There have been electric bicycles nearly as long as there have been bicycles with pneumatic tires. This drawing from Ogden Bolton Jr.’s 1895 patent application doesn’t really look all that different than some of the electric bikes on the road today.
Much has changed in a hundred years. Global warming and carbon footprints, the geopolitics of petroleum, cities clogged with cars, and an active baby boom generation that wants to stay active are all hot topics now. Together with significant technology improvements, they’re also all excellent reasons why more and more folks will consider electric cycling in the years ahead.