E-bikes are all the rage, but while you may be hearing a lot about them, you may not have noticed them out in the wild as they look almost identical to traditional bicycles. You also may not be sure why they’ve gained popularity or what they even are exactly. Don’t fret! This overview covers the basics so you’ll be informed!
What’s an E-Bike and Why Do People Want One?
The term “e-bike” might create an idea of a futuristic and unaffordable mode of transportation. Some of them are, of course, but many are a lot like normal bicycles just with an added boost of power. Electric bicycles—or e-bikes for short—feature an electric drive system that’s powered by an electric motor and a battery. Really, that’s all there is to it.
Some e-bike owners use them to aid their leisurely rides because they want some assistance with the physical effort of riding. Others use them for daily commuting because they’re not only more environmentally friendly than driving a car, but they can also be faster than sitting in traffic, too.
To Pedal or Not to Pedal
You can get different kinds of power assistance in e-bikes. Some offer pedal-assist, which helps you go farther with each pedal. Others provide power with a throttle. That provides power even when you’re not pedaling at all. And some include both types of assistance and you can choose which type to use as you are riding. The power assistance is delivered from a battery that can be recharged by being plugged into a standard household power outlet of 100 volts to 240 volts.
A Potential Tax Credit
Earlier in July, the Senate heard a new bill called the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act. Our government reps include some truly creative writers who can think up some really on-the-money acronyms! In technical terms, the bill is also known as S.2420 and it’s a companion bill to H.R.1019 which was introduced to the House of Representatives in February 2021.
What the E-BIKE Act means is, potentially, a 30% tax credit (up to $1,500) per taxpayer on new e-bike purchases. If you’re considering an e-bike, though, the credits wouldn’t be applicable until the bill is enacted.
Ready to Buy?
E-bikes are naturally a bit more expensive than traditional bicycles, but if you’re ready to make a purchase—and don’t want to put the full cost of an e-bike on a credit card—consider renting to own. We have a variety of colors, sizes, and styles (with more to come any day now). You can take a look at our e-bikes online right now!
