Deep dive on battery resources used in e-bike vs EV

[mark cyclingelectric]

Almost every reason you could ever think of to not buy a new car and instead buy an electric bike in one place.

This one took a fair bit of research, but with any luck covers brand new ground on the resource intensity of vehicle types and what each delivers to society on a personal and collective level.

Buy an e-bike not a new car - CyclingElectric

 

[Hummina Shadeeba]

I’ve clicked similar links and the question is familiar but this one looks scary.

 

[LewTwo]

Is it really fair that you started with a picture of an e-bike in the foreground and one of the ugliest four wheel vehicles to ever be seen on the road in the background ?

"I approached Bosch, which can widely be considered to be the market-leading electric bike firm..."
Pray tell where you came up with that wee factoid. Most experienced e-bikers will not even consider a BOSH product because of their proprietary systems and inability to get them repaired anywhere except at a expensive, rare factory authorized BOSH repair center (not to mention the purchase price). I used to ride a Vespa Gran Turismo that had the same problem. I donated it to a charity because there was no place within a 500 miles to get it serviced. At least the charity could get a few shekels for the scrap value.

E-Bikes may be a suitable replacement for people that do not have to show up on time at work or school five times a week. How ever the vast majority of the public does not enjoy that luxury. That is not even taking into account weather and climate. I have been to England and Scotland. Your weather is nothing to brag about.

I believe that you may have also failed to have consider those folks that are not physically able to peddle a bicycle (more of a problem in the UK and Europe than the US). One needs to fairly consider all factors when comparing E-Bikes to Automobiles when comparing them as the basis as primary transportation.

Do not get me wrong: I am not against E-Bikes and fully subscribe to using them for PRIMARY transportation. I did for 10 years. However I had the luxury of deciding when to travel and to wait for better weather if need be. I may make that transition again but I will not be pedaling this time around.

 

[Hummina Shadeeba]

“ SUVs (and heavier cars) are disproportionately involved in fatalities relative to their involvement in crashes.”

I didn’t read it all but I think they’re causing a lot more danger as you can’t see over them. I almost ran into my slightly shorter neighbor as she walked out from behind her monster suv

 

[offGridDownUnder]

they’re causing a lot more danger as you can’t see over them

You may be serious, however a problem with SUVs and similar vehicles (pick up trucks) is that a sedan will take out a pedestrian's legs, but an SUV will take out their vital organs.

I'm old enough to remember hood ornaments, which we got rid of because they tended to disembowel pedestrians.

I regard SUVs as unjustifiable selfishness. As a society, I don't agree with enabling thoughtlessness and selfishness. Especially not for money.

 

[mark cyclingelectric]

Lewtwo - to not consider Bosch among the largest players in the e-bike market is, well... wrong. Their presence turned the market around from an undesirable product to something fit for the modern transport era. They are now present in the vast majority of European e-bike brand's ranges.

And yes, I have often considered disability and those less able, in fact this article is one of the most read on our site. We have specifically gone out of our way since to attract trike and adapted e-cycle brands to our events in order to provide mobility to the less able. https://www.cyclingelectric.com/buy...ikes-to-aid-those-with-a-disability-or-injury

As for the weather, i can't argue with you there.

 

[LewTwo]

Lewtwo - to not consider Bosch among the largest players in the e-bike market is, well... wrong. Their presence turned the market around from an undesirable product to something fit for the modern transport era. They are now present in the vast majority of European e-bike brand's ranges.

They may well be 'among' the largest especially in Europe .... but that is NOT what you stated in your story. Their market presence elsewhere is subject to question.

 

[ebike4healthandfitness]

They may well be 'among' the largest especially in Europe .... but that is NOT what you stated in your story. Their market presence elsewhere is subject to question.

Bosch is definitely the number one mid drive maker in the United States.

 

[Diggs]

I regard SUVs as unjustifiable selfishness. As a society, I don't agree with enabling thoughtlessness and selfishness.

Just for a conflicting point of view (I don't own an SUV): Many parents want a larger, stronger vehicle as to be seen and protect their family better on the road dominated by pickup trucks, vans, semis, etc.

 

[Chalo]

Just for a conflicting point of view (I don't own an SUV): Many parents want a larger, stronger vehicle as to be seen and protect their family better on the road dominated by pickup trucks, vans, semis, etc.

That's an example of why parents should not be considered competent to make decisions that affect others. Once the hatchling appears, the well-being of others, society as a whole, or the health of the world no longer matters to them, as long as their narrow view of what's good for the hatchling is implemented.

I think it's better if those of us who are still in charge of our own brains make policy decisions for those whose judgment is biologically deranged to prioritize one single thing (that doesn't matter to anybody else) above all other factors.

 

[endlessolli]

That's an example of why parents should not be considered competent to make decisions that affect others. Once the hatchling appears, the well-being of others, society as a whole, or the health of the world no longer matters to them, as long as their narrow view of what's good for the hatchling is implemented.

I think it's better if those of us who are still in charge of our own brains make policy decisions for those whose judgment is biologically deranged to prioritize one single thing (that doesn't matter to anybody else) above all other factors.

As usual ... a little provocative ... but then again: Well said...

 

[offGridDownUnder]

Many parents want a larger, stronger vehicle as to be seen and protect their family better on the road dominated by pickup trucks, vans, semis, etc.

This may be an accurate observation, but it is not a good reason.

We can have a society, or we can have a free-for-all. Another person's biological urges are not a good reason for the rest of us to suffer.

One interesting aspect of "colonising space" that will occur - in space we will not tolerate anyone screwing with the environmental controls as it will be obvious to anyone that doesn't want someone else to kill them that this would be fatal.