Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
The auto industry is in a happy place right now. Sales are up — last year Americans bought about 16.5 million vehicles.
But guess what? They bought about the same number of bicycles. Cycling continues to grow in popularity, and now some big names are pushing bikes that give riders a little extra boost.
Bosch, the German electronics manufacturer, has just opened a new corporate headquarters in Irvine, Calif. The company has so far focused on Europe, where about ten percent of all bikes sold are electrics. Here in the US, electric bikes make up only about one percent of sales, but analysts expect that number to increase quickly, and dramatically.
Bosch partners with existing bike makers to electrify their two-wheelers. They include big names such as Felt and Haibike. Marketed as "pedal assist", these bikes have ranges up to 80 miles, and are limited to a top speed of 20 mph. They can also be pricey, with many selling in the $3-4000 range. And they are heavier than non-powered bikes, meaning they can be unwieldy if the power runs out.
Still, Bosch and others think a lot of Americans will see the power assist as a good thing, whether they plan to use the bike for off-road adventures, or just for the daily commute. Although their not cheap, they're still much cheaper than a car or even a motorcycle. And one big plus is being able to pedal to work and arrive fresh, rather than sweaty.