E-bikes: Electric Bikes Environmental Boon or Bane?

Are electric bikes, or e-bikes, a boon or bane for the environment? Researchers at the University of Tennessee are taking a look at the rapid growth of e-bikes in China, and
Study of the biggest impacts of this type of transport for the mobility of. Electric bikes number nearly 40 million in China, far surpassing the number of automobiles on the roadways, and in some cities, may be more numerous than human-powered bicycles.

Christopher Cherry Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee, began his research on the impact of e-bikes when he was a doctoral student at the University of California-Berkeley. Cherry lehrt im Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Cherry said two main environmental impacts occur as a result of e-bikes, which do not produce emissions. While indirect effects on the environment, no less dramatic in urban areas are struggling with pollution and overpopulation. Beijing and Guangzhou, have banned both the use of e-bikes on the streets.

"Electric bicycles use one car-sized lead acid battery per year. Each battery is 30-40 percent of lead emitted into the environment during production, has published what it said approximately 3 kg of lead emitted per battery produced, Cherry in an article by the National Science Foundation.

The other significant environmental effects from emissions from coal-fired plants that produce electricity-hungry Chinese economy. China has launched to the station as the economy has soared, with an estimated unit coal fired power coming online every month for the next 2 to 3 years.

"The e-bikes or folding electric bikes certainly have fewer negative impacts than personal automobiles, but currently displace mostly bus and bicycle users and only a small number of car users," Cherry said.

For more information about the electric bikes, you can access:

http://www.ezycommuter.com.au