Electric Bikes in the People's Republic of China

Download or read book Electric Bikes in the People's Republic of China written by Asian Development Bank and published by Asian Development Bank. This book was released on 2009-06-01 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Electric bikes (e-bikes) provide low-cost, convenient, and relatively energy-efficient transportation to an estimated 40 million–50 million people in the People's Republic of China (PRC), quickly becoming one of the dominant travel modes in the country. As e-bike use grows, concerns are rising about lead pollution from their batteries and emissions from their use of grid electricity, primarily generated by coal power plants. This report analyzes the environmental performance of e-bikes relative to other competing modes, their market potential, and the viability of alternative battery technologies. It also frames the role of e-bikes in the PRC's transportation system and recommends policy for decision makers in the PRC's central and municipal governments.