Yes it is electric, but that just means it's cheaper to run than a standard pedal bike, electricity is far cheaper than food per kilometer.
I'm using it most days to get to work now, that's a 23km each way ride, so the km's add up fast:
390 rides
10 002km
2134 amp hours = 177.5 kWh's
Add 20% for charger inefficiency and taking an average electricity price for the last 3 years and you get about R180 (about $15) spent on electricity for 10 000km riding (actually less as I charge at the office half the time...)!
The bike has been as reliable as a Swiss watch. All that's gone wrong is 3 punctures, 1 in the front and two in the back. Ironically, two of the punctures were from my anti puncture strip wearing through the tube. That said, I have pulled a bunch of glass and steel out of the tyre which didn't get through the puncture strip, so it probably stopped more than it cause. Next time though, I'll be going ghetto tubeless. Punctures always happen at the worst time!
Still getting a huge a grin every time I ride. It's faster to get home than taking the car and sitting in traffic. Also I'm healthier, fitter, and don't get that damn awful road rage unless I have to take my car for some reason. The annoying window washers and car guards leave me alone, I never have to search for parking anywhere, and don't have a hernia every time the petrol price goes up. Plus it helps me get home in a far better mood, so the wife is far happier :)
It cost me about $3000, and saves me about $0.25 per km over my car, so by my calculations I have about 2000km left to do before it pays for itself. Of course I could add in all the health benefits and try to put a value to that, but I'd be healthy either way, so I can't count that...
