Are E-Bikes A Good Idea ~ Or Are They Too High Risk & Too High Maintenance?

A recent, and tragic news story in the Vancouver Sun today, is about an exploding E-bike battery in Vancouver that killed one occupant of an apartment, caused a fire, and others narrowly escaped.

The article goes on to say the surviving spouse is suing the company that did recent repairs on the E-bike batteries. Apparently the couple had several E-bikes, and batteries. They were using the bikes during the day for transportation and work, and were charging the batteries in the apartment at night. 

Given the battery was being charged at night, it added to the chaos when it exploded, and started shooting out missile-like bits of shrapnel in all directions. 

It is true that any lithium battery can explode. But when you consider the number of cell phones and laptops, compared to the recently introduced E-bikes, it does seem the E-bikes have a lot more risk of causing fires and explosions. 

Aside from the risk of fires, what other downsides are there? Plenty it seems. I know they are the latest rage, and are good for those who commute. They are easier to park, and do not require insurance or petrol.

However, the batteries only last three to five years, and cost between $300-$900 to replace. In addition, the upfront cost for an E-bike ranges between $2,000 and $10,000. The average price people pay is around $3000.

The distance a person can go before needing a recharge, depends on several factors. Like how heavy the person is, if there is any cargo, how heavy the bike is, the size of the battery, and what the terrain is like. There are a variety of different capacities for the batteries. The distance they claim one can go on a single charge is between 15-60 miles. 

The speed a person can ride is between 15 and 30 mph, which adds another safety consideration, especially if E-bikes and E-scooters are being used on sidewalks. The issue of cyclists on sidewalks is a longstanding problem, but with E-bikes it is even more dangerous due to the increased speed and weight of the bikes. 

E-bikes are heavier than standard bikes, which makes them more difficult to load in vehicles, and on public transit. 

Some people cite the fact you do not have to pay for parking an E-bike. But the issue of parking in a location where it will not be stolen must be factored in. They are targeted by thieves. In addition the components are targeted by thieves, especially the batteries, but also the lights, seats, and tires. It is difficult to remove all the components and take them with you every time you stop at a store. 

The parking also requires expert knowledge on chains and locks. The tires have to be chained, the battery removed, the frame must be chained, and in many cases the seat must be removed, and taken with you as well. 

Not only do you have to chain it securely, but you cannot use a simple lightweight bike lock. Those locks can be cut easily with bolt cutters. So you need a heavy duty chain, and locks, which cost several hundred dollars. People also add GPS trackers, in case it is stolen.

The other trick thieves will use, is to disable the bike in some way, so the owner has to leave it behind, which gives the thief more time to return and deal with the locks. 

When I looked into the insurance costs, I was told it would be around $30.00 a month to add one. The agent explained that they were high target items, and thus cost more to insure. 

In addition to insurance, and theft protection, the general maintenance costs much more than a regular pedal bike. 

Overall the E-bike is not always a good deal, and could be more hassle than it is worth. For those who do not have a car and use it as their only means of transportation, it means that if it breaks down somewhere, they must call for a truck or SUV in order to load it and get it to the repair shop. 

In my opinion, the biggest risk is that of battery fires and explosions. It is way too much risk to take when there are not proper charging stations away from apartments, houses, schools, daycares, etc. 

Another factor to consider is that in the past, people do not normally pedal a bike at speeds of 25 – 28 mph. This is especially true of children and seniors. People tend to pedal a bike at speeds that align with their age and fitness levels. It stands to reason, the faster you go, the harder the fall, and the injuries would be much worse than when a person is pedalling at 10 mph. 

The battery is the clincher in my opinion. It seems there is not a process of recall for any brand of battery that does explode. Nor are there regulatory laws governing the age of batteries, repair, replacement requirements, and mandatory proper disposal of outdated batteries (so dangerous and outdated batteries do not get scavenged and used), and so on… 

I am old fashioned, in that I tend to believe that if something costs several hundred dollars, it should last much longer than three years.

It is one thing if it turns into junk, and falls apart after a few years, but is another thing all together if it turns into an exploding missile in the middle of the night, when you are sound asleep. 

The average battery life is 3-5 years, and the cost of replacing them is very high. The average E-bike lifespan is around ten years. In my opinion, it just doesn’t cut it, as far as being a viable way to save money, energy and landfill costs. 

It seems like the number of E-bikes sold and promoted, has been without adequate infrastructure to safely support, regulate and dispose of them. 

After looking into the whole E-bike concept, and especially the rocket-like fire hazard – count me out. I would never buy one.

Other options look much better after you go down the E-bike rabbit hole.

Like (1) get an old fashioned pedal bike, (2) buy a used Toyota Corolla, or other small car that gets good gas mileage, (3) take public transit, Uber, Lyft, or if all else fails, (4) walk.

After all, walking is the best exercise. And you won’t have to dodge missiles after you go to bed, or jump out of a fourth story apartment building.

What a horrible ordeal for those poor people to have to go through. They simply thought it was a good idea to use E-bikes for transportation. They were home in bed, which is normally a place of safety. 

This should be a wake up call – for battery recall. After all, they just recalled thousands of cars with potentially exploding airbags.

The same should be done for high risk batteries, and aging batteries on E-bikes. Let’s hope they add some stringent regulations, to offset the popularity and usage of E-bikes, without regard for, or full knowledge of the safety hazards involved.