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Tired of pedalling your old bicycle? Time to move to an e-cycle for that extra oomph 

Do you remember the first time you got on a bicycle? The unsteady first few pedals and then the feeling of freedom as you learnt to balance it and ride it into the sunset. Okay, you probably just rode it to the park as in all likelihood you learnt cycling as a child. While most of us rode the cycle to school or the neighbourhood park with friends when growing up, the environment-friendly two-wheeler was soon abandoned in the shed as we moved to fancy fuel-guzzling four-wheelers. If you would like the fun of cycling combined with the suitability of an automobile (think more speed, less sweat), try out an e-cycle—a cycle with an electric motor and battery.  

Unlike an e-scooter or e-bike, an e-cycle features more of an assist function rather than a full-blown electric engine. So in case of an e-cycle your pedal movement is assisted as you ride, taking some of the pressure off your legs. The motor revs up when your speed drops below a certain level, giving you that electric power boost to lift up your mood and your speed, enabling you to keep feeling the wind in your hair, no matter how tired you are. Similarly, once the speed goes above a certain level, the motor cuts out allowing you to cruise along at a steady speed. While e-cycles have become all the rage globally, especially in Europe, they are still at a nascent stage in India. As per a report by research firm Mordor Intelligence, the e-cycle market in India was valued at $1.02 million in 2020 and is expected to double to $2.08 million by 2026, projecting a CAGR of 12.69 per cent during the forecast period (2021-2026). 

Over the last couple of years, several companies have launched e-cycles in India. These include Hero Lectro, GoZero Mobility, Zadd Bikes, Being Human, Giant Bicycles, EMotorad and Nexzu Mobility, among others. Given the lack of cycling lanes in the country, it’s unlikely a lot of us will move to e-cycles for our daily commute. But it is still fun to take one for a spin. So what should you look out for when buying an e-cycle? Rather than getting bogged down by price, speed, mileage, assembly, etc., Aditya Munjal, CEO of Hero Lectro, suggests that you first think about what you plan to do with the e-cycle. “While selecting an e-cycle, one should identify their purpose of opting for the e-cycle and select the bike best suited to them in terms of range and ergonomics,” he says. Hero Lectro offers 14 models, with the Hero Lectro F6i priced at Rs 54,999 being the fanciest. The e-cycle has a crossover MTB frame making it ideal for both on and off road. It comes with a detachable battery that gives it a range of 60 km-plus with a single charge.  

It also has Bluetooth connectivity, an LED screen and USB charging. Hero Lectro currently has 70 per cent market share of the e-cycle market in the country. If you live close to office and decide to commute to work then chances are that you need something that is light, durable and easy to store once you get there. In that case, you may like to explore the idea of a foldable cycle. Or you may like to explore the idea of a foldable cycle simply because it’s super cool.