Sometimes you think: to move one person a few kilometers, we start a car that weighs more than a ton. Then we look for somewhere to park it. Against that backdrop, the idea of a personal electric bike seems very sensible to me. A small vehicle that helps you be more independent in everyday life.
This is not an advertisement or an attempt to recommend one particular brand to everyone. I simply wanted to talk about an amazing field that is developing literally before our eyes. And the word "electric bike" now covers very different things: a bicycle with pedal assist, a compact city vehicle, and a genuine electric motorcycle.
Small means closer to everyday life
A lightweight bike has an advantage that is difficult to appreciate from attractive photographs: you can lift it with your hands. Carry it into your home, move it around, or put it in the trunk. A folding model can even be tucked into a corner of an apartment without turning the hallway into a garage. Of course, a small size does not always mean low weight: a compact vehicle with a heavy battery may still be impossible to lift. What matters here is the actual weight, including the battery.
I think lightweight models are especially appealing for ordinary city life. When you can store your vehicle at home instead of leaving it in the courtyard overnight, your attitude toward it is completely different. For someone without a garage, this may prove more important than high speed andimpressive in appearance.
For example, Brompton has the C Line folding electric range. The point of this design is not speed records, but combining a bicycle with compact luggage. It is an interesting approach: transport should be convenient not only while you are riding, but also after the journey has ended.
A large bike means different possibilities
A larger machine has room for a high-capacity battery, a sturdy frame, a comfortable seat, and luggage. With the right configuration, it becomes full-fledged transport for long trips and practical everyday tasks. However, size alone does not guarantee a long range: a powerful motor, high speed, hills, and cargo quickly consume energy. Specific models and the conditions under which their range was measured need to be compared.
Cargo e-bikes are particularly interesting. Baskets, panniers, a long rear platform—and you can bring home groceries, tools, or things for the country house. The third-generation Tern GSD is rated for a permissible total weight of 210 kg. This includes the bike itself, the rider, and the cargo—not 210 kg of cargo alone. Even with that clarification, its capabilities are serious. At the same time, the GSD shows that cargo transport does not necessarily have to be enormous.
A powerful sport electric motorcycle is a separate matter. Its strength and power do not at all mean that you can load it with any kind of cargo. Transporting goods requires an appropriate design and the permissible load specified by the manufacturer.
See what it already looks like
Here are two videos by Tim Ston about powerful electric bikes. This is specifically the motorcycle-style category, not small folding bicycles:
"This ELECTRIC BIKE is frighteningly powerful":
"The MOST POWERFUL electric bike I've ridden? 35,000W" — a review of the Y-Volt Surge V:
The power figure in the title of the second video is the reviewer's claim, not a benchmark that everyone necessarily needs. The requirements for a trip to buy bread and for off-road riding are still different.
What changes with this technology
I'm interested in more than just power. Removable batteries let you take the battery to an outlet separately. Some models can accommodate a second battery. Torque sensors make motor assistance smoother: press harder on the pedals and you get more support. Some cargo models already have ABS, while electronic systems help adjust the assistance and protect the bicycle from theft. These features depend on the configuration, but the direction itself is impressive.
I would like the next major achievement to be ease of repair as well: an easily replaceable battery, straightforward maintenance, and spare parts available years later. After all, a convenient product is one you can use for a long time.
And yet, about nature
Electric transport produces no gasoline exhaust while in use. It does not pollute the air beneath your windows, leave behind the smell of burnt fuel, and is usually quieter. For a city, that is a very noticeable difference—especially when a small bike replaces a short car trip.
Of course, there is no such thing as zero environmental impact: the battery has to be manufactured, electricity has to be generated, and the spent battery must be recycled properly. But everyday choices like these can also help us treat nature more carefully. There is no need to move a ton of metal with you every time.
Everyone chooses what suits their life. Some people need a lightweight folding helper that can live in their apartment. Others need a cargo bike. And some are interested in a large electric vehicle for traveling. What I like about this idea is the opportunity to choose transportation to suit the person, their abilities, and their needs. Without requiring a garage, gasoline, or the endless search for parking.
