Is the issue fat people or electric bicycles? Cycling gets you out and about in the fresh air, north of Kendal anyway, and electric bikes help facilitate that. My wife and I cycle but I have always been fitter and stronger than her and as we get older that gap is widening. An electric bike is currently, pardon the pun, being considered so that we can close that gap and make our trips more enjoyable. Obesity is a separate issue altogether.
Fat people have a choice. Don't eat so much and burn more calories. You would be surprised at how many new things that they can do when they lose the fat.
Such as run to McDonald's, or fight off seagulls more successfully to stop them stealing their chips. Fat people are harder to kidnap though, it's a trade off
On the plus side, my dad has always cycled even now at 78 but he is finding it harder. He is very anti old people, which is a hoot at the old peoples community Christmas bash in his old peoples bungalows but he point blank refuses to start using an electric buggy. We have been looking at a woman's G tech electric bike for him, the woman's version helps as it has a step through frame rather than cock an arthritic and failing leg over the mans bike crossbar. For him I see a massive possible difference in health but also mindset of still being independent with a lil gentle assist when needed
They do but I don't think it's as simple as that. I suspect it is like having two fuel tanks, a normal main tank and an infinitely expandable reserve tank which, when filling up, takes overflow fuel once the main tank is full. Then it is necessary to fully empty the main tank before fuel will flow from the reserve tank, and therein lies the problem.
Leccy bicycles have to be assist-only by law, so you still have to pedal. Any exercise is better than none, especially for fatties who can get into a downward spiral.
The key point about battery electric bikes (and cars) is: how much energy can you store in the battery, and thus carry about with you. One litre of petrol contains energy equivalent to about 12 or 13 KwH. The bike mentioned in this thread is listed as having a 500 WH battery, which means a half of one KwH. So the energy available to the rider equates to about one twenty-fourth of a litre of petrol. Just bear that in mind, before you are tempted to shell out four grand.
If you aren't going to use the pedals on an electric bike, you might as well knock up an old boneshaker and run while you sit on it - that will keep you fit.
Good points but for many electric bikes are a form of recreation not transport. Electric bikes assist the rider to pedal, they are not "twist and go".
Pete, sorry to be a pedant but please get unit nomenclature correct. Its kWh & Wh. A capital K is Kelvin (temperature) and a capital H is a Henry (inductance). As an Engineer I get OCD over this.
I have no idea what a collateralised debt obligation has to do with it, unless its how you pay for the bike.
