Ebikes + renewable energy is more efficient even than a human riding a traditional bike! The energy has to come from somewhere.
this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2023
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Why should regular bikes use more energy, given they're only manufactured once (as are bikes), have no degenerating batteries and don't need electricity are less efficient than ebikes?
It's because fuelling humans with food (particularly with a typical western diet) and converting it to motion with digestion and muscle emits more carbon than generating electricity (with a typical grid mix) and running it through batteries and a motor.
Of course, most humans could probably do with the exercise anyways; carbon intensity isn't the only thing worth considering.
That furphy's been disapproved so many times it's weird it keeps getting brought up. It's literaly not the case, you can expend the energy to cycle the 5km to work and don't need to eat extra to fuel it. You're not racing the TdF.
As an asdie, I have an ebike and an escooter (better again IMO in cities then an ebike and less resource and maintence intensive) and a I use the escooter and non ebike by far the most
I'd agree escooters are more efficient. The only disadvantage is that you can at least get a little bit of exercise for all that time you're riding the ebike.
It's time to build net positive gyms...