China's New Craze: E-bikes

lawrencekhoo writes "I was in Shanghai recently, and found to my surprise that bicycle crazy China is now electric bicycle crazy. Electric bikes were everywhere, and outnumbered normal bikes on the road. You could even buy them in the department stores. Basic models sell for about 1200 Yuan (about US$150), and more elaborate scooter-like models for up to 5000 Yuan. Apparently, this craze has been building up for a few years. Something like it is even happening in parts of the US. According to one user, electric bikes are popular because they're cheap, and can take you all around town on one charge. Who would have guessed that China would lead the way in green transportation?"

Comments

E-bikes?

[metlin]

What's with the name of e-bikes? They are bloody mopeds that run on battery.

Or call them scooters that run on battery. The name e-bikes sounds cheesy, and more like a marketing ploy.

Although, that's quite surprising, since one of the site mentions that one of the companies making it (Shenzhen Light Ind. Products I/E Co.) is owned by the govt.

Usually it's the corporations that have the habit of coming up with and using buzzwords, surprised to see a govt. owned company using it :)

Aren't they supposed to be *cough* beyond such things *cough* ?

E-bikes are not "green"

[bratmobile]

E-bikes are hardly "green". Batteries contain all sorts of evil chemicals. And they have to be charged, of course -- and in China, that probably means a coal-fired power-plant.

China already HAS "green" bikes. They have Chinese engines. You know, the kind with legs.