Drawing from the previous discussions, the electric
bicycle performance evaluation is summarized in terms
of different key parameters. These include market trends
and regulations, opportunities for improvement by special-
purpose-design to attract customers, identification
of possibly oversized components and reduction of oversizing,
and identification of areas where further research
is needed (Table 5). In a similar way as before, the subcategories
of the different areas (market trends, regulations,
special-purpose design, comments on oversized
components and on research and development) are compared
and commented upon individually in Tables
17–22. Summarizing, more publicity is still needed to introduce the public to electric bicycles. Also, more
attention needs to be paid to releasing electric bicycles
from licensing. A uniform standard/guideline for
designers/manufacturers of electric bicycles would favor
an increase in popularity and avoid the quality of electric
bicycles being compromised. Custom-designed
bicycles that are most efficient over a given operating
cycle, such as city, hill, and distance, and “speedy bicycles”
would help to re-duce the additional cost and
weight of oversized components. In this context, the
electric bicycle market would benefit from further
research both on the battery and on the drive technology
and their use with electric bicycles.