Blue Avenue Electric Bikes

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC BIKE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THIS BEFORE BUYING ONE. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE WILL MAKE YOU A SMARTER CONSUMER, AVOID THE PITFALLS OF THIS NEW INDUSTRY, AND FINALLY ALLOW YOU TO SELECT A TRULY BEAUTIFUL MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU.

1. What is an ebike? What is a pedelec? Is an electric scooter an ebike?

- Ebike, short for electric bike, is a power-assisted bicycle. It’s electric power comes from the motor and the batteries. Some ebikes are not dependent on pedals for speed. The ones dependent on pedals for speed are called Pedelecs or Pedal-Assist Bicycles, which means that the electric power is activated only when the pedals are used. However, there are ebikes in the market such as Blue Avenue’s “SWEET 16 electric bike” model that use both throttle and pedal to activate speed from the electric system. Electric scooters are not necessarily ebikes. They may have pedals and an electric system similar to ebikes but if they do not conform to Canadian laws, then they are not classified as ebikes which means that they are not road-worthy.

2. How fast are ebikes? Where can I ride an ebike?

- By law, the maximum speed a power-assisted bike can travel on level ground without using muscular power is 32 km/hr or less. Blue Avenue electric bikes can reach top speeds from 20 km/hr to 32 km/hr without muscular assistance from the rider.
- In Ontario, an ebike can be ridden anywhere a regular bicycle can go, that is, on any roads or bicycle paths but not on any 400 series highways. Electric bikes, like regular bicycles, are not allowed to be ridden on sidewalks. For other Canadian Provinces, please consult your Provincial and Municipal laws.

3. How would I know if an ebike is street legal?

- There are labels on ebikes identifying it as a “Power-Assisted Bicycle” and that they conform to Canadian laws. Without this label, the ebike is not as such and deemed illegal for road use. Some electric bikes being sold online or from dealers outside Canada is highly risky because the electric bikes do not have the proper labels and do not conform to Canadian laws.

4. What is the legal age for riding an electric bike?

-In Ontario, the electric bike operator or rider must be at least 16 years of age or older.

5. What are pedals for if I can use the throttle to generate speed?

- Without pedals then it is not classified as an electric bike. The pedals are there not just because it is the law, but to offer muscular assistance to electric motor in case the hills are too steep, the wind is too strong, and lastly, it is your last option to getting around when your battery is drained out.

6. Can I ride an electric bike without a helmet? Without pedals?

- It is against the law to ride an electric bike without a helmet and/or pedals. If you modify the pedals to fold inwards or decide to store them in your rear cargo, you are still breaking the law. Putting your pedals in the rear cargo is the same as putting your helmet in the rear cargo while you are riding.

7. What is the best battery for an electric bike? How long does it take to charge the batteries and what is the life cycle? Does it have a memory?

- There are 4 types of batteries: Lead Acid (PbA), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), and Lithium-ion or Lithium Polymer. Blue Avenue carries lead acid and is considering lithium in the near future. The disadvantage of lead acid is their heavier weight and shorter life cycle, however, they are the most reliable and the least expensive. They can also be recycled as oppose to NiCad, which represents an environmental hazard when disposed of in landfills. According to the US Department of Energy, 97% of Lead acid batteries have been recycled between 1997 - 2001. Lead acid batteries are designed to carry heavy loads as oppose to Nicads, whose design was initially used for smaller applications such as power tools and R/C (remote control) toys. If you must go with a long battey life cycle, then we do not recommend NiCad, but instead go with NiMh, which cost the same and is 50% safer for our environment. NiCad batteries oppose what electric bikes are meant for, which is to provide a cleaner or greener mode of transportation. Lithium powered batteries are constantly improving, however, none as of yet has a long and clear safety track record. However, Blue Avenue is closely monitoring the progress of lithium coming from overseas. The fact that 95% of electric bikes built in the world are powered by Lead acid batteries is enough evidence to go with this battery over the others. Lead acid is the safest, cleanest, cheapest, and the most reliable.
- Lead Acid Batteries takes 3 to 8 hours to fully recharge. These batteries do not have a memory effect. We recommend riders to immediately charge their batteries after every use to keep a strong life cycle, which is between 250 - 300 charges. If you ride the ebike regularly to empty, the life cycle is 200 charges or less.

8. How does battery voltage relate to the power of the electric bike?

- The more the voltage and amps (Ah) the battery has, the longer it will travel. For example, a 48 volt 14 Ah ebike will do double the distance than of a 48 volt 7 Ah or a 36 volt 10 Ah electric bike. Blue Avenue recommends and supplies nothing less than 36 volts and 14 Ah batteries for all electric bikes.

9. How far can I go on an electric bike without pedalling?

- This is dependent on the size of the motor and the battery voltage and Ah of the ebike. The higher the battery voltage and Ah, the further the range.

10. What is the function of the motor? Should I choose an ebike with the motor in the front or rear wheel? What type of motor is the best in the market? How many watts is good for me?

