Because of the energy crisis, hybrid vehicles are booming these days. With respect to cars, hybrid usually refers to engines that use electricity and gasoline. The combination of both gets you more gas mileage. As an example the 2008 Toyota Prius, a well-known hybrid car, gets 48 miles per gallon as oppose to a comparable 4-cylinder non-hybrid car, like the Honda Civic, that gets 36 miles per gallon. The point is hybrid technology lets you to cover more grounds for a given set of resources, gasoline in this case.
In the bicycling world, the term hybrid refers to bicycles with electric motors. The traditional push pedaling made easy with electricity. Instead of higher gas mileage, you get more miles pedaling and best yet, you don't have to buy gas (because it's a bicycle).
In the past, at least in the United States, gas prices were never been a concern. Up until 2006, Americans were able to buy gas for under $2.00 per gallon. That's practically nothing! And times have changed since then.
In other parts of the world, however, they haven't been so lucky. Europeans have been experiencing gas prices $5-$8 per gallon. But they still get around. Common among their usual transport is a bicycle. You've seen many pictures of common folks getting around town bicycling. To get more "mileage", a lot of Asians and Europeans use hybrid electric motor bikes.
The other advantage of using an electric bike is the benefit that it gives to your health. Since you're pedaling, you're exercising which makes you healthy. Of course, not everyone is in superb physical shape to be pedaling from one side of the city to the other. But remember, it's a hybrid bike. The electric motor helps you pedal. Therefore you can get in shape slowly, but at the same time do so enjoying the outside.
The price of a hybrid electric bike may set you back from $400 to $2000. But that should pay for itself within a year if you can save on $50-$70 a month on gas and/or $20-$30/month on gym membership.
Its very important to consider the global warming effect that the gasoline operated cars produce. Among others, gasoline is a concern. Burning gasoline emits pollutants that are harmful to both the environment and our health. Transportation that uses less gas (hybrid cars) and no gas (electric car, hybrid bikes, electric scooters) are getting a lot of attention among consumers.
There are many different choices for you to select a great electric bike, but one of the best electric bikes are the Izip and Ezip electric bikes. Here are the discussion of these two brands of bikes:
Izip Hybrid Electric Bicycles From Currie Technologies, the Izip is one of the more popular electric hybrid bikes. In one battery charge, it can travel up to 23-30 miles depending on the cycles weight. Top speed on this 8-gear street bike can be up to 18 mph. The motor and battery pack are cleverly integrated within the bike's frame. So unlike most electric bicycles, these components are not visually obtrusive. The geared hub motor is a brushless DC type encased in an alloy shell. The battery pack is made of NiMH EV Rated Batteries Down Tube Concealed 24V / 9AH Pack (20) 1.2V Rechargeable Cells. There are men's and women's versions of the Izip bike.
Ezip Electric Bikes:. From Currie Technologies, the Ezip is another great bike and also its price comparable to any other electric bike in its class. In one battery charge, it can travel up to 15-22 miles depending on the cycles weight. It can speed up to bike 15 mph. The motor and battery pack on the dies and the battery can ve easily removed from the rack and charged. Most of these bikes offered a 450 W of powered in a The geared brushed DC type encased in an alloy shell. There are men's and women's versions of the Ezip bikes. There are many brands of the Ezip some of them are: Ezip Trailz , Ezip Mountain Trailz , Ezip Coast Line. Plus Ezip offer electric scooters.