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.
To order phone 800/940-6548 (not operable from all U.S. locations) or 206/547-4621 or visit one of our stores:
Please note that on February 1, 2008 we moved within Seattle to:
Electric Bikes Northwest
4810 17th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107 - Map
ph: 206/547-4621
ph: 800/940-6548
fx: 206/547-4841
Email form
Spring Hours
Monday through Friday: 11–6
Saturday: 11–5
Electric & Folding Bikes California
(store established 2006)
220 Wisconsin Ave
Oceanside, CA 92054 - Map
(30 miles north of San Diego)
ph: 760/757-3440
ph: 800/940-6548
Email form
Hours
Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays: 11-3
Saturdays: 10-4
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 we shall need to develop several times 80 W when riding up a moderate hill, and must still accept cresting at reduced speed. The pedalling effort that propels us with 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 © 2007 Folding Bikes West
Eric Sundin contends that our society does not need yet another vehicle that replaces human power but rather one that augments or leverages human power. The design of the HPA (Human Power Augmented) bike starts with the component of modest, agreeable pedalling and uniquely adds instantly variable electric power.