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Pedaling around town with a little extra oomph
About a month ago, I received a press release from Electric Motion Systems about an electric bike the company recently had made. As someone who believes that athletic equipment should be powered by the human body, I was skeptical about the need for such a bike, but at the same time I was intrigued. So I set up an appointment to meet with the inventors to find out more.
At first glance, the bike does not look any different than a bike you would purchase at a cycle shop. But as Marc Pultuskier, marketing and sales manager at EMS, began to take me through a 101 session of the E+ bike, the similarities stopped.
The bike, which is made to order, comes in two 18-inch frames – cruiser or mountain bike – and two motors – 750 or 1000 watt. The battery is in the front with the motor positioned on the back wheel, and the cables run through the aluminum frame to keep wires safely stowed away. The handles have grip shifts with seven settings, and a display and control unit -- no larger than a cell phone – plugged into the handle bars. This is the key, literally, to the bike.
Along with acting as a lock, the control unit tracks all functions of the bike. From speed, distance, settings, cruise control and battery life to shutting down the bike – locking the pedals so no one can ride away with it – the display unit is truly the item that sets the E+ bike apart from other electric bikes on the market.
After hearing the spiel about the E+, I was starting to wonder, “Is there anything this bike can't do?” (There are even 19 cycling modes, nine of which are exercise modes.)
Moving back to the lab where the inventing, engineering and building of the bikes takes place, I was introduced to Sunil Gupta, business development manager and one of the 10 founders of EMS, who put my questions to the test.
“We can talk all we want about the bike, but people need to get out there and put their butt on the seat to really understand,” he said.
Challenge accepted. I made an appointment to ride the next day.
On a beautiful, breezy, sunny day I pulled up to EMS, at 45150 Business Court in Dulles, and hopped on the cruiser model.
Experienced with what I do and don't like about bikes (I recently tested numerous bikes before purchasing one), I started to pedal down around the office complex.
Right away, I realized that I may have purchased a bike too soon.
The seat was unbelievably comfortable. The spread between body and handlebars was perfect. After going around a block, I decided to see what this electric bike could do.
Gently using the thumb lever that kicks the motor on, I was brought back to the days of learning to ride a bike with a gentle push from behind, as if my mom or dad were the power source. There was no loud hum from the motor and no jolting motion, just a smooth transition from manpower to motored power.
I must have gone around the office complex 10 times, getting up to a maximum speed of 24 mph (top speed is 30-35 mph).
I was sold. The E+ bike is comfortable, easy to use and it allows for the main purpose of exercise, all while giving the convenience of some motored help.
“It is a great way of getting people to ride bikes more,” Pultuskier said. “People can ride to work using the motor so they don't get all sweaty before work, and then use it as a regular bike to go home.”
Now is a great time for the E+ bike to come on the market, with gas prices so high. The E+ motor lasts 20 to 40 miles (depending on terrain) on a four- to five-hour charge -- just plug it into any outlet.
And at a cost of $3,495 to $4,049 – depending on what wattage you choose – it's an economical way of getting around town, compared to a car.
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