When pedaling becomes tiresome on uphills and downhills then technology comes to contribute with extra energy.
ERT journalist Makis Nasiadis, from Kozani, gives an image from the streets of the not-so-distant future.
Dimitris Gloumbos, electrical engineer and e-bike manufacturer, explains how he has turned the vision for cleaner, greener cities into practice with two vehicles that are already in circulation and will soon replace conventional transportation.
bike-1 is a four-wheeled bicycle, which runs on a lithium battery and charges like electric vehicles. A multi-tool, for work with 7 speeds, it has a four-wheel drive system, a digital navigator for city traffic, a bicycle steering wheel, electric lighting systems, mirrors, and of course it does not lag behind in the entertainment on the road with speakers for music, open communication and other small facilities.
The second vehicle with all the aforementioned advantages, is more reinforced and can carry up to 180 kg of cargo. Both have pedals, but are powered by an electric motor. Anyone who wishes or needs to can charge them by pedaling, so as not to “stay” on the road.
In addition, they are closed/covered to protect from the weather, they can be ridden even by someone who does not know how to ride a bike, they do not require a special driver’s license, but it is good that e-bikes are insured, as Mr. Gloubos points out.
There is great interest from the local government and ordinary citizens to replace their conventional polluting and expensive gasoline and oil transportation with the new quiet and clean technology.
The price of an e-bike varies between 7,000-12,000 euros, but soon when the demand and production will increase the prices will drop significantly. With one or two batteries, depending on the vehicle, it can provide a driving range of up to 100 km, i.e. as much as an electric vehicle.
