Riding an electric bike is a unique experience. Some might think it’s like riding a motorcycle yet, no, it’s quite a bit different. This difference alludes to something significant. Getting on an electric bike is to be amazed at the torque, the exhilaration of acceleration. This grabs the attention right off the bat.
I usually tell people to be careful to not let it take off uncontrollably. Bicycle electric motors can be as efficient as 95%; power is easily available. I myself abuse this super power, weaving through congestion, jamming through and torquing out of tight situations. And hopefully not crossing paths with officialdom.
This acceleration brings a feeling of freedom and power. Humans like to move. If anyone cares to give it a bit more time, one will notice the silence rather than the iconic exhaust noise that is pervasively everywhere. Silence is beautiful. No messy gasoline, coolant and oil to deal with. Forget all the wonky and ideological debates: it’s nothing but a motor and a battery. Plug it in, charge it and go. For some, it’s an instant revelation, for others over time it’s the future. Like, the future of everything.
The world runs on fossil fuel. Every single thing not out there in nature, not messed with by any human besides hunter and gatherer tribes: everything is related to the goo of vast 100 million year old forests. (Not dinosaurs) And from that, the vast levels of ancient carbon released into the air and water. Cheap energy, sugar, crack cocaine, what have you. Outside of the one and only particular political party on the planet, the human effect is accepted. Yet our planet is under a powerful and myopic worldwide system of profit.
There are plenty of those who would rather make the excuses that solutions are not possible, too expensive, too this or that. Yet we have no other choice. I would love to have an electric drive van, yet until then or until self driving cars become the freedom that not every person needs a large piece of expensive machinery. In the meantime I think about of a rig like this:
Actually I meant this:
A prediction I posit is that it’s getting worse before it’s getting better. That is such the mind boggling scenario and yet, there is no doubt a radical change is coming. Humans have always operated on the boom and bust cycle. And the carbon energy cycle is about to bust and for a reason as never before.
The reason is unlike an addict that needs to decide to quit or die. Maybe we can find a way to scrub the air or darken the sun, yet the oceans will continue to acidify. How we roll wheels on the earth will remain if we want to keep moving stuff and ourselves, making things and communicating about all of it. I do hope the utopian vision of Star Trek comes true. Instead of this backwards “we can’t stop using fossil fuel” mindset, enough of us are optimistic and realize that we might be smart apes, yet smart enough to progress.
Next story:
Riding a full suspension electric bike on the rocky and rippin singletrack around Norther Arizona.
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