young groups. Also, with brilliant market share, more and more excellent brand also provide excellent products with unique service for consumers, which makes fierce competition on e-bikes field.

2. Technological Advancements
   For a product, the core is the production technology, e-bikes are also no exception.The motor and battery are the most important parts for a e-bike. Technological advancements on battery and motor can support bikes to work and perform well.

2.1 Progress in Battery and Motor Technology
When the e-bike first come out, the cost of battery materials are expensive, and it also made the e-bikes price located on high price, with the breakthrough and development of battery technology, which make the price in the reasonable range. With the constant advancements in technology, the performance of electric bicycles has been steadily enhancing. Significant breakthroughs in battery technology have led to a substantial increase in the range of electric bicycles, coupled with a dramatic reduction in charging time, thereby offering users a more convenient and efficient riding experience.

Motor technology is major focus on the stability and excellent performance provide for consumers. Excellent motor can support bikes to work more steady and more healthier than traditional fuel-powered motorcycles, it reducing the tailpipe emission and noise pollution. And more and more people purchase this kind of product are the wise choice.

2.2 Smart Technologies

In technologies concepts, there are many technology innovations operate on e-bikes. Smart technologies can make sure products perform well and provide consumers unique experience. Here are the parts smart technologies applied.

①.Seats: the bikes have a smaller size than motor,so the seats are more ergonomic also more suitable for medium and long distance travel.  

②. Headlight:excellent headlights can make sure consumers more safe in the night road travel.  

③.Sensitive breaks:in emergence situation or complex road situation, sensitive breaks can support consumers have more reaction time.

④. Suspension system:excellent suspension can support consumers can steady drive on different road conditions, also can support consumers excellent and unique experience.

3. Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages
   Everything has its own advantages and disadvantages, so are e-bikes. This part we will analysis how e-bikes advantages people well and and how their shortcomings influence people. With these factors, we hope can provide structural guide for the engineers to improve even upgrade the products.

3.1 Key Advantages
For nowadays electric bike, the key advantages are the economic benefits and zero emissions. Compared with other fuel vehicles, the price of e-bikes are affordable by vast majority of consumers, also the charging costs are minimal compared with the costs of fuels. Additionally the maintenance costs of e-bikes are relatively low. With the electricity-power motor, there are almost zero emissions, environment-friendly, are the another highlights.   

3.2 Existing Shortcomings
Even the advanced technologies used on e-bikes, but their still also has the shortcomings. The frequency charges for the battery, and low power support during journey with away from electricity charge destination, which are a big trouble for consumers. Moreover, the electric bicycle's body structure is relatively simple, and its safety performance may not be as stable as a traditional bicycle.

4. Role in Urban Transportation
   In the city,in order to deduce the traffic jam, e-bikes are also another affordable choice for most citizens. In this part, we will further learn about how e-bikes influence citizens’life. What rules should obey when ride a e-bike.

4.1 Position in Traffic
In our daily life, most people choosing e-bikes as their first travel choice for no very long distance. And e-bikes are located in non-motor vehicles in most legal system. However, this doesn’t mean that e-bikes can roam freely. To make sure the safety and order of traffic road, e-bikes riders must obey the traffic rules, wear safety helmets, follow with the traffic lights and signs, and operate within the designated areas.  

4.2 Planning Suggestions
In this part, The author will display through major common usage situation of e-bikes: urban and rural. In the city, it is very strict of traffic rules, but all e-bike riders must obey the traffic rules. The author support that it is necessary to build a lance for e-bike usage, which it can reduce the traffic jam to the large extent.

Contrary to urban areas, rural regions often lack the infrastructure and strict traffic regulations found in cities. However, it's imperative to establish regulations specific to e-bike usage in rural areas. While there may be fewer traffic lights and stringent rules, ensuring the safe operation of e-bikes is essential for the well-being of rural communities. Implementing regulations tailored to the unique characteristics of rural landscapes can help mitigate potential risks and promote responsible e-bike usage.

5. Usage and Maintenance
   It is know to all that almost every materials need to replace or maintenance time to time, so do e-bikes. In this part, the author will provide some suggestions on how to prolong the service life.

5.1Riding Tips
How to ride and e-bike? The excellent riding tips can make sure that e-bikes are in good working condition,which can make sure less working error code during usage.

①.Before riding: checking the overall situation of e-bikes, make sure all spare parts lights, tires battery are all good working condition.

②.When riding: wear safety helmet, obey the local traffic rules and traffic lights, be careful when go through the road.

③.After riding:checking the battery capacity, charge the battery if the battery power is too low, clean the frame and battery cover, which can make sure the e-bike is in good condition.

④．Learning the riding basic skills, consumers should master some riding skills, such as balance control and turning techniques.

5.2 Maintenance Methods

Communicated the replacement store related personal, the author learned that the battery,motor and circuit are the most easily damaged parts. Methods to maintenance the e-bikes, the most importance is to make sure all spare parts particular battery in good working condition, checking the capacity after every riding. If the battery need to be replaced, the author suggest that consumers should have professionals checked or replaced.

Conclusion

E-bikes have become increasingly popular among urban and rural communities, capturing the interest of diverse age groups, including the youth. However, it's crucial to acknowledge the importance of understanding traffic laws and regulations governing e-bike ownership. With a deep-rooted appreciation for health and environmental friendliness, there's a growing imperative for the e-bike industry to implement stringent guidelines for its sustainable development. By equipping potential consumers with essential knowledge, we can empower them to make informed choices when selecting an e-bike, thereby fostering responsible usage and contributing to the advancement of e-bike technology and infrastructure.