We sell and service Human Power Augmented a.k.a. Electric bikes and ride them enthusiastically ourselves. See also our folding bikes at Folding Bikes West.
Our Seattle store sells assembled bikes for pick up in the store. Come in and place your order, phone or email us.
Electric Bikes Northwest
4810 17th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107 - Map
ph: 206/547-4621
Email form
Hours:
Monday - Friday: 11–6
Saturday: 11–3
The eBike Store
201 N Alberta St
Portland, OR 97217 - Map
ph: 503/360-1432
Email form
Bend Electric Vehicles
550 SW Industrial Way #27
(near Bond Street)
Bend, OR 97701 - Map
ph: 541/410-7408
Email form
You may have noticed elsewhere on this web site references to "augmenting, not replacing human power", "designed as if human power matters", "hybrid electric bikes" and "blending human and electric power"? What are we talking about?
We begin by asking whether one actually wants and needs to take the step from 100% human power as in walking or pedalling a regular bicycle, to 0% as in driving a motor vehicle. We are not aware of any means of adding power to walking. If we were to add a human's fractional HP to the 150 HP of a 3,000 lb car the effect would not be noticeable. On the other hand the efficient and light bicycle is ideally suited for hybrid propulsion as in human and machine together.
Only 80 Watt (746W=1HP) is required to pedal a bicycle at 14 mph on level ground, a task considered non-strenuous and agreeable by most cyclists. If when biking the course were always level, head winds never stirred, temperatures were pleasantly cool, and as riders we were forever young, fit, motivated and without ailments or injuries this whole discussion might be superfluous.
But as those ideal conditions are only fleeting enjoyed we realize quickly that up to several times 80 W shall be needed to ride up a steep hill and we must still accept cresting at a modest pace: The light pedaling that propels us with such ease on level ground has thus become woefully inadequate riding up hill.
In no way, however, do we need to abandon the human power component. We may only need to add a modest amount of power (as far as motor power goes) for our pedalling again to turn perfectly agreeable. Consequently, the hybrid electric bike is designed around a modest-to-moderate rider input as a partnership component. It "abolishes head winds", and "flattens hills". We can now ride at that heart rate that our trainer or doctor recommends, or pedal no harder than our recalcitrant knee may allow. We have the option of arriving at our destination after a full work-out, or without a single bead of perspiration on our brow.
No words (at least not ours) can convey the feeling of ease and elation as we blend human and electric power. We are gently jolted under way, and quietly we surge down the road…
Copyright © 2009 EbikesNW
The unique and elating human power augmenting riding experience is experienced to its fullest on a pedal-activated model that senses both torque and speed. The motor responds instantly and proportionally when the rider ever so lightly steps on the pedal—intuitively rather than having to manipulate a control on the handle bar. Discover also the practicality of this system whether you need to restart on a steep hill or take off quickly through a busy intersection: "The power you need, the instant you need it. Without having to give it a thought."