
Batteries are also very important in regards to these products. The most common battery sealed lead acid (SLA) is the least expensive and provides the highest amp hours (ah). However, SLA batteries weigh three times what a lithium battery does and last less than a third as long. A Lithium LiFePO4 battery is the most expensive battery and has low ah, but is by far the lightest weight and longest lasting. You would have to purchase, install, and dispose of 12 12volt SLA batteries before you come close to the life span of one 48 volt LiFePO4 battery. Nickel cadmium and other batteries fall somewhere in between. A lightweight lithium battery usually slides out of the battery rack for easy recharge indoors rather than having to locate an outlet in which to plug the whole bike. Lithium batteries are by far the most ecologically friendly of all the batteries available. The electric bikes built from kits are quite often your best bet in terms of price and performance. Most of the bicycles that people already own are superior machines to many of those that have been designed as electric bikes. If you choose your kit carefully you will get a more powerful motor, better battery, and many other features that you cannot find on a factory built bike and your converted bike will often weigh less. A good kit should have the motor pre built into a wheel (a front wheel kit is much easier to install), dual brake motor cutoff, a twist or thumb throttle, a motor controller, wiring harness, and a battery mounting rack with a lock mechanism. A really good kit will also have wiring diagrams, mounting hardware, wire ties and complete instructions. Very expensive factory built electric bicycles tend to look more like motorcycles, are very heavy and hard to pedal but go no faster or farther than an inexpensive bike or kit built bike. They do look cool though! Also, you will want to purchase your kit from someone who will be able to help you through the installation process in the remote case that you have a question or problem. If you are going to convert your existing bicycle, be sure that it is good operating condition and if you are going to build a bike from a kit of 500 watts or more, use a bike with a steel front fork. Very powerful front wheel motors can pull free from or damage aluminum and suspension forks. You do not require a lot of gearing in an electric bicycle unless you are going to use it as a mountain bike. For street bikes, six or seven gears are more than sufficient. If you choose to buy a factory built bike, find one you able to completely control, feel comfortable riding and that has all of the options you are looking for.