PMZERO - Pedalare è bello, ma con l'elettricità è ancora meglio 
The electric bikes have the wind in the last two years in Switzerland and sales have literally exploded producers are struggling to meet demand.
Switzerland bikes with electric assistance have now overtaken those racing in the ranking of sales. Last year, I am in fact been sold well in more than 10,000.
Progression was shocking: 5'825 in 2007, 12,600 in 2008 and 23'886 in 2009, according to figures from the Swiss supplier of bicycles. An increase of over 400% in two years!
Almost seven out of 100 bikes sold in Switzerland are now equipped with electric assistance. One thing very extraordinary, if one takes into account the fact that these two wheels are quite expensive: starting from 1,500 francs to climb to over 6,000 for the more sophisticated models.
A vehicle for old men?
"Five years ago, when we started, many people told us that vehicle sales for lazy or old men," says Dominique Schönbächler, along with the owner of Marc-Antoine Chavaillaz LocoEmotion, a store specializing in two-wheel electric Corcelles in Canton Neuchâtel.
The change was radical. Before the women were interested in these cycles. Oggi la clientela è sempre più spesso composta da uomini, anche giovani e sportivi. "Vi sono sempre meno maschi che si toccano il loro quadricipite e ci dicono che la bicicletta elettrica non fa per loro", osserva divertita Dominique Schönbächler.
Nel 2009, il negozio di Corcelles ha venduto un'ottantina di biciclette. Una cifra praticamente già raggiunta quest'anno alla metà di luglio.
"Vi è stata un'evoluzione incredibile. La bicicletta elettrica è veramente entrata nell'era dell'uso utilitario. Oltre ad una certa presa di coscienza ecologica, la gente comincia a rendersi conto che con questo tipo di veicolo ci si può spostare dappertutto, in particolare in città come Neuchâtel and Lausanne, where the gradients are strong, and faster than other modes of transport, especially during peak hours. Many people buy it to replace their second car or scooter, "says Marc-Antoine Chavaillaz.
Health is another important selling point, he adds Dominique Schönbächler." We have less time to devote to physical activity; ride for half an hour a day with a visit to the work we can do as much of the sport enough to keep fit. "
Move with an electric bike does not mean that you no longer have to push on the pedals. The engine simply provides a additional propulsion that impressed by the cyclist, controlled by a device attached to the handlebars. "The assistance ranges from 25% to 300% in some models, in other words, the engine can provide a boost of up to three times higher than that given by the ride," says Marc-Antoine Chavaillaz.
Range biggest
Technical development has been enormous. The first lead-acid batteries weighing 10 to 15 pounds and had a range of about twenty km. Today Lithium Ion batteries allow you to travel for forty miles and weigh from 2.5 to 4 pounds.
The life of course depends on the use made of it, but in general is 3-4 years or 20,000 miles. "Currently, to change the battery must spend about 600 to 1,000 francs, "says Marc-Antoine Chavaillaz. The development is, however, that those who buy an electric bike is now almost sure to have between 3-4 years of a battery, much more developed.
E with the arrival on the market of more powerful models, that allow for electrical assistance up to 40-45 km / h (see table), the range is increased. According to Marc-Antoine Chavaillaz, it is quite likely think of using them regularly for longer trips, such as by those who must make a journey of ten miles to get to work.
all at a price that defies competition: for BionX batteries, equipped with a system for recovering energy during braking, it was estimated that each kilometer costs only about 0.2 cents of electricity, to which are added 3.6 cents to depreciation of the battery.
Up to three months of waiting
The race for electric bicycles is so great that manufacturers are struggling to meet demand. "In some models that do not have in stock, you have to wait sometimes up to three months," says Marc-Antoine Chavaillaz. At
Biketec, the leading Swiss manufacturer based in Huttwil, Bernese Emmental, are working overtime to try to honor the orders as quickly as possible. Their flyer is sold such as bread and company officials plan to build a new wing of 7,000 square meters, in addition to the existing 8,500 square-foot factory opened in 2009 ...!
This bicycle under the brand name Swiss made furore is not only the federal government, but also in Germany, Holland and Austria.
"According to experts, sales of electric bicycles is expected to reach 30% of all new bicycles sold in Switzerland, compared to 5-10% currently," he stated recently at the financial newspaper L'Agefi Kurt Schär, director of Biketec . In the Netherlands, the market 'power' is already 20% of the total, while in Germany it is around 4-5%. Although la concorrenza si è fatta più forte e i grandi produttori di biciclette si sono lanciati a loro volta, i margini di progressione sono quindi ancora importanti.
"È vero, forse si può parlare di moda. Ma anche quando vi è stato il boom delle mountain bike si parlava di moda, eppure se ne vendono tuttora moltissime", fa notare Marc-Antoine Chavaillaz. Il titolare del negozio di Corcelles è convinto che il futuro appartenga alle biciclette elettriche: "La mobilità dolce è una combinazione di diversi mezzi di trasporto e le biciclette elettriche ne fanno ormai parte a pieno titolo".
