Electric power may be a four-wheel dream, but it's here and working on two wheels. John Brohpy reports on the electric bike
Electric transport has been around a long time: Thomas Alva Edison pioneered an electric car. The constant problem, though, is that the power-weight ratio means that a battery car has a limited range.
Only two months ago, Ford literally pulled the plug on its Th!nk car, a two-seater with boot space and a range of 68 miles. Even with a lease plan, so that nobody would get stuck with a car, the punters were not impressed.
So, for the moment, the future of battery power is on two wheels. One reason is that, since last March, electrically powered bikes have been exempted from tax and insurance. Admittedly, other countries subsidise prices, while in the Republic 21 per cent VAT is still charged on them - exemptions are a welcome start, especially for young people seeking independent mobility.
On a recent sunny September afternoon, it was off to Windy Arbour, half-way between Milltown and Dundrum in south Dublin, to see what the bikes had to offer. Dave Goldring of Motorcare www.motorcare.ie has been importing electric bikes for two years now. Originally the firm imported used cars from Japan, but the scrappage and millennium changed all that.
But Far East experience wasn't wasted. The new two-wheel offering is made in China and he has branded it as ebike. Only last spring the vehicles were being called pedelecs - now everyone is referring to electric bikes as ebikes.
Dave isn't worried as long as sales keep up. Up to now, efforts have been focused on education and awareness. It's a job trying to convince folk that electric bikes are a viable long-term method of transport.
It was probably the same story when the first hobby-horse bicycles appeared just about two centuries ago (they had no pedals and a cast-iron frame - the one owned by John Jameson is on display in the Whiskey Corner).
The ordinary push-bike is an excellent way of getting around, but the main disadvantage is that the effort means you break sweat. So, you either dress in cycling gear and change when you reach destination, or you use ordinary clothes and arrive hot and bothered in need of a cool down and a wash. With the ebike, you never need more effort than you'd spend on an easy walk. You arrive feeling relaxed but not fatigued, after a steady 12 mph.
I took a trial run partly along the route I once cycled to school - oh happy revenge. Up the slope to Dundrum, floating past as other cyclists were changing gear, and turn left up the hill towards Kilmacud. That's a stiff climb, and the indicator on the bike showed it needed help, but the effort was never more than moderate.
Along Kilmacud road there is a cycle lane, and the ebike proved it was ideal for this. Experienced cyclists using sports machines know that the surface on cycle lanes can be far from a good track. But the ebike has mountain bike tyres and a telescopic fork suspension. Even when hitting a pothole, the only noise is the rattle of the batteries.
The batteries: there are two and they come in a 10 kg pack to drive the 200-watt motor. They're mounted over the back wheel in a lockable compartment.
Recharge time is about five hours. The charger is small enough for any rucksack, so that you can recharge during working hours at a cost of under 40 cent. That would give you a range of 20 miles with battery.
Even if you run out of power, the ebike can be used on ordinary pedal power. And, says Bobby Jolley, partner with David in the business, over the two years they've never had any problems with these batteries.
At Kilmacud I turn over the hill to Mount Merrion, using the big electric indicators, which have a switch just like a motorbike. I float up the steep hill with the ramps, which would break the heart of the ordinary cyclist.
A nice man in a black Merc is so fascinated that I pull in and show off the steed and controls, including the gear change, the traction control for wet weather, the speedometer and the stereo radio.
There are two mini-speakers mounted under the side mirrors, so you can listen to traffic reports, and gloat. Man is most impressed, and we agree that the only problem is security, which applies to any desirable vehicle. A strong lock comes with the overall price of €999.
Down the hill to Foster's Avenue and the brakes prove more than adequate. Some electric bikes have regenerative braking, and give power back to the batteries. But it's a moot point, says Bobby, a trained mechanic, whether it's worth carrying the weight of the regenerative gear when you calculate how much energy you regain. The ebike doesn't bother with regeneration. Up the hill at Foster's Avenue, and I'm getting used to how much help the bike needs. The experience is half-way between a push-bike and a motorcycle, but you soon get used to how much acceleration you have.
Past the mosque at Clonskeagh, down Bird Avenue and we're home. Just like it says - no sweat, relaxed and very enjoyable. After three steep hills and a couple of slopes, the indicator shows that I used about one-third of the battery capacity.
For the dark winter evening there's a powerful built-in headlight, plus tail-light and indicators, keeping you safe and legal.
The miserable early summer meant sales were lower than expected, but they have picked up over the past few weeks. Despite climate change, Dublin is reckoned to have a rainfall of 30 inches per year - that's small when it saves you about 20 hours a week in commuting time. Which is where the ebike certainly scores 10 out of 10.