Electric Trikes: What's the appeal?
When looking to purchase or upgrade your trike it can be hard to decide between pedal and electric, especially as it seems electric bikes can cause such controversy. Other cyclists often accuse electric bikers of ‘cheating’ and have even been known to push to get electric bikes restricted from cycle lanes.
With only 5% of bikes sold in the UK being electric, it is clear that the UK has not jumped on the bandwagon with other European countries in their adoption of electric bikes. So we took it upon ourselves to explain the appeals of electric bikes.
What is an electric trike?
Electric trikes usually look very similar to pedal trikes, with wheels, handlebars and body. An electric trike is not a scooter or a motorbike, but they’re just normal trikes with an integrated electric motor that can help to assist on your cycle.
How do they work?
The electric motor is able to take some of the strain and stress out of cycling. As you pedal it sends a signal to the motor, where dependent on the speed you have chosen, the motor then assists in the pedalling. Jorvik electric trikes use a Bafang 250W M500 mid drive motor, which is EAPC regulated, to help tackle hills at ease. That is why electric trikes are especially popular with those who want to get outside and be active but struggle to as a result of injuries, health issues or other physical limitations.
Jorvik electric trikes have a display that shows information about speed, the trip, distance, overall mileage and the battery life. Although the display allows you to monitor battery life, Jorvik electric tricycles have recently upgraded their batteries to larger Dual 14.5ah LG/Samsung batteries. This allows you to enjoy longer rides, with the safety net of a second battery, so there’s no need to keep checking the display! To charge the batteries you plug them into a wall socket and it takes around 4-5 hours to fully charge, which will then last an average of 30 miles per full charge.
Aren’t they expensive to maintain?
A lot of people are hesitant to invest in an electric bike because of the common misconception that they are expensive to maintain. However, compared to how much it is to purchase and maintain a car, electric bikes are a much more economically friendly option. Many people do opt to replace their car with an electric bike as it is able to get you places much quicker than a pedal bike, saves you money on fuel, insurance and road tax whilst also saving the environment.
The maintenance of an electric bike isn’t too dissimilar from a normal pedal bike. The maintenance of the actual body of the bike remains largely the same, the only difference is with the electrical component. A lot of people are concerned about the cost of repairing the electrical component of electric bikes, however it is very rare that these parts break or malfunction. If you choose a Jorvik tricycle there is no need to worry about this as they come with a 12 month warranty.
Who should opt for an electric trike?
Commuters: If you’re looking into making the shift from car to bike or you’re sick of public transport making you late for work you should look into electric bikes. Electric bikes are perfect for those commutes that are just slightly too far to walk and also saves you sitting in rush hour traffic. Jorvik foldable electric trikes are especially useful for commuters to take on public transport or to store in the office.
Older people: As you grow old it can become harder to coordinate pedalling, balancing and steering and you may find yourself becoming tired much quicker while out cycling. The perfect solution is a electric trike! The trike will offer you extra stability while the electric motor will help give you that little extra push on the harder parts of your cycle.
Those who are concerned for the environment: As we said, many people choose to replace their car with an electric bike not only to save money, but also to be kinder to the environment. Hoping on an electric bike for those journeys that aren’t too long is the perfect way to become more eco-friendly whilst also having fun!