Elektrokola - nová dimenze cyklistiky – Hrubíšek Ivo (2011)

The first Czech publication on electric bikes will introduce interested readers to the issue of bicycles where pedaling is supported by electric propulsion. These bikes have recently gained popularity, which is reflected in their increasing sales. Several dozen electric bikes of various types and brands from 1995 to 2010 are presented, marking a sort of 'modern era' for this type of bicycle. At the beginning of this era, in the mid-nineties, a very successful compact drive unit (motor + battery) from Yamaha was produced in relatively large series and installed in electric bikes of various brands from many companies – both in Asia and Europe. The Japanese Yamaha thus broke the barrier of distrust towards electric bikes and showed the way that led to their current boom. In addition to Yamaha, other well-known motorcycle manufacturers such as Honda and Suzuki, as well as major names from the bicycle industry – from the Far East, for example, Merida, Giant, Dahon, and a number of European companies, predominantly German and Dutch, and not least also electronic corporations – Panasonic and Sanyo – became involved in the development of electric bikes. Electric bikes gradually lost their robustness, and their weight (including the battery) significantly decreased. In the mentioned typology of electric bikes, there is...