It’s time to get off the exercise bike and climb on that two-wheeler for a workout and some fresh air. Bicycles provide great exercise, are extremely energy efficient and produce zero emissions. Combining an electric motor with a bicycle can be an ideal mix of exercise and comfort. Under ideal conditions, the electric bike is one of the best forms of urban transportation.

Bicycles and electric motors are natural companions. Leg power provides sufficient energy when the road is flat or downhill, and the electric motor offers a welcome assist on inclines. What’s more, those rotating wheels make excellent electricity generators, especially when you are coasting downhill or applying the brakes, when the wheels become “regenerators” of electricity.

An electric bicycle is far more than a bike with a battery and motor. The Urban XU450 made by OHM Cycles Ltd, for example, exemplifies the advanced technology found in today’s battery-bikes. This bicycle lets you climb hills faster and ride longer with an integrated intelligent energy management system. The company also makes “sport” models with more power, multiple gears and all-terrain tires.

The system is actually fairly simple. A control console covers the bike’s lithium-ion battery as well as a brushless electric hub motor, and manages the distribution of power as you’re riding. The motor in the Bionx is a direct-current, generative wheel motor, which ultimately is capable of powering up to 700-watts of energy. Silent but powerful, the motor has an integrated microprocessor that actively monitors pedal thrust, and can actually help compensate for a weaker leg to keep your ride smooth and sweet.

Controls on the handlebars allow rider to choose their level of motor-assistance (there are 4) and a throttle gives the bike an extra oomph (provided it’s already moving). The bike features regenerative braking, just like many hybrid cars. As you go downhill and apply the (disc!) brakes, the electric motor works in reverse, partially recharging the battery pack. For the most part, charging is done through a regular wall socket (it takes a few hours) and should prep the bike for up to 70 miles of use.

There are some cool features on the Urban XU450. Its “Bionx” command console displays important travel information and allows the rider to switch easily between different power modes. The command console features a two-mode microprocessor which displays instantaneous information as you ride. In the first mode, known as assistance mode, a displayed indicator shows the power being supplied by the battery. The second, generative mode, displays the energy being transmitted back to the battery. The incorporated battery charge indicator helps you to better manage charge level. The console serves as a multi-functional odometer and displays current speed, distance traveled and average speed. A meter indicates the level of energy being used or generated.  

The Urban XU450 lists for just under $2,400, as much as a motor scooter or small motorcycle, but without the excessive operating costs. Some bikes are priced under $1,000, but you don’t get the cool techno stuff found on the OHM machines.

If the thought of the battery bike is not appealing to you because ultimately the bikes get their juice from the electric grid perpetuating coal and nuclear powerplants, get the E-V Sunny Bicycle, made by Thera-P-Products of Canada. It’s touted as the “first all solar electric bicycle driven completely from power derived from the sun’s rays.” The E-V Sunny uses a 350-watt electric hub motor on the front wheel receiving power from a 24-volt lithium iron phosphorous battery system that is recharged with a photo-voltaic array that folds out on the rear fender. It operates in pedal, battery or combination mode at speeds comparable to the OHM bicycles. The E-V Sunny lists for $1,795. The company also makes a battery-only version that costs $1,300.

The success of bike-share programs in Europe has prompted the University of Washington to create an electric bike-share program for its Seattle campus. The self-rental bicycle program will work much like the Euro programs with peddlers using a special pass to unlock bicycles from stations located throughout campus and then returning them just as easily. The pilot system is being funded by a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation in the hope that "corporate campuses, vacation destinations and high-density urban and public transit locations" will see the value of these systems.

If the sweat and muscle strains of bicycling have dampened your enthusiasm for peddling, you should look into the electric-assist form of cycling. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get a charge from it!