TUCSON, Ariz. — All is normal on the campus of the University of Arizona. The sun breaks through palm trees as cascading rays of light reflect off the oversized sunglasses of girls talking on their cell phones.

But somewhere in between the chatter and bustle exists an audible humming sound, similar to a computer's. Suddenly a bicycle, of sorts, flies past a group of curious onlookers, whose brows raise and eyes focus on the mysterious vehicle emitting a low buzzing noise.

The electric bicycle, sometimes called a Light Electric Vehicle, or LEV, has made a number of cameo appearances on and around the desert campus, leaving people scratching their heads as to what they just saw.

“I was thinking it was a scooter, or some kind of small motorcycle,” said Cooper Miller, an economics junior.

From Paris to Portland, the electric bicycle, an oddity in Tucson, has slowly grown into a viable transportation alternative for daily commutes and short trips.

What is an electric bicycle?

The electric bicycle has a number of identities. Primarily, it is a stand-alone bicycle with a battery-powered motor attached to it. The distinction between types of electric bicycles rests between whether they have self-propulsion that assists the rider in manual pedaling.

The pedal-assist model is exactly that; the bicycle’s motor receives power generated by the user’s pedaling, causing it to activate and add to the bicycle’s propulsion. These kinds of bicycles are mostly prevalent in Europe and Asia.

The other model, the power on-demand system, has become popular mainly in the United States. These electric bikes are essentially battery-powered, self-propelled bicycles that also have a pedal option. On these models, riders use a thumb throttle or wrist grip to accelerate, almost exactly like a motorcycle.

Origins of the electric bicycle

The electric bicycle is far from a modern invention. The first patent for an electric bicycle was granted to Ogden Bolt Jr. in 1895. It wasn’t until the late 1980s and 1990s that electric bikes became a mainstream form of transportation in places like Japan and China, where the electric bike today is a common form of transportation.

“It hasn’t been until the last 10 to 12 years that electric bikes became their own recognizable product,” said Sidney Kuropchek, the executive director of Light Electric Vehicle Association.

Electric bicycles have not always been sold as fully operational units. Do-it-yourself kits allow users to retrofit an existing bike with a pedal-assist system.

Who uses an electric bicycle?

The electric bike began to get a foothold in the U.S. market as a tool for senior citizens, said James Neff, regional manager of Bikes Electric, 800 E. University Blvd. Elderly users can use the pedal function of the bicycle for exercise and fall back to its power-on-demand function if needed.

Today, electric bikes are used by city commuters, college students, police officers and unlicensed teens who thirst for the freedom of transportation.

“The ease of parking electric bicycles and their speed makes them ideal for people looking for a second mode of transportation," Neff said.

Pros and cons of the electric bicycle

Imagine being able to make your daily commute without having to fuel up, fight traffic and find and pay for parking. Convenient, no?

Electric bike users are not required to carry special insurance nor do they have to adhere to traffic laws that other motorized vehicle operators obey.

“Most people just love the convenience,” Neff said. “We’re not seeing people go the extra step to sell their car and stop paying insurance. They just want a more efficient way to take short trips.”

Pima Community College education major Nicolas Sivolella recently purchased an electric bicycle to replace his regular bicycle.

“I don’t have a car, so I did everything on my bike. With my new bike I can do everything I could do in a car and not be worn out at the end of the day,” Sivolella said.

For users like Sivolella, the bike serves as a tool to get loads of groceries and make small ventures to the local coffee shop. “I don’t think I’ll ever go back to my regular bike," he said.

There exists a “green factor” with electric bicycles as well. They do not burn fossil fuels, nor do they require large parking lots as do most motorized vehicles.

Bikes can be plugged in and charged wherever there is a common electrical outlet.

The cost of charging an electric bicycle pales in comparison to the cost of gasoline. The average full charge of a rechargeable lithium ion battery uses .59 kilowatt-hours. Tucson Electric Power charges 11 cents per kwh making a 20-mile trip cost 5 cents. The same 20-mile trip in a vehicle that consumes the U.S. average of 24.7 miles per gallon at $1.81 per gallon costs $1.47, a difference of 29.4 percent, not including insurance and maintenance costs.

Electric bikes do have drawbacks, however. Like any other bicycle, it’s best used in good weather.

Disposing of bicycle batteries can pose a problem. Safe battery disposal locations exist across the country. (See map below for locations in Tucson.)

“You either pay for it now or you pay later,” said Neff, referring to the type of batteries that come with different models. The standard acid battery has a life well short of the more expensive lithium ion battery.

Ensuring that harmful heavy metals in such batteries do not contaminate water sources requires proper disposal.

“People need to understand that all batteries are recyclable,” said Justin Jungman, an executive account manager at the Michigan-based Battery Solutions Inc.

Other businesses, like Batteries Plus, will recycle consumers’ batteries free of charge. “We’re trying to keep harmful batteries out of the landfills,” said Ray Muñoz, a battery expert and manager at Batteries Plus.

Another drawback of the electric bicycle can be safety. The electric bike is nothing more than a bicycle with a motor, making the traditional helmet the standard in electric bike safety.

"You have to pay more attention on an electric than a typical bike," Sivolella said. "Just avoid traffic and don't cut off cars."

Safety concerns have lead to legislation concerning electric bikes. The City of Tucson, for example, requires that operators be above 16 years of age and that they not exceed 20 mph.

The future of electric bikes

The electric bike is gaining a foothold in U.S. markets. According to LEVA, more than 95 percent of all electric bicycles sold and manufactured come from China, but traditional bicycle companies based in the United States are pushing to curb that trend.

Kuropchek said the Light Electric Vehicle Association expects 2009 electric bike sales to "be between 150,000 and 250,000."

Formed in 1895, The Schwinn Bicycle Company has found relative success in the growing electric bike industry since coming out with its first model in 2007.

“We have a hard time keeping up with demand,” said Mark Larson, a Schwinn sales representative in Tucson. “We predict a large growth in both international and domestic sales.”

City governments around the country have also started to embrace the electric bicycle. The City of Tucson has already entertained the idea of purchasing electric bikes for use in an electric bike-sharing program.

Other entities, such as the California-based nonprofit CalStart, offer incentives for people to purchase electric bikes. Qualified applicants may receive up to $500 for purchasing an electric bicycle. The goal of the group is to create a cleaner, more efficient system of transportation in Pasadena, Calif.

Though in the U.S. the electric bicycle is still not fully embraced, its future looks bright. So while this budding technology fights to jump from the obscure to the commonplace, in the future don’t be surprised to see electric bikes turning more corners than heads.

Electric Bike Resource Map:


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Related Links:

An electric bike forum

Electric-bikes.com contains vast amount of information about electric bikes and other LEVs

Spooky Tooth Cycles has info about electric and motorized bicycles