Since the ED-1 electric bicycle is both one of our most popular bikes and suited to a wide range of riders and uses I choose the ED-1 to ride on a weekly basis.

The ED-1 has an appearance not dissimilar to that of a typical British bicycle with a step through frame. The two major features which indicate that it is electrically powered are the battery, housed between the head tube and the pedals, and the electric motor in the rear wheel. A closer examination of the ED-1 also reveals that it has a simple twist-and-go throttle, akin to that of a moped.

I particularly like the ED-1, it is a practical well thought out electric bicycle. It has a all the features an electric bicycle requires gears, rack, basket etc without stepping into the realm of gadgetry. This useful yet concise specification, keeps the weight and price of the bicycle down while also ensuring it is a very strong performer in terms of speed and acceleration.

The next model up from the ED-1 is the THD-9, this is a heavier electric bicycle with suspension for the rear wheel as well as the front. The Low Step would be classified as the bike below the ED-1. It is smaller than the ED-1 and it has no gears. 

Typically, I perform one or two smaller journeys per day on my ED-1. One journey I particularly enjoy is the ride into the town centre to the local shops:

Riding my electric bicycle into town means that I can literally ride right up to the door of each one of the shops I visit and stand the bike outside. This is very convenient, I need barely take a single stride between home and the stores. Conversely driving into town by car frequently leaves me exasperated. Parking spaces in our town centre, like so many today, can be particularly hard to find. So much so in fact that on more than on occasion I've simply conceded defeat and driven home without doing the tasks I'd driven in to town to perform. Usually however, when my luck does change and I find a parking space its not an inconsiderable walk to each of the shops I wish to visit.

With the shopping complete, the journey home from the town centre on an ordinary pedal bicycle would be somewhat harder than the journey into town since not only would I be carrying some shopping, but its also up hill! Riding the ED-1 however its equally effortless, even though its carrying not only my 85kgs, but also a basket full of purchases. A few minutes ghosting near silently along enjoying the ride sees me back at home shopping in hand. 

A short journey like this on the ED-1 of between two and three miles barely influences the level of charge in the batteries and plugging in the charger sees the green light appear after only about an hour! My journeys don't test the range of the ED-1!

One of our customers, purchased a THD-9 from us some time ago. The THD-9 is quite similar technologically ED-1 but has a few additional features. Recently he called saying that he had covered 20 miles that day and that the battery was "a bit low" at the end of the journey. He was perfectly happy with the performance, indeed he had nothing but praise for the THD-9. In the end he purchased a second battery so he can now leave a battery on charge at all times and cover up to 40 miles per day - It must be stated that this customer is the exception, but it does go to show how far our electric bicycles can be ridden.

Another short journey I perform on the ED-1 is taking my daughter to school. I currently don't have a child seat on the bicycle, so I push the bicycle to school and then ride it to work. This allows me to walk my daughter to school, which she enjoys, and be at work at the start of the business day without being unduly rushed. 

Our customers use our electric bicycles for all manner of reasons. Many are daily commuters, sometimes because their driving license has been suspended but more commonly because they prefer to leave the car at home or wish to make cycling a little easier. Others holiday with mobile homes, people carriers or smaller cars and wish to have a means of getting around while away that doesn't mean being seated in vehicle. While some customers use electric bicycles as a mobility solution which enables them to get out-and-about.

Finally for now, on a particularly cold Friday afternoon recently I used my ED-1 to carry me across town to visit another company. Upon arrival the people I'd gone to see all took a ride around the car park on my electric bicycle, and each one came back with a smile on their face impressed by its speed and acceleration - electric bicycles aren't just tools they are genuinely good fun as well.

To see details of the ED-1 click here 
To see details of the THD-9 click here
To see details of the Low Step click here

Andy Firth
Director