Electric Bicycles available in Macon
Clinton Bourgeois
Story Created:
Sep 12, 2012 at 6:33 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Sep 12, 2012 at 9:17 PM EDT
Damon Allen's inventory of bikes is already impressive, but it's his newest set of wheels that has him excited.
"The Wall Street Journal said that this is the best bike," said Allen as he showed an article the paper published on the bike. "This is the Stromer bike from Switzerland."
Stromer, is Swedish for "strong" and its name speaks for itself. The bike will carry speeds of up to twenty miles per hour without assistance. If you pedal while holding the accelerator, you can double that speed. It's the newest craze in energy efficiency.
"The bike is electric, so it also has electric hydraulics so just like a true hybrid car," said Allen. "If you hit the brakes it actually recharges the battery."
It also has an on-board computer to keep track of speed, mileage, and wattage and equipped with a lithium powered battery. The battery can keep the bike charged for up to a 20 mile distance, and recharging is a breeze.
"The bicycle has a plug in here," said Allen as he pointed to the socket along the bike's crossbar. "So the battery can be recharged without being taken out of the bicycle."
Despite the engine, the bike does not require insurance or a license and can be operated on a bike path.
"I do know the only place you can not ride this as is with all bicycles, is the freeway," said Allen.
As expected, this bike comes with a pretty hefty price tag, a $3,000 base price.
"But, when you figure you're spending about 2,000 (dollars) a year on gas and maybe 1,000 (dollars) on insurance, in the first year it pays for itself," said Allen.
The bikes only come in black and white.
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