Many people worldwide have considered switching their cars for e-bikes. They may have these thoughts for different reasons. They may be tired of traffic jams and looking for parking spots, or they may not use their cars that often and still have to pay insurance costs.
Having a car can be a delight as well as a struggle. Usually, car owners have to spend a lot on fuel, maintenance, and other things. However, with an e-bike, you can get away from many of these costs. In this article, we’ll let you know how replacing your car with an electric bike can be a good thing.
What Costs Can You Cut By E-Biking Instead Of Driving?
You can cut a lot of costs when you replace your car with an e-bike. Due to the many cost-inducing factors associated with owning a vehicle, you can definitely see a significant improvement in your savings once you make the switch. Here are some of the ways an electric bicycle helps you save money:
Fuel Costs
One of the biggest expenses car owners face is fuel costs. Except for electric and hybrid cars, most cars need fuel to run. The problem is that the cost of fuel varies depending on the type of fuel used, which can take a massive chunk out of your monthly budget.
However, an e-bike allows you to save on fuel costs. The bike only needs electricity to run, so once you charge it periodically, you can use it continuously. This is by far cheaper, as bicycle charging costs are very low.
Insurance
Another way cars take up significant costs is through insurance. Most car owners make sure that their vehicle is insured. This is to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. However, car premiums vary depending on the vehicle and your driving history. They can also be costly.
With an e-bike, you can say goodbye to car insurance and save a substantial portion of your earnings. You can choose whether you want to get an e-bike insurance to cover your property. Even if you decide to insure the bike, it is by far cheaper than any car insurance.
Maintenance
Maintenance is another thing car owners can never avoid. Anyone who owns a car must conduct regular maintenance to keep it in optimal condition. Even if the car is not used for a long time, it can still require maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotations.
This is not the case for electronic bikes. E-bikes require far less maintenance than cars, and it is also not as expensive. To matain your e-bike, you only need to perform routine checks, such as cleaning the bike, brake check, tightening bolts, and lubricaring the chains. Compared to fixing a car, repairing a bike is way cheaper. Here’s a video on how to maintain your Nakto e-bike.
Value Depreciation
The value of a car can drop by thousands of dollars in a few years. This can be very annoying if you are considering reselling your car after a couple of years. However, electric bikes don’t have this constraint.
Although electric bikes also lose value over time, it takes far longer for an e-bike to depreciate than a car. E-bikes depreciate slower than cars because of their lower maintenance, fuel, and initial costs. This is a serious factor to consider if you plan on selling your vehicle at any point.
Oil Changes, Tire Rotations And Brake Jobs
Owning a car means constantly maintaining it, which can be costly and time-consuming. Most cars require oil changes after traveling between 3000 and 7500 miles, and each oil change costs between $30 and $100. NAKTO provides e-bikes that cost little to maintain.
Car owners also need to go for tire rotations every once in a while to make sure their wheels are in optimal condition. This service can also incur a high cost. E-bikes, on the other hand, do not need frequent tire rotations.
In addition to oil and tire rotation costs, car owners also have to change their brake pads every once in a while. The reason for this is that they wear down with time and need frequent replacement. This can also add to the overall cost you will have to spend on your car.
Switching to an electric bike eliminates all these expenses. Maintaining an e-bike costs only a meager amount of money, and the process is much simpler, too. Why not check out NAKTO e-bikes today and say goodbye to oil changes and tire rotations?
Parking Fees
Parking also adds significant costs to car owners. Many car owners might not notice the amount that goes into parking fees at first, but it is definitely a meaningful amount. Owning a car means paying parking fees, permits, and garage costs. All these fees can add up to a significant amount at the end of the month.
E-bikes, however, are easy to park. You also don’t need to pay for a spot before you park your e-bike. You can simply lock it at a bike rack, which is pretty numerous and accessible compared to parking lots. You also don’t need to pay for them.
What Does It Cost To Maintain An E-Bike For Regular Use?
Although it costs significantly less for you to maintain an e-bike than a car, that doesn’t mean it is entirely cost-free. There are still some tiny costs that you will incur from owning an electric bike. Here are some of the expenses you might face when you replace your car with an e-bike:
1. Charging Cost
Charging is the most common cost of owning an e-bike. Electric bikes run on power supplied by rechargeable batteries, so you need to charge them periodically to continue using them. The capacity of your battery will determine the distance your bike can cover.
Usually, it costs around $0.10 to $0.20 to fully charge an electric bike that can go up to 40 miles. This is way cheaper compared to the cost you would incur by fueling a car monthly.
