Environmental Effects of Electric Bikes

Zero-emissions admission
It won't be a surprise to note that an electric vehicle does not spout noxious gases as it zips down the road. Nor does it make much noise or pose much of a threat to pedestrians. The lighter weight of an electric bike also makes it a much more efficient means of carrying a single person to a destination.

However, one should also calculate the process of electricity generation and power distribution as well as the problem of making and disposing of the batteries. After these considerations, the electric bike still comes out far ahead of the automobile in terms of environmental impact. One making a decision based entirely on energy use will go with the bike, but a budget constrained consumer in need of one or the other will likely go with the car because of the limitless range. To make the environmental benefits of electric bikes truly attractive to many consumers, ranges and time between charges need to continually improve.

Additional perks to driving an E-bike
Since electric bikes have relatively small battery packs, they are excellent candidates for charging via solar power. Ideally solar parking lots will someday be common, allowing electric bike riders to park beneath photovoltaic panels while they run errands or work. This, and combined with the widespread use of regenerative braking, will greatly increase the mobility of electric bike riders and thereby increase the overall benefits to the environment.

An often unspoken benefit to using an electric bike is the physical exercise it provides. Many are deterred from riding a traditional bike because of the strain of a rigorous daily ride. Because electric bikes do some of the work, riding to work will be more feasible. This translates to much more exercise than the very sedentary activity of driving a car.