It's not as fast as a scooter and doesn't give the workout of a traditional bicycle. The electric bicycle — which falls somewhere in between — has had a hard time finding its place in the U.S.
But with improving technology, $4 gas this summer and growing awareness about environmental issues, manufacturers are looking to make inroads in the U.S. market.
The target consumers are those who want to ride a bicycle but are intimidated by hills or just can't make a full trip without some assistance.
Bicycle dealers in Connecticut have so far had a mixed reaction to electric bikes, also known as "e-bikes."
Michael Wolf, owner of Bloomfield Bicycle and Repair Shop, held an open house at his store Thursday to talk up the electric bikes and give visitors a test spin in the parking lot.
"It pulls you up the hill, just like a scooter," he said while getting the store ready for the open house.
He's been selling Schwinn electric bicycles since December and recently started carrying e-bikes from Giant, another leading manufacturer. Schwinn and Giant bikes cost between $1,500 and $2,600. He also sells lower-end e-bikes from I-Zip, which sell for as low as $700.
Depending on the model, one battery charge can power a motor for 25 to 60 miles. They can go up to 20 mph — governing devices in the motors keep them from going faster; otherwise, a license and registration would be required.
They're surprisingly simple to use. Wolf offered a tutorial that took no longer than it did to walk the bike out of the store. Get on, pedal as you would on any other bicycle, and switch on the motor on the right handlebar. The harder you pedal, the more power you get from the motor. It's a lot like riding a traditional bicycle, just easier.
Wolf says his store has sold about 25 electric bikes this year, most since September, to people who were waiting for the Giant bikes to come in. Earlier this year, he had a hard time stocking enough electric bikes because distributors were concentrating efforts in Europe and Asia, where sales have been brisk for years.
The attitude of Americans toward e-bikes is beginning to change, said Michael DeLeon, a spokesman for Schwinn. The bicycle manufacturer is particularly hopeful that its 2009 Schwinn Tailwind will make e-bike riders out of Americans. Most bike batteries take at least a few hours to charge, but the Tailwind's lithium polymer battery takes only 30 minutes. The 38-pound bike will sell for $3,199.
Chris Zane, owner of Zane's Cycles in Branford, says he's excited but cautious about the potential for e-bikes and doesn't yet carry any. Zane says he's an early adopter of new technology but is waiting until he knows the bikes are reliable. He figures it shouldn't take more than 18 months for the industry to put out a product that he can feel confident about selling.
"It's definitely coming, no doubt about it," he said. "The industry is trying to figure it out, but they're just not there yet."
Zane says customers have shown an interest in the e-bikes, "but they're not pounding our doors down."
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