Originally Posted by
CliffordK
The problem with E-Bikes is that 20 MPH is too slow to ride in traffic when there are alternatives, so the best/safest place for them is on the bike paths and bike lanes. That may change if speeds are increased to 30 or 40 MPH (which is probably too fast for the E-Bikes). Perhaps we'll see a split between slow speed E-Bikes and high speed E-Motorcycles.
One thing the the Italians did was increase the driving age. I don't remember exactly what it was, but perhaps between 14 and 17 or so, one could get a moped license, but not an automobile license.
That's basically what I'm advocating: keep the models/versions allowed on bike paths to a very low limit (10 or 15mph), and make anything faster go on the roads. There are already numerous E-motorcycles and E-scooters on the market that perform well enough to ride in regular traffic with no issues at all.
And yes, in Italy the minimum age for a <50cc scooter is low (thought it was 15 but maybe it's 14), and it's a great system. Kids have freedom to move around without being overly dangerous to others. They even started making 50cc "micro-cars" now, and you see quite a few of them around.
Originally Posted by General Geoff
An e-bike going ~20mph, can usually break 500mpg equivalent energy usage. Even if you get the electricity from a coal plant, that coal plant (due to economies of scale) is still far more thermodynamically efficient than a 30 or 40 year old moped engine.
Not disputing your numbers, because I really don't know, but where do you get your data? I wasn't aware that electricity generation was that far superior in terms of efficiency.
Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
and it's going to be pretty hard for anything to compete with a 2-stroke for nasty exhaust!
Two-stroke engines have come a long way recently, with direct injecting making them quite clean. Besides, some people actually like the smell (and the scream) of two-stroke engines.