This is not an advertisement or an attempt to recommend one particular brand to everyone. I simply wanted to talk about an amazing field that is developing literally before our eyes. And the word "electric bike" now covers very different things: a bicycle with pedal assist, a compact city vehicle, and a genuine electric motorcycle.
Small means closer to everyday life
A lightweight bike has an advantage that is difficult to appreciate from attractive photographs: you can lift it with your hands. Carry it into your home, move it around, or put it in the trunk. A folding model can even be tucked into a corner of an apartment without turning the hallway into a garage. Of course, a small size does not always mean low weight: a compact vehicle with a heavy battery may still be impossible to lift. What matters here is the actual weight, including the battery.
I think lightweight models are especially appealing for ordinary city life. When you can store your vehicle at home instead of leaving it in the courtyard overnight, your attitude toward it is completely different. For someone without a garage, this may prove more important than high speed andimpressive in appearance.
For example, Brompton has the C Line folding electric range. The point of this design is not speed records, but combining a bicycle with compact luggage. It is an interesting approach: transport should be convenient not only while you are riding, but also after the journey has ended.
A large bike means different possibilities
A larger machine has room for a high-capacity battery, a sturdy frame, a comfortable seat, and luggage. With the right configuration, it becomes full-fledged transport for long trips and practical everyday tasks. However, size alone does not guarantee a long range: a powerful motor, high speed, hills, and cargo quickly consume energy. Specific models and the conditions under which their range was measured need to be compared.
Cargo e-bikes are particularly interesting. Baskets, panniers, a long rear platform—and you can bring home groceries, tools, or things for the country house. The third-generation Tern GSD is rated for a permissible total weight of 210 kg. This includes the bike itself, the rider, and the cargo—not 210 kg of cargo alone. Even with that clarification, its capabilities are serious. At the same time, the GSD shows that cargo transport does not necessarily have to be enormous.
A powerful sport electric motorcycle is a separate matter. Its strength and power do not at all mean that you can load it with any kind of cargo. Transporting goods requires an appropriate design and the permissible load specified by the manufacturer.
See what it already looks like
Here are two videos by Tim Ston about powerful electric bikes. This is specifically the motorcycle-style category, not small folding bicycles:
"This ELECTRIC BIKE is frighteningly powerful":
"The MOST POWERFUL electric bike I've ridden? 35,000W" — a review of the Y-Volt Surge V:
The power figure in the title of the second video is the reviewer's claim, not a benchmark that everyone necessarily needs. The requirements for a trip to buy bread and for off-road riding are still different.
What changes with this technology
I'm interested in more than just power. Removable batteries let you take the battery to an outlet separately. Some models can accommodate a second battery. Torque sensors make motor assistance smoother: press harder on the pedals and you get more support. Some cargo models already have ABS, while electronic systems help adjust the assistance and protect the bicycle from theft. These features depend on the configuration, but the direction itself is impressive.
I would like the next major achievement to be ease of repair as well: an easily replaceable battery, straightforward maintenance, and spare parts available years later. After all, a convenient product is one you can use for a long time.
And yet, about nature
Electric transport produces no gasoline exhaust while in use. It does not pollute the air beneath your windows, leave behind the smell of burnt fuel, and is usually quieter. For a city, that is a very noticeable difference—especially when a small bike replaces a short car trip.
Of course, there is no such thing as zero environmental impact: the battery has to be manufactured, electricity has to be generated, and the spent battery must be recycled properly. But everyday choices like these can also help us treat nature more carefully. There is no need to move a ton of metal with you every time.
Everyone chooses what suits their life. Some people need a lightweight folding helper that can live in their apartment. Others need a cargo bike. And some are interested in a large electric vehicle for traveling. What I like about this idea is the opportunity to choose transportation to suit the person, their abilities, and their needs. Without requiring a garage, gasoline, or the endless search for parking.