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Green Machines – Should you trade your car for an electric bicycle?
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Bruce Campbell of Green Machines, Inc. proudly shows off the IZIP electric bike.
Most of us are quite fond of our automobile with good reason and their advantages over bicycles are obvious. Still if you fit a couple of simple criteria, an electric bicycle might be just what you need to make ends more readily meet in these challenging economic times.
If you work downtown, pay to park and live within 10 miles of your office you are an excellent candidate for an electric bike. Saving the $200 to $300 a month you spend on parking and gas for the commute will pay for a bike over the summer.
There are a handful of providers in the metro area including Bird RV in Aurora, the Electric Bike Shop in Castle Rock, Green Machines in Edgewater plus a couple more in Boulder and Longmont.
We recently spoke with Bruce Campbell, owner of Green Machines at 5217 W. 25th Ave. When Campbell talks about hybrids he means bicycles that combine human power with electric motors. The result is a power-assisted bicycle that feels like it’s always going downhill.
“You have two different modes of propulsion,” Campbell explained. “On some models you can go on power alone, without having to pedal, or you have the choice of pedaling and using less power. Other models you have to pedal but as soon as you start a sensor notices the motion and assists you.”
The one we took for a brief test spin had eight gears and five power levels. It was easy to ride and made climbing a slight incline as easy as coasting. The bicycles use a battery pack that locks into place to power an electric motor. The bicycles will go from 15 to 20 miles on a single charge and the batteries can be recharged in 3 to 6 hours, making it a practical way of commuting to work for those who live within 5 or 10 miles of their job. One would also make quick trips to the convenience store or post office both fun and economical.
“It’ll go 13 to 15 mph under it’s own power, which is a fairly typical bicycle speed,” he said. “Right now I am only selling new bikes that are all electric. I do have some used bikes for resale.” Campbell accepts bike donations as well and fixes them up, donating any proceeds to charity. “It’s more of a charitable contribution to the recycling effort – just to try and stay green.”
The new bikes come in a range of models and power levels starting with the IZIP, which retails for $499 plus shipping and taxes. “The mid-range is roughly $799 to $875 and the high end is from about $1,799 up to $3,000 for the real top of the line. It’s a monster – a really great bike.”
The difference is in the size of the motor. The average electric bike has a 450-watt motor – the biggest ones have a 750-watt motor. “It’s also got a larger battery so it’ll take you farther on a charge. I tip the scales at almost 280 pounds and that bike took me uphill at speeds like I was on level ground – close to 20 miles an hour uphill.”
For people with medical conditions that limit their abilities, the hybrids can allow them to rejoin a fun family activity despite their limitations. Hybrid bicycles are an idea whose time just may have come.
Keep the car for longer trips and mountain drives, but commuting is simply a means to an end and money you save there can be spent on those outings or getaways that always seem just out of reach. Besides, now that even staunch Republicans are having to admit Al Gore was right, you'll feel proud – even though you're driving a SRT8 on Saturday – you're still doing your part to reduce greenhouse emissions a few days a week. You'll still get to hear your muscle car roar on weekends - sounds like the best of both worlds to us.
For more information visit greenmachinesinc.com.
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