- The motor is the muscle of the electric bike. The bigger the motor, the more torque/acceleration the bike has. However, no matter how big or small the motor is, it will not perform to its potential if the batteries are not strong enough to supply the energy the motor needs.
- The motor is situated at the center of the front or rear wheel. Having the motor in the front wheel distributes the weight of the ebike evenly, however, the big disadvantage is the weight in the front interferes with steering, and by law of gravity, causing you to fall abruptly when you lean to turn left or right at slow speeds. Be careful and pay attention to your steering when travelling at low speeds. You will find the motor in the front wheel very popular with bike conversion kits. Blue Avenue does not sell electric bikes with front wheel motors. The advantage of having the motor in the rear wheel is you do not have that steering problem at all. In addition, the electric bike feels more firm to the ground with the extra weight underneath you. Sure, it's heavier in the back, but at a very marginal percentage, if you take into account the total weight of the rider and the batteries with the motor.
-There are mainly 2 different types of motors: brushed and brushless. Brushless motors are more efficient and delivers more torque than brushed motors, which also create a slight noticeable noise when riding. Brushed motors require regular cleaning of the motor while brushless do not require any maintenance at all.
- The higher the wattage the more power your ebike will have. If your weight is less than 185 lbs, it is recommended you go with a 350 watt motor such as Blue Avenue's "DALTON", "MAYHEM", "SUNRISE", or "MONSOON" electric bikes. If you have extra cargo then you may want to consider going with the more powerful 500 watt model such as the DRAGOON, FURY, VOLTA, CYCLONE, AMAZON, STRIKER OR MOUNTAINEER, OR THE NEWLY ADDED SUNRISE 500 AND THE OM electric bikes. In making your purchasing decision, you must make sure there's enough voltage/Ah to match the motor power - you don't want to under or over power the electrical system, otherwise the electric bike is performing in less than ideal conditions. As I said before, if the motor is the muscle then the battery is the heart that pumps or supplies energy to meet the demands of the motor. Make sure that the motor size is the actual wattage. Be aware that some dealers are advertising the maximum wattage output of the motor as the motor size, that is, a 350 watt motor with a maximum 500 watt output and minimum 350 watt output is being advertised as 500 watts, when it's actually 350 watts in size. Aren't you glad you read this far? Read on then...

11. What is a controller?

- If the motor is the muscle and the battery is the heart, then the controller must be the brain. The speed, torque, and performance of the ebike is pre-programmed in the controller, by the manufacturer, compatibly with the motor size, voltage and Ah. A poor quality controller normally fails in the early stages of usage, which is a sign of poor design and workmanship by the manufacturer. It is essential that the dealer can readily replace the part (hopefully with something better), otherwise, your ebike is malformed to a regular bike.

12. Some hills can be very steep. What kind of inclines can ebikes handle?

-The ability of the ebike to climb inclines is dependent on your weight, controller, motor size, and battery power. Based on 175 lbs, Blue Avenue ebikes can do inclines from 12 degrees (SWEET 16 electric bike), to as much as 20 degree inclines (MOUNTAINEER electric bikes). If you find a company claiming their ebike can do more than 20 degrees incline without muscular power, then make sure you get it in writing.

13. How reliable are ebikes? I saw two different prices for the same ebike. Why is one $200 or $500 more for the same model?

- The reliability of the ebike is dependent on the dealer and the manufacturer. If the dealer demands the best raw materials and the best quality control for their ebikes and is willing to pay the extra costs to have them built then you have an excellent quality product. Other dealers, however, may try to take advantage of the ignorance of the general public and sell them look alikes for less with inferior parts, design and quality control. When you purchase an ebike from Blue Avenue, you are buying a product that’s gone through strict and standardized quality control, and from a management team who has ridden ebikes since they first came to the marketplace in Canada in 2002. Blue Avenue backs up their products with a standard 1-year comprehensive warranty (batteries are covered by a 6 months warranty) with the option extendible up to two years.

14. If I purchase an electric bike online from a US company can I get it serviced at Blue Avenue? Can I get parts also?

- Yes and no. If the ebike is from another company but made by the same manufacturer then we will definitely consider it. If it came from a different manufacturer then you would have to sign a waiver to release Blue Avenue from any liabilities. The reasons for this are we may not have compatible parts readily for that foreign model and secondly, there are many electric bike imitators with poor workmanship selling at a huge discounted price making them prevalent with bargain hunters and dealers. In the ebike business, the old adage is true - WYPIWYG - “What you pay is what you get.”

15. I just bought an electric bike from Blue Avenue but my friend rode it and dropped the bike by accident. Can I get him to take it to another dealer for repair because he is paying for the damages?

- If you bring the ebike to another dealer with no affiliation to Blue Avenue then you will lose your warranty if there’s warranty still outstanding. The reason for this is another dealer is tampering with our product, for which we are obliged to look after during the time of your warranty, without us knowing what exactly has transpired during the time of repair. Parts can be replaced with inferior parts and some things can go missing that can endanger your safety and lessen the life usage of the ebike.

16. What security measures do the bikes have to prevent theft and increase recovery?

- We offer tracking numbers to our customers for a nominal fee of $25. This tracking number, if purchased, will be embedded onto the frame of the electric bike, making it very difficult for removal, unlike other dealers who use paper stickers as identification. In addition, our electric bikes have ID numbers embedded onto the motor of the ebike making it even more difficult for theives. Blue Avenue also offers Audible Alarm Locks for additional security.