Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Are E-Bikes worth it??


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Is an E-Bike Worth it??

     Bikes have always been around and while they are still popular today, they have received some major upgrades. With upgrades to an item, the price also receives an upgrade. Electric bikes can range from $2,000-3,000. There are many pros and cons of owning an E-Bike. Some benefits that come from an E-Bike are it makes distances seem shorter and makes your commute shorter. the biggest con of this product is the price tag. a regular commuter bike can ranger from $200-400 if bought second hand; however, the price nowhere compares to the E-Bike. The E-Bike price is about the same price as an electric scooter-- which is understandable because of its function. Another con about the electric bike is that the batter needs to be replaced every 3-4 years-- meaning another $400 spent on the same bike. 

     The Electric bike has its pros and cons; however, people are still buying it. the future is here and no one wants to be left behind. Despite the possibility of having the battery die in the middle of the ride, many would rather have the E-bike than a regular bike-- if price permits. Studies showed that people with e-bikes used it to commute 3.5 days out of the week while people on regular bikes showed that they use the bike to commute 2 times a week. the E-Bike mainly comes down to the willingness to spend. if one cannot afford to spend $3000 on a bike, then it is not a big deal to them.

     Although I am not an avid bicycle rider, this article still intrigued me. I compare this E-Bike to another type of motorized transportation called the BOOSTED board. The Boosted Board is an electric skateboard which was made very popular by famous Youtuber Casey Neistat.  Neistat often does tech reviews of items like the E-Bike and delivers his honest opinion over the product. He has reviewed an electric bike compared to this one. it can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkKUym2h_o&t=350s .

    As for the four Cs of this product:
- Consumer Wants and needs: The Consumers who are bicycle users may look for a similar product with a smaller price tag. Although I am not sure how many people would want to buy an electric bike because riding a bike is a form exercise but for those who only use it as a mode of transportation who do not need the extra work out, this could be a great solution for them.
- Costs to satisfy: This bike costs around $3000. this is a steep price to pay for an electric bike. I figure not many people would be willing to buy such an expensive bike only to have it die on them in the middle of a ride. Also, because it is electric, if the bike dies it makes it heavier to peddle if the battery is dead.
- Convenience: The Convenience of buying this product is not too big. One must go to a specialized bike shop or order it online to buy it. They do not carry these at sports shops like Academy or Dick's sporting goods. Someone looking for a bike could easily go to Academy and purchase one in less than an hour; however, with the E-Bike, one must go out of their way to find it or order it and wait a long period of time for it to arrive.
- Communication: I think this company listened to their customers when they asked for a more advanced bicycle. and although they got what they asked for, the price tag and the battery life are huge drawbacks which could cause others to deter from purchasing this product.

Submission 3/5

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