LONDON is to get an electric cycle option to add to the Mayor’s pedal bike hire scheme that came in last year.
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Run by car rental company Hertz, the electric bike programme will at first be based at Marble Arch, from where riders will be able to explore London at the cost of £20 a day, less than half the £50 a day price of hiring a Boris Bike.
Apart from a little battery under the crossbar, the leccy bikes look almost identical to normal push-bikes and can be used as such. But riders can switch to battery power when those tourist legs get tired, or when Parliament Hill looks too daunting.
“You don’t need to worry about running out of pedal power on your day out, as the electric battery will be your new best friend by helping you up steep hills or through strong headwinds,” said Mark Loveridge of Ultra Motor, the company which supplies Hertz with the bikes.
Two types of electric bike will be available; the one pictured – brand name Fast4ward Edge – is a folding bike with enough in the fully-charged battery to give 25 miles worth of pedal-boost, and the other – A2B Hybrid 24 – has 40 miles of puff.
