Interesting article

[musicbooks]

Spotted this on a surf across the virtual waves

E-bikes consign pedal power to the slow lane - World - NZ Herald News

bw
musicbooks

 

[flecc]

Interesting that China is said to have 98% of e-bikes using lead acid batteries, but it's somewhat misleading. A very high proportion of the "bikes" we'd see more as a form of moped, mainly running on power at their low speed limit and the pedals more token than any real use. In fact a high proportion of them have no gears, just a low single speed ratio, and they very often have much higher motor powers that we are allowed.

If we were allowed these "high power, no need to pedal" models, I think they'd be very popular here among commuters and shoppers alike.
.

 

[Fecn]

A bike can use up to five of the batteries in its lifetime, according to Christopher Cherry, a professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. A Chinese-made battery containing 10kg of lead can generate nearly 7kg of lead pollution, he says.

This is a very misleading quote as the recycling of lead-acid batteries is one of the most successful recycling programs in the world. Around 97% of the lead from a battery will be recycled into new batteries. There is no limit on the number of times that the lead is re-used - It just gets used over and over again in dozens of different batteries as the years go on. Granted, lead is still not a great material to be working with, but it's not as-if all that lead ends up in a landfill.

 

[PaulC]

The NZ Herald is not renowned for the quality & accuracy of its journalism.
They will have reprinted a standard article from a news feed.
Cheers
Paul
Auckland, NZ

 

[Wisper Bikes]

In the Mail on Sunday yesterday!

Have a look, David glowed!

The Motor-cycle diaries: Looking good on your electric bike | Mail Online

All the best!!

 

[Straylight]

It is nice to see bikes such as the 905 getting such a good write-up in a national paper - would be interesting to see how this translates into people enquiring about & buying them. Will you let us know David?

Pity they had to dovetail it with a fashion article though, I mean how many dress like that full stop, let alone on a bicycle. Think I'll stick with the grubby jeans and t-shirt .

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Sales

Hi Straylight

I will certainly report on the inquiries this week.

Free publicity, we'll take it any way we can, I quite liked the "cool" look! The young adult market is important for us and tricky to get into.

All the best David

 

[vicwo]

shell suit

Hi Straylight

I will certainly report on the inquiries this week.

Free publicity, we'll take it any way we can, I quite liked the "cool" look! The young adult market is important for us and tricky to get into.

All the best David

I have had my 905 sport for 4 days now and not been off the drive yet. Tinkering and making it fit my perfect body first . Insurance quote needed today and one last thing is to dig out my 80s shell suit. Who needs male models? There is life after 60.
My bike looks great in the flesh. Love it.
Batting order 1 Wisper 2 beloved Smart car 3 my cat 4 dont tell her indoors please.

Regards Vic

 

[Alex728]

Interesting that China is said to have 98% of e-bikes using lead acid batteries, but it's somewhat misleading. A very high proportion of the "bikes" we'd see more as a form of moped, mainly running on power at their low speed limit and the pedals more token than any real use. In fact a high proportion of them have no gears, just a low single speed ratio, and they very often have much higher motor powers that we are allowed.

If we were allowed these "high power, no need to pedal" models, I think they'd be very popular here among commuters and shoppers alike.
.

Exactly. Whilst there are much real wider problems about personal freedom and human rights in China, their cops/traffic authorities are showing a much more pragmatic attitude to the enforcement of the laws compared to the West when it comes to these e-bikes (presumably if someone gets in a crash due to careless riding they get nicked just like anywhere else in the world...)

 

[Alex728]

Free publicity, we'll take it any way we can, I quite liked the "cool" look! The young adult market is important for us and tricky to get into.

I'm a young adult and planning on buying a Wisper but there is no bloody way I'd spend £170 on a pair of loafers from tommy Hilfiger, or any sort of clobber that would make me look like a nouveau retro version of a Young Conservative in the 1980s...

that said a lot of my friends are impressed with the concept of ebikes but wary of the initial price - I'm sure they would spend less on them than keeping cars on the road in the long run though..

 

[simonbarnett]

I'm a young adult and planning on buying a Wisper but there is no bloody way I'd spend £170 on a pair of loafers from tommy Hilfiger, or any sort of clobber that would make me look like a nouveau retro version of a Young Conservative in the 1980s...

that said a lot of my friends are impressed with the concept of ebikes but wary of the initial price - I'm sure they would spend less on them than keeping cars on the road in the long run though..

Rather doubt I'd fit the clothes, let alone whether I'd be seen in them but they were trying to show you could cycle in smart stuff.

I was more intrigued to see my ProConnect apparently has hub drive and an off-road mode...

Good rule in life is only to believe half of what the papers print

 

[Barnowl]

I have had my 905 sport for 4 days now and not been off the drive yet. Tinkering and making it fit my perfect body first . Insurance quote needed today and one last thing is to dig out my 80s shell suit. Who needs male models? There is life after 60.
My bike looks great in the flesh. Love it.
Batting order 1 Wisper 2 beloved Smart car 3 my cat 4 dont tell her indoors please.

Regards Vic

I like your style except the cat. I'm allergic.
Smart cars are excellent - I've had mine 8 years.
I nearly bought a Wisper myself but didn't.

 

[Alex728]

Rather doubt I'd fit the clothes, let alone whether I'd be seen in them but they were trying to show you could cycle in smart stuff.

I was more intrigued to see my ProConnect apparently has hub drive and an off-road mode...

Good rule in life is only to believe half of what the papers print

shame their editors didn't put half as much effort into accurately reporting about the bikes as they did about the clothes

at least if braying young Tory types / Daily Mail readers start buying e-bikes instead of cars they might learn how dangerous the roads are and wish to do something about it....