E-bike: An environment-friendly way to ride

Business Mirror
Feb 27, 2006

E-bike: An environment-friendly way to ride By Henry Empeño Correspondent SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - No gas, no oil, no pollution. No kidding? Yes. Here comes the electric-class bicycle, which could be the next "in thing" among today's popular plug-and-play appliances. Using only an electric motor powered by an advanced lead-acid battery that can be charged from the standard power outlet right in your home, the e-class bike can zip at 30-70 kilometers per hour for up to 60 km per full charge. And the price? From P5,500 for "Blitz" e-scooter to P114,000 for "VIP" top-of-the-line model. According to the Electric Motor Cycle 1 Corp., which sells the e-class bike in the Philippines under the brand name "emc1," the e-bike may well be the personal vehicle of choice for the 21st century. And taken in the context of rising gas prices, declining air quality and crowded parking spaces, the e-bike makes for a practical buy-a fact not lost on employees here in Subic who sized up available models during a product launch organized by the Freeport Service Corp. (FSC), the exclusive e-bike dealer in the Subic and Olongapo City area. The electric-class bicycle is reportedly designed with the vision of clean air-an effective enough come-on for buyers inclined to take environmental advocacy to its logical everyday application. Running without gas, oil or water, the e-bike emits no noise and pollution. And because it doesn't have any engine-only a direct-driven motor hub controlled by an intelligent digital controller system-this technological wonder needs virtually zero maintenance. Just plug in the e-bike's auto-volt AC battery for two to six hours and you're ready for the drive. The special battery, which is a sealed acid-lead type, costs as much as a standard car battery. But it could last up to three years, given normal wear and tear, the e-bike distributor said. Another plus for this user-friendly contraption is that, as with any other appliance, you won't need a license to drive it. Still, certain models of the e-bikes, particularly the street-legal types, are qualified for comprehensive insurance coverage, according to emc1. There are six models of electric-class bicycles to choose from: EMC Junior, which includes "Blitz" and e-scooter; the e-class bikes (e350, e500, e500 Zoom, e700, e700 Vader and BlitzKrieg); EMC Working Class "Tugon"; EMC Senior, or the "VIP" model; the special vehicle "Sea Scooter"; and the Commercial E-3. All the e-bikes are said to be manufactured in China under ISO standards, with technology developed in Japan and using Italian design. The bikes are said to be ideal for use by barangay security patrols, employees and students in provincial cities and municipalities, and even by Metro Manila residents for short trips within residential areas. In particular, the "Tugon"-type e-bike, a dressed-down European model with a 450-watt motor and a pull-out battery, is being marketed in the Subic Bay Freeport area as an affordable personal mobility vehicle for workers. Priced at P31,900, this basic model is being offered by the FSC under special financing arrangements like salary-deduction schemes or FSC-guaranteed bank loans. The distributor has also assured prospective buyers of after-sales support like service warranty on the e-class bikes, hot line and SMS numbers, an information web site, and a major service center in Subic where parts and accessories will be made available. According to the company, only the special parts of e-bikes like battery-direct motor hub and digital intelligent controller system-will be exclusively sold by emc1. The other parts are standard motorcycle components that could be bought from regular suppliers.