Ebike Ideas for the Masses?

[deardancer3]

We have basic commuter ebikes, good for most terrain and loads and for under 8 miles one way, recharge at work.

Then the advanced ebike, good for quite a bit more in range, power, load carrying, and speed.

And we have ebike systems capable of 95%+ car replacement, for the "Car light" and the "car very light" ebike users.

So what are your suggestions for these new ebike customers, considering they are probably very sensitive to reliability and service issues.

What is your suggestions for pre builts or easy to builds?

(I like a Bionx on a new Giant Suede)

Sounds like at least two selections for two types of customers:

The basic model DF with maybe an upgrade to more batteries,

AND

The basic 'bent with mid drive and option for fairing and more batteries.

Two basic platforms with some MINOR type upgrades might end up maikng several different offerings but still using lots of parts in common, and useful for diverse needs?

d

 

[swbluto]

I honestly think electrifying the current type of cars has incredibly more appeal because 1) The "car looks the same" familiarity factor associates in the mind of many a sense of "reliability" just like the old and 2) there's no uncomfortable change the masses have to undergo, which massive change for the masses is incredibly hard within any relatively short time-period(like 5-10 years). Electrifying would also include an on-the-go charger which would allow recharging at work which, I'm sure, many businesses would easily accommodate(Although they'd probably charge for it but it'd still be incredibly cheaper than gas.) and this would allow a 40-mile one way electrified commute and a 40-mile one way electrified commute back so that the vast majoritys' commutes would be covered and, thus, it would have mass appeal. From A123's offer to current prius owner's, this "electrification" would only cost somewhere in the $10,000 range and government subsidies, which would almost guaranteed would be offered, would make this conversion vaaastly affordable and, thus, somewhat widely accepted(Widely accepted in the long-term).

But, for ebike ideas for the masses, it'd likely be recumbent, it'd have high visibility, fully enclosed and be endorsed for its safety. I don't really think many would like the "biking aspect", so I'm guessing the pedals would be removed in many of these set-ups. And, gearing(or some form of transmission) would be added for vehicles with a relatively wide range of speeds, I'm sure.

 

[swbluto]

Another approach would be to encourage legislation that makes employers pay for their employees commuting.

This would just shift the costs; Hey, waddyaknow, the average wage went down in response(or, rather, didn't increase.).

 

[TylerDurden]

These people (Neandertals deleted) HAVE to change their minds! Perhaps the best approach is to point the CEO to the experience of another CEO who is enthusiastic about it...

Another popular approach emerging here:

Utah is going to a 4-day workweek to save energy
By MIKE STARK, Associated Press Writer
Thu Jul 3, 2:15 PM ET

SALT LAKE CITY -
Starting next month, it will be "TGIT" for Utah state employees. As in: "Thank God It's Thursday."

In a yearlong experiment aimed at reducing the state's energy costs and commuters' gasoline expenses, Utah is about to become the first state to switch to a four-day workweek for thousands of government employees.

They will put in 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday, and have Fridays off, freeing them to golf, shop, spend time with the kids or do anything else that strikes their fancy. They will get paid the same as before.

"One of the jokes is that one of the biggest benefits will be for golf courses," said Ryan Walker, 49, an information technology director. He said he is looking forward to tackling items on his long-neglected "honey-do" list (As in: "Honey, do this" and "Honey, do that"); camping; and traveling more around the state.

The order issued by Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman will affect about 17,000 out of 24,000 executive-branch employees. It will not cover state police officers, prison guards or employees of the courts or Utah's public universities. Also, state-run liquor stores will stay open on Fridays.

The compressed workweek in Utah — whose motto is "Industry" and whose official symbol is the beehive, representing thrift and perseverance — could prove inconvenient to those who need to use state services and find certain offices closed on Fridays.

Also, some parents may have to rearrange their child care to accommodate their longer hours, and bus and commuter train schedules might have to be adjusted.

But many are excited about the idea.

"I'm thrilled," said Rose Kenworthy, 58, an executive secretary at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. "Now I can do anything I want. I can have lunch with my friends, spend time with my grandchildren or just chill out."

Sheldon Wood, 48, who writes property tax software, plans on using his three-day weekends to go into the mountains to hike and bike with his wife, also a state employee.

Turning off the lights, the heat and the air conditioning on Fridays in 1,000 of 3,000 government buildings will save about $3 million a year out of a state budget of $11 billion, according to the governor's spokeswoman, Lisa Roskelley. The state will also save on gasoline used by official vehicles, but authorities have not figured out how much.

The Department of Environmental Quality estimated employees in six buildings alone will save themselves more than $300,000 spent on gas to commute to work.

The four-day workweek could also be good for the environment.

"We feel like we can reduce the CO2 or the ozone by around over 3,000 metric tons, as well as have an impact on our air pollution," said Kim Hood, executive director of the Department of Administrative Services.

In addition, the governor said the new schedule could help recruit younger workers who prefer a three-day weekend.

State officials will evaluate the program after a year and decide whether to extend it.

Because of the downturn in the economy and $4-a-gallon gasoline, many states are looking at cost-saving measures, including expanded telecommuting, compressed workweeks and more flexible schedules.

"Everyone's going to keep a close eye on it and see what happens in Utah and whether they can demonstrate employee effectiveness and the energy savings, too," said Leslie Scott, executive director of the National Association of State Personnel Executives, based in Lexington, Ky.

Many Utah state offices will extend their hours and stay open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. so people can use government services before or after work. And residents are being encouraged to use the Internet for hundreds of ordinary services, such as automobile registration renewals.

As for such things as hazardous spills and calls from Medicaid recipients who need approval for medical procedures, "certainly there are people who are on call 24-7 now, and those people will continue to be on call 24-7," the governor's spokeswoman said.

Natalie Smith, 38, who works on a state arthritis program, supports the governor's push to make government more environmentally friendly, but said the change will mean juggling schedules with her husband to take care of their two young children.

"We're not exactly sure how we're going to do it," she said. But she added that it will be nice to have Fridays to visit the library or the zoo or run errands.

Debra McBride, a Medicaid specialist who has been working four 10-hour shifts a week for about 20 years, said it is harder to make doctor's appointments and do other errands Monday through Thursday, and working longer hours can be rough.

"After working 10 hours in a day," she said, "I don't do anything after I get home."

 

[paultrafalgar]

That's very interesting, and positive. In the 1970s there was a miners strike in the UK and the government put the country on a 3-day working week. The important point is that the SAME LEVEL OF PRODUCTION was achieved in those 3 day that were usually produced in 5. Draw your own conclusions
BTW unlike the Utah experiment, I don't think the daily hours were increased to compensate for the 3day week. The only conclusion I can come to is that people where more motivated to work in the 3days.