Can e-bikes save the world?
While it might sound like a far-fetched question, in reality the answer is at least a qualified yes. E-bikes have amazing potential to make our world a much better place in the years ahead. The benefits of e-bikes can help us individually and help our world as a whole have a better future.
E-bikes’ full benefits won’t be felt until governments make streets safer for cycling, citizens are incentivized to buy e-bikes or seek cheaper modes of transportation than gas-powered cars and trucks, and more people start using their electric bicycles for everyday transportation purposes, not just recreation. Even so, there are steps we can take here and now to reap more benefits from our e-bikes.
See Related Story: “How to Choose the Right E-bike“
Here are five ways that e-bikes can save the world, or at least make it a safer and better place to live:
No. 1: Reduce or Stop Importing Russian Gas
With Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the public has become painfully aware that U.S. and other Western nations import petroleum products from hostile nations such as Russia. Every time we crank up our gas-powered vehicles to run an errand around town, we are inadvertantly helping to fund Putin’s war machine. Compounding matters, Americans tend to favor mega-large vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks that are gas guzzlers.
About 38 percent of all petroleum usage in the USA is used for transportation purposes, with our passenger vehicles accounting for the largest percentage of that usage. At present, the U.S. imports more gas from Russia than it does any other nation. We also import oil and gas from other nations that aren’t exactly our best friends including Venezuela and certain Middle Eastern nations.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could find a way to reduce our need for foreign oil and gas that didn’t stir up divisive debates about more drilling and new pipelines? Consider the e-bike. Greater e-bike ridership could reduce America’s dependence on foreign sources of oil and gas.
We don’t have to give up our cars entirely to reap these benefits. Simply choosing to run a few errands each week by bike instead of car will make a difference. Deciding to commute to work one day a week by bike instead of car can make a difference.
Riding an e-bike for short errands around town will also help our pocketbooks, since we won’t have to fill up the car’s gas tank as often. More about that in No. 3 below.
When you think about it this way, riding our e-bikes more and using our gas and diesel-burning vehicles less becomes the patriotic thing to do. It’s one small change we can take to make the world a better place.
No. 2: Fight Harmful Climate Change
A dire new report released recently by the United Nations said time is running out to stop irreparable damage to our climate from harmful CO2 emissions. It described climate change as a “grave and mounting threat” that will result in widespread disruptions over the next two decades such as ecosystem collapse, species extinction, deadly heatwaves, and floods.
Studies have documented the power of e-bikes to reduce carbon emissions. One study found that e-bikes generate only 21 to 22 grams of CO2 per kilometer traveled, while cars generate 271 grams.
Each of us contribute to global warming every time we drive our cars and trucks. While motorized vehicles are necessary for most longer trips and carrying heavy cargo, the reality is that most of the car trips we take are short. In many communities the majority of these errands could be run on a bicycle instead. If you live in a city, odds are good that there are grocery stores, drugstores, and convenience stores within a two or three-mile radius of your home.
Even if your city isn’t enlightened and has yet to provide safe bike routes (shame on them), you can often map out alternative routes using residential or other low-traffic streets for running your errands. That is what I personally have to do, since my city is far from bike-friendly with very few miles of utilitarian bike paths. I still find ways to use my bike to safely travel to the supermarket, other stores, and a nearby park.
No. 3: Save Money
Compared with cars, e-bikes are a bargain to buy and operate. The average e-bike in the U.S. sells new for between $2,000 and $3,500. Even higher-end models rarely exceed $5,000.
E-bikes are relatively cheap to maintain as well. The chart below summarizes the annualized costs for buying a $3,000 e-bike, carrying a separate e-bike insurance policy on it, riding it four years while getting annual tune-ups, and then selling it for a hypothetical $1,000 at the end of the four years. Actual costs for the average e-bike rider will be even less, since most buyers won’t carry insurance on it and will keep it longer than four years. I recommend e-bike insurance, by the way, but let’s save that discussion for another story.
Now let’s compare these e-bike costs with the average price of a new car. According to Consumer Reports, new cars in the U.S. today average just over $47,000, or more than ten times the cost of even a high-end e-bike. The actual vehicle cost today is probably even higher, since in recent months prices on new and used cars have continued to rise due to inflation and shortages.
Cars also carry a substantial ongoing cost of ownership for gas, oil changes, insurance, loan interest expenses, and repairs. The American Automotive Association (AAA) says the average annual cost of ownership for a car is $9,282, or $773.50 per month. That includes purchase price, gas, repairs, and insurance.
This chart summarizes the cost of owning and operating cars and e-bikes.
Many families today own two, or even three motorized vehicles, counting cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs. Especially in larger urban areas, many are discovering they can cut their monthly costs significantly by replacing one of these vehicles with an e-bike. With the right e-bike and well-designed bike infrastructure, there is no reason why an urban family should not be able to commute to work, take children to school and parks, and run other errands by bike.
