It is hard to deny that cars and other vehicles produce harmful emissions that negatively impact the environment. To address this issue, people are finding alternatives to traditional transportation, such as electric cars, carpooling, public transportation, and e-bikes.
Electric Bicycles Produce Fewer Emissions
Motorized bicycles and electric bikes have been around for over 100 years. A small motor is attached to the bicycle and connected to a drive belt that powers the wheels. While gas-powered engines are smaller than the engines used in cars and trucks, they still produce carbon emissions.
E-bikes use electric motors, which do not need gas. When you ride an electric bike instead of driving your car or motorcycle, you reduce your carbon footprint.
Most vehicle pollution is caused by people taking short trips to the store or to work. These short commutes are often well within the range of electric bikes.
You May Help Reduce the Demand for Fossil Fuels
Along with reducing the release of carbon emissions on the road, riding e-bikes helps reduce the demand for fossil fuels. Gas production contributes to pollution, from the pumping of fuel from the Earth and the transportation of fuel to gas stations.
Electric bikes do not use gas. You simply plug the electric battery into an outlet to charge your bike for your next ride.
Reduce the Demand for Lead Acid Batteries
Early electric bikes used electric motors that were typically powered by lead-acid batteries. These batteries were cumbersome, inefficient, and a threat to the environment.
Lead-acid batteries, like the batteries still used in automobiles, contain lead that is harmful to people and the Earth. While there are recycling programs for lead-acid batteries, many of these batteries end up in landfills.
Most modern e-bikes use more efficient rechargeable batteries. This includes the lithium-ion polymer, nickel-metal hydride, or nickel-cadmium batteries, like the batteries found in phones, tablets, and laptops.
The batteries commonly used in electric bikes last longer and are more efficient, reducing the number of batteries and the amount of lead that ends up in the landfill.
While there is a lot of media attention on electric cars, e-bikes are even more environmentally friendly. In fact, electric bikes are safer for the environment than most other forms of transportation.
With a battery that provides several hours of use before it needs charging, e-bikes offer the perfect alternative to driving your car to work or relying on public transportation.
