Electric bicycles are road-legal for ages of 14+ years, require no road tax, no licence and no insurance. They also give off no emissions and if the batteries are charged with electricity from a green energy supplier (or your own windmill) they will run entirely from renewable sources!
Electric bicycles have a legal maximum speed limit of 25kph (15mph), have to weigh less than 40kg and are of a “pedelec” type. Pedelec means that the rider has to pedal to activate the motor. The motor is therefore an assist to cycling rather than a replacement. (The rule of having to pedal is a European law. Current UK law however suggests that you can use an electric bicycle without having to pedal. While the law is a bit unclear at the time of writing no legal actions have yet been imposed against non-pedelec bicycles in the UK).
 So, when is an electric bicycle useful?
One thing we sometimes hear at ecocentra is the belief that electric bicycles are for lazy cyclists and therefore actually bad for our health and the environment. Dispel this notion though; –Electric bicycles are for fit motorists! Take for example long commutes, hilly routes or windy days. These are all applications where the majority of people would not consider a normal bicycle and it is here that the electric motor really comes into its own. Electric assist can get you there faster and at a healthy amount of exercise.
How do I choose an electric bicycle?
When choosing an electric bicycle the main factors will be the range, weight and quality of build.
The lighter the bicycle the more fun and versatile the bike. Remember that there will be occasions when you want to ride without the battery assist and if the bike is very heavy this will not be much fun. Ideally look for a bike that weighs less than 25kg.
Range is important too and, while it sounds obvious, you should make sure it would be enough for what you are planning to use it for. Manufacturers provide a quote of the range but these are often derived from ideal test conditions and we recommend using these quoted figures with a pinch of salt. As a guide you should only expect them to have a range of ¾ of the quoted figure.
We have compiled information on some good electric bicycles here but a great place for electric bicycle reviews is at www.atob.org.uk. They have a lot of excellent information on the site and if you want a review of a particular bike you can order back issues.
Salary Sacrifice
There is currently UK Government tax break that allows you to buy a bicycle for around 60% of the retail price. Essentially this scheme allows you to write off the part of the value of a bicycle (or electric bicycle) against your earnings and hence not pay income tax or national insurance on that part of your salary. It also saves you the VAT on the bike and the total discount is around 40%. You will have to get your employer to fill out a simple form and the bicycle will get paid off from your salary over a 12-18 month period. Some bike sellers such as Evans Cycles and Powabyke have online information and forms but you are not limited to these retailers. See dft for further information. http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_susttravel/documents/downloadable/dft_susttravel_038229.pdf
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