When the going gets tough... I flick a switch

THE electric bike is already taking parts of the world by storm – with China leading the way with 200million people plugging into the craze.

So far in Britain only 20,000 electric bikes have been bought, but experts predict that within a decade more than a million people will be enjoying the thrill of ‘e-bikes’.

Thanks to improved technology, many electric bikes now look just like a traditional road bike – with a chunky battery strapped to the frame.

This battery is typically recharged overnight at home by being plugged into a standard electric socket. It then gives users at least 25 miles of electric-powered motoring at up to 15.5mph.

Project manager Helen Hatch-Barnwell, 30, from Putney, South-West London, recently purchased a £1,300 Kensington electric bike from Volt Bikes in Central London for a 7.5-mile commute from home to Harlesden, in North-West London.

Helen says: ‘The freedom that an electric bike brings is what I find attractive. I like to keep fit so I do a lot of the cycling myself, but when I feel the going is getting a bit tough, I simply press a switch and the electric power kicks in and boosts my pedal power.’

Helen says the bike also allows her to turn up to work feeling fresh.

Her bike – like others – has a small console that actions the ‘pedalassist’ power boost – from zero up to five in strength.

In addition, there is a handlebar throttle grip that enables her to motor at up to 15.5mph – the top speed that electric bikes are permitted to go.

Electric bikes are hefty. For example, the Kensington looks appealing but still weighs in at more than 20kg. Recharging is simple as the 2kg batteries are easy to unlock and take indoors. Recharging can take five hours – overnight – but uses less than 10p of electricity. The lithium battery will have to be replaced every five years – costing between £200 and £300.

Dealers offer free trials to potential buyers. Website Volt Bikes provides details of more than 40 affiliated electric bike shops nationwide. There is also The Electric Transport Shop, with outlets in Cambridge, London, Oxford, Bristol and York.