IZip E-Bikes: Too Much Fun on 2 Wheels
Article From: misselectric.com
What is more fun than biking on a beautiful day? E-biking! Electric bikes are a whole heck of a lot of fun and can replace your gas car for most of your local errands. Warning: Be prepared for a major EV grin.
We had a chance to test drive two electric bikes from the Izip Store in Venice, CA. We brought them as part of our speaking presentation entitled, “Electrify Your Ride,” at this year’s Lightning in a Bottle event. Our aim was to show that electric drive can come in many forms and that electric bikes can be a great alternative for getting around town.
We brought two top-of-the-line Izip Zuma cruisers. These bikes are what I would consider the Mercedes-Benz of E-bikes. They come with advanced Lithium-Ion battery technology and offer superior range and serious acceleration. I drove a flashy red Zuma version and Rob rode the more masculine Izip Zuma Blue.
Here are the specs on our E-bikes:
Top Speed :20 mph
Range :20-30 Miles
Battery Type: Lithium-Ion
Power: 500 Watts of “Power on Demand”
We rode these bikes for three days across the festival grounds. We tested them over a variety of terrain (grass, asphalt, and dusty roads). We also tested them up steep inclines. The bikes performed fantastically well across the board. They have a wicked fast throttle on the handle bars that brought an instant smile to our faces. We also loved zooming past the tired “festers” as they panted their way up the main hill 
Throughout the whole weekend, we never had to recharge once. We used the pedal-assist function periodically, which allowed us to pedal the bikes with human power when we wanted. If we needed to charge, the bikes come with a removable battery pack on the rear rack. This makes it convenient to take the battery out and charge wherever we like (6-8 hrs charge time).
As for price, the Izip Zuma bikes go for about $1500 each. This puts them a bit on the pricier side as far as E-bikes go, since you get a lot more in terms of performance and range. However, these bikes offer a short payback period. If you avoid burning just one gallon of gas per day by riding your E-bike instead (at today’s prices of $4.00/gallon), you will have earned your money back at the end of one year.
All in all, E-bikes are a great way to move in speedy fashion and offer all the conveniences of a 2-wheeler. For those looking to lower their carbon footprint (and save big on gas $), E-bikes are a serious win.
*Special thanks to Ethan at the Izip Store in Venice, CA. Ethan is very knowledgeable and can give you the low-down on the E-bike that is right for you.
I rented a eZip scooter from them last month. It was so much fun, I am interested in buying one. I'm not sure where I will buy it, a couple thousand dollars for a bicycle seems really expensive. At some point in my life I'll own one.
For now the rental was decent.
PROs:
If parking is available you can park in there lot all day. The bike is fun, it's pretty zippy, I was worried about running through the charge, but when i turned it in at
