Comment by bastijn | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bastijn | Hacker News Reader

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Nowadays a whole new trend is arising in the Netherlands. By introduction of the electric bike the cut-off for taking a bike vs. car is much less steep. Regular electric bikes (max 25km/h) make people bike to work for ranges 5-10 km single-trip now, speed pedelecs (45km/h bikes) are extending it as far as 35km single trip. Bikes are becoming more popular not only because people like to live healthy but also because our roads are clogging up (again). Combined with high-speed biking lanes being added to our infrastructure this drives adoption.

I expect these graphs to change in the coming 5 years.

P.s. Our today's issue is having speed pedelecs which are not allowed on our biking lanes in cities/suburbs/villages (big speed difference) but are just about too slow for the regular 50km/h roads :).

P.p.s. Electric bikes are around 2000€ on average. Speed pedelecs start at 3500€ but quickly go to 5000€, and 8000€+ for premium brands is not uncommon. We still love our bikes ;).

For those like me who are unfamiliar with the word `pedelec` : "electric bicycle where the rider's pedalling is assisted by a small electric motor"

Nearly every electric bike in the Netherlands is pedal-assist, not pure electric.

When you see Pedelec, it means S-Pedelec, which is more powerful (45km/h), helmet required, basically a moped. Mostly used by older folks and weekend long-distance cycling groups.

Isn't that all electric bikes? What other types are there? It's the only type of electric bike I've seen

In the Netherlands there used to be electric bikes that go up to about 25 km/h, mostly for the elderly, but in the last few years there are also "speed-pedelecs" that go up to 45 km/h and are popular with commuters.

Count as mopeds, and controversial because they are more dangerous (partly because they look like normal bicycles and the rider is sitting upright but they're going much faster than normal bikes, other traffic doesn't expect it).

But they do make it feasible to use a bike for longer commutes.

In the Netherlands non-assisted electric bikes are not allowed, which is why you don't see them (except the occasional violation). In other countries you have bikes with throttle, essentially an electric scooter.

I’m in that demographic. Started doing my 15km (each way) commute on an electric. It’s even faster than public transport, and the bike should pay for itself in <2 years.

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