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Electric Bikes

Mario Schulzke
Mario Schulzke
1 min read

Gas, registration fees, insurance, maintenance...

Oh, and then there’s the cost of actually buying a car.

Cars are expensive to buy, operate, store, and maintain. If you’re buying a new car, the average cost to buy, drive and maintain is $894 per month or $10,728 per year. Damn, that’s a lot of money if you ask me.

Sure, cars are practical and convenient to get around. I like mine. But $894 per month is more than what most people should spend on transportation.

Do you absolutely need a car?

Could you drive a cheaper car and supplement it with another mode of transportation?

Either way, an electric bike is the answer.

Electric bikes can be relatively affordable.

Maintenance is super cheap. No insurance. No taxes. No gas.

They’re often just as fast as a car in town. Sometimes slower, sometimes quicker, as you’re not limited to streets.

They’re much more environmentally friendly.

Assuming you’re still pedaling, you’ll also get a workout.

But unlike a regular bike, you hopefully aren’t going to break a sweat.
I’ve been riding an electric cargo bike, and it’s perfect for commuting, grocery shopping, daycare drop-offs, and even light cargo duties.

I’ve ridden it 1000+ miles (I have a few bikes, hence that pretty low number) on it, and so far, I’ve had zero maintenance, tax, or gas expenses. I am unsure how much I’ve paid in electricity to charge the battery, but it’s negligible.

It goes 70+ miles on a single charge, up to 25mph.

It cost me $1,500. I see no reason why I couldn't ride it 100k miles.  A new battery costs $500—a new tire costs $29.

Electric bikes make a ton of sense for most people. Use it instead of a car. Or get a cheaper car and supplement that with an electric bike.

Seems like a no-brainer.

This is my electric cargo bike, which I love.

Maybe you should get one.

Or maybe you already have.

Life

Mario Schulzke Twitter

My name is Mario and I grow ideas, companies and hot peppers.


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