In some cases, city dwellers have sold their only car, relying instead on a combination of e-bikes and public transit for daily commuting and errands. On the rare occasion when they need a larger vehicle for a longer trip, they find it more economical to rent versus owning.
Unfortunately, relying on an e-bike as a primary means of family transportation in North America is not a practical solution yet for those of us who dwell in suburban and rural areas where motorized vehicles own the roads. Even so, many of us in these less-bike-friendly locales could save money by at least using our e-bikes more often for running short errands.
When looking for places to live in the future, let’s make it a priority to buy in cities and towns with safe and complete biking networks (trails and lanes) and in neighborhoods that have easy access by walking or cycling to stores, places of work, parks, churches, and schools. That will be better for our health, our pocketbooks, and for the climate. A good starting point for your research is this list of nearly 500 bike-friendly communities in the U.S. maintained by the League of American Bicyclists. Pay special attention to the gold and silver-rated communities, which have done the most to create safe bike pathways in their cities.
No. 4: Improve Public Health
Diabetes, obesity, heart trouble are all on the rise. We are at a crisis point when it comes to public health. Our population is far too sedentary. It is in society’s best interest to encourage more physical activity, and two of the best options are cycling and walking. This means governments need to install the proper infrastructure to make safe walking and cycling possible for more people. Governments and industry groups also need to educate the public on the benefits of these alternative means of transportation and provide incentives where possible.
Cycling, including riding an e-bike, provides multiple health benefits. Cycling on a regular basis improves cardiovascular fitness. It helps with weight loss and can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Cycling tones muscles, improves lung capacity, fights insomnia, and has a host of other benefits. For older riders, e-bikes are easy on the joints and can be enjoyed even by many people with breathing difficulties and other health challenges.
You can read more about the health benefits of cycling and e-bikes in Chapters 4 and 5 of my recently published book, “E-Bikes – Putting the FUN Back into Cycling (and Life) at any Age.”
See Related Story: “E-Bikes Help Seniors to Enjoy Cycling and Stay Fit“
No. 5: Cut Highway Traffic Deaths
America’s roadways are dangerous. The National Safety Council says that in 2020 more than 42,000 people died on America’s roads and highways. Thousands more suffered life-changing serious injuries. If our cities and states promoted a more bicycle-friendly culture, traffic deaths would fall. Fewer people driving on the roads in cars would not only result in a reduction in traffic deaths and injuries, but it would also mean less traffic congestion and wasted time behind the wheel.
But critics might say “Won’t cycling-related accidents rise when more people bike to school and work?” Yes, but would you rather fall off your bike at 12 mph and get a scraped knee or have a car crash at 40 mph (or more)? Plus, when transportation networks are planned with cyclists and pedestrians in mind, and not just for motor vehicles, average driving speeds will be reduced, resulting in fewer vehicular and cycling deaths.
Why E-bikes?
Some might say that while e-bikes have value, wouldn’t traditional (non-electric) bikes be even better? After all, they generate zero emissions, produce superior health benefits, and cost less to buy and maintain.
That’s all true. If you prefer riding a non-electric bike and will do so regularly in the ways mentioned above, that’s great. We’re all for cycling, regardless of the type bike (or trike) you choose to ride.
As a serious transportation choice, however, e-bikes are superior. A much wider cross-section of the population can (and will) regularly ride them. You don’t have to be athletic to ride an e-bike. You can commute to work on an e-bike without breaking a sweat. You can be a senior citizen and still ride an e-bike (or a three-wheel e-trike). Besides, riding an e-bike is a more enjoyable experience for the average person.
E-bikes are far more adaptable than regular bikes for everyday purposes. There are e-bikes designed to carry two or more children to school. Delivery services are using specially designed e-bikes to carry food and packages. The United States Postal Service and UPS are buying cargo e-bikes. The possibilities are endless.
No one product or change of habit can totally change the world, but more cycling and greater use of e-bikes can be a big step in the right direction. Let’s resolve to put our e-bikes to more frequent and more practical day-to-day usage.
Let’s also become advocates for cycling and for e-bikes. Let’s encourage our city, state, and federal government leaders to provide improved and safer bike infrastructure and to offer incentives to consumers to buy or use e-bikes. Speak up. Share this story with your friends on Facebook and other social media. Share it with your government leaders. Our officials need to hear this message. After all, it just might help save the world.
It’s great that you mentioned that electric bikes can help you save money. My wife and I want to do a bike tour this summer. We will have to use electric bikes so that we can save a lot of money.
Compared to driving a car, truck, or SUV, riding a bicycle of any type is far cheaper. For the average person, an electric bike (versus a standard bike) is considered a more practical alternative to a car for commuting and running errands. I hope you and your wife enjoy your bike tour this summer. That sounds exciting.