Electric Bike News: Pedal-Electric Vehicle Trip Across US, Tours in Paris, E-Mountain Bikes, & More!

Electric Motorcycle/Electric Bicycle Hybrid

Extra! Extra! Some highlights of your e-bike news: Human/electric hybrid vehicle tour across the US, e-bike tours in Paris, electric motorcycle/mountain bike hybrid, new e-mountain bike kit, Crested Butte Mountain Resort using an e-bike, more bike commuters in Japan, & more!  This is a recap of the electric bike news from the week of April 18-24, 2011.

And now the E-Bike NEWS!

EcoSpeed from Portland Oregon is supplying the electric motor for a small light weight vehicle that a father and son team are pedaling across the US.  They will be using the equivalent energy needed to power one 100-watt light bulb each day and their leg power to make the trip.

Visiting Paris soon?  You should check out Olivier Marie-Antoine’s Paris Charm’s and Secrets electric bicycle tours.  Sounds like he has some “secret” places to see in Paris.

Check out this hybrid electric bike dubbed as a “Electric Motocross Electric Bicycle“.  It has been developed by some engineering students at California State University, Long Beach.

The electric downhill mountain bike scene is taking off!  Here is an article on an inventor who is working on a patent for his electric mountain bike kit that will be easy to install and remove from the front wheel of the mountain bike.  The idea is to help a downhill rider get to the top of the mountain with a heavy downhill specific mountain bike and enjoy the ride down!  Check out the EBR Electric Mountain Bike Guide for more info.

Here is a snippet from an article about Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado: “CBMR received a $5,000 grant in 2010 from Clif Bar to purchase an electric bike for its Property Management department, which has reduced the need for additional vehicle trips for simple errands around the resort.”  I love hearing this kind of stuff!  Electric bikes can be a great additional vehicle for a family or business.

After the big earthquake in Japan, many people have realized the advantages of commuting by bicycle.  Immediately after the quake bikes were is high demand and most bike shops sold out!

Malaysia is currently working on how to regulate electric bikes.  If you live in Malaysia you should check this out.  E-bikes and the law are a hot topic in some areas and governments are working to understand where and how these vehicles fit in.

If you live in or are visiting Santa Monica California you should check out Pedal or Not electric bike tours shop for an e-bike tour from Santa Monica to the Venice canals.

The State of Oregon is trying to clarify if someone with a suspended driver’s license is allowed to operate an electric bike.  Please note that in some cases these electric bikes look more like mopeds/scooters than a typical electric bicycle.  It will be interesting to see how these cases go.

Well, that about wraps it up.  Please share any electric bike news that you have come across in the comment section below.

Thanks!

-Pete

P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips!