Cheap Electric Bike Saves Cash…But at What Cost
It’s a no-brainer. Bicycling is cheap transportation and good for the environment. But not all bikes are created equal and while they’re all cheap compared to cars…some can seem a bit steep. And then there’s the whole pedaling thing…call me lazy, but I like the idea of my vehicle moving me, instead of me moving my vehicle. It’s certainly a less green alternative, but far greener than a car. Unfortunately electric bikes can cost upwards of a couple of thousand dollars, but an extraordinarily inexpensive option is being produced by California company Currie Technologies.
The $350 hybrid electric bike 388-PP can reach top speeds of 18 miles per hour and the range is 15 miles.
A rack-mounted regular Sealed Lead Acid rechargeable battery powers the all-terrain bike. The battery, which is detachable, takes between two to four hours to charge up.
The good news is this cheap bike is available now for purchase. The bad news is if you’re looking for something light, this probably won’t cut it. The bike weighs a whopping 76 pounds and so if you run out the charge, it’s going to be a heavy haul with that battery weighing you down. And the rechargeable battery has a short life span of between 200 to 300 charges before you need to buy a new replacement one from Currie for $120.
Via TreeHugger
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