2. Battery Replacements
The average lifespan of an e-bike battery is 3 to 5 years. That means after every 3 to 5 years, you will need to spend some money to replace the battery of the e-bike with new ones. However, this is still worth it considering you only need a replacement after some years.
3. Tires
The tires of an electric bike wear down faster than that of cars, but are significantly cheaper. The reason why it wears down fast is because of the weight of the motor and battery. That means you might need to change your tires after they wear down. However, since they are significantly cheaper than car tires, it is still worth it.
4. General Maintenance
Although e-bikes do not require much maintenance, you still need to check if everything is in order once in a while. Hence, you can spend a bit on brake adjustments, chain lubrication, and occasional tune-ups. However, these don’t cost as much as maintaining a car.
When comparing the amount of money you need to maintain your e-bike to that of a car, it is clear to see that there is a vast difference. E-bike costs don’t accumulate quickly, and it is a far more affordable means of daily transportation than cars.
Can You Transport Kids With An E-Bike?
One prominent concern families have about switching from a car to an e-bike is space. Families with kids have to consider whether an e-bike can still perform their daily activities, such as transporting the kids and grocery shopping. However, there is no need to fret. There are various ways you can approach these issues:
● Transporting Kids
There are many e-bikes made by reputable companies like NAKTO that are designed with families in mind. These electric bikes usually have features like child seats attached to the front or rear of the bike. This is perfect if you only have one kid.
However, if you plan on carrying multiple children, you should get a larger cargo e-bike that can comfortably seat two. These types of bikes have additional load capacity, and some even come with built-in child seats. The Nakto Elegance 2 eBike is the perfect bike for transporting kids.
● Moving Groceries
E-bikes are perfect for picking up groceries and small loads. Instead of driving a car anytime you want to shop for groceries, you can simply use your e-bike. It is smaller but big enough to carry all your groceries. The Nakto trike S02 e-bike is perfect for grocery runs.
Many e-bikes come with different attachments like cargo or pannier bags that you can use to move small loads like groceries. For example, Nakto's Insulated Food Delivery Bag can keep your food warm until you get home. It is a very handy attachment that you can place on the bike's rear seat.
Contributions Of E-bikes To The Environment
Apart from the benefits they provide to individuals and families, electric bikes are also beneficial to the environment. Here are some of those benefits:
● Zero Emissions
Unlike cars and other means of transportation, electric bikes do not release any carbon emissions. They are powered by stored electrical energy or pedalling. Hence, they don't secrete emissions like petrol or diesel-powered vehicles.
● Minimal Noise Pollution
E-bikes are not as loud as cars and other motorbikes. This reduces the amount of noise pollution in the environment.
● Less Damage To Roads
E-bikes are more powerful than regular bicycles but still remain friendly to roads. Unlike cars and other large vehicles, the damage e-bikes contribute to roads over time is considerably lesser.
● Sustainability
The world today is leaning towards sustainability. Therefore, sustainable means of transportation like e-bikes are well-appreciated. Since they run on sustainable energy, they have less impact on environmental resources.
What Type Of E-Bike Can Replace Your Car?
Here are the types of e-bikes you can use to replace your car:
1. Commuter E-Bikes
Commuter e-bikes are electric bikes that are made for everyday commuting. They are usually very comfortable and easy to ride. They typically have integrated fenders, lights, and racks and are perfect for short trips and daily movement. An example of a great commuting bike is the Nakto Camel e-bike.
2. Cargo E-Bikes
Cargo e-bikes are perfect for carrying larger loads or transporting. If you have something need to transport and want to switch to an e-bike, getting a cargo e-bike might be the best option for you. They have a larger frame, and you can carry more things with the rear basket.
3. Mountain E-Bikes
Mountain e-bikes are ideally suited for people who live in hilly areas or places with rough terrain. In places like these, mountain e-bikes fit better because they offer more durability than other e-bikes. They are also better equipped to pass through challenging routes. The Nakto Cruiser 2 e-bike is specially designed to traverse complex terrains.
4. Folding E-Bikes
Folding e-bikes, as the name implies, are foldable. This makes them very easy to store or combine with other means of transportation. If you want to go on a biking trip but have to cover a long distance to get there, you can place your folding e-bike in your car and drive there. The Nakto Folding OX e-bike is perfect for these situations.
Discover NAKTO Electric Bikes
Switching from your car to an e-bike has various cost benefits. Although there are also some limitations associated with using an e-bike, it is still an ideal solution for daily short-distance transportation. NAKTO offers the best electric bikes to replace your vehicles.
NAKTO offers you safe and reliable e-bikes that are comfortable to ride and pocket-friendly. Our products are very durable, and we have a wide range of accessories to go along with your dream e-bike. Ride easy today with NAKTO e-bikes!