The problem with electric bicycles is you run out of power away from where electrical power is located. And despite long range capacity in electric cars, people will constantly run out of power foolishly. There's not much reason to run out of gasoline on paved highways and roads. And yet in America, AAA makes thousand or two emergency deliveries of gas to vehicles every day. (Which is one of two reasons that I believe Hydrogen engine is by far the most sensible alternative to ICE. But that technology isn't ready yet. Hydrogen supplies, like petrol, are portable and not hardwired into a central delivery system. The other reason is that Hydrogen is by far, a cleaner technology than electric).

Back to bicycles. The best way to make E bikes run uphill for long distances is to eliminate the hills. Railroad tracks aren't laid on steep inclines, except for short special purpose lines, like at Pikes Peak. They were designed at great extra cost, length, and difficulty to keep the grades moderate, even over mountain ranges. 

So anyway, E bikes are being used on old abandoned railroad lines. On the short spots were the rails are no longer clean or they're covered up , foot power is used. And then back to electric power.

 

Edited April 12, 20233 yr by Fielder

Also, elsewhere, the Western Pacific railroad was a 1st class railroad designed to compete with the Central Pacific/Union Pacific transcontinental line into Northern California. It famously passed over and along the scenic Feather River Canyon and was the line of the California Zephyr. The very long and now abandoned WP track was/is extremely scenic and used for backpacking tours and rambles. 

I can't stress enough, how truly random this is. 

I think he meant to post this in hangar chat!

Is this on sale at the Market Place?

Doh! Yes, I thought I was in Hangar Chat... LOL...