Good Green Cars » commuting

Best Buy to Sell Electric Bikes

kristen — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:55:03 +0000

Hi-def TVs, iPods, digital picture frames … and now, electric two-wheelers. Best Buy announced last week that it would add plug-in bikes and motorcycles to its stores, starting with the Brammo Enertia in Portland, Oregon.

The Oregonian’s Hard Drive blog, the Portland Business Journal, Good Morning America, and the New York Times all reported on the sale of the bikes, which also include models from Currie Technologies and Ultra Motors.

The vehicles will be zero emissions and capable of commuting. The Enertia, for example, has a top speed of 55 mph and costs $12,000 before state or federal tax credits.

Best Buy Gets into the Electric Bike Biz

kristen — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:02:49 +0000

West Coast Best Buy stores will get a charge out of the electronics giant’s latest offering: electric-powered bicycles. Best Buy will sell six EV bikes and two scooters built by Izip, as well as the A2B electric bike by Ultra Motor. Prices range from $300 to $2,000, according to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

Electric bikes allow the rider to choose pedal power or battery power. They don’t go very fast — usually 15-20 mph max — nor do they go very far without some work on the rider’s part, maybe as much as 30 miles. But for longer bike commutes, or to arrive at work without having to shower and get in a workout on the way home, a battery-powered bike may do the trick.

Image of the Izip Urban Cruiser Enlightened courtesy of Izip.

Hitch a Ride to Save Gas

kristen — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:07:41 +0000

If you want to try sharing a ride — to work, to school, for spring break — look no further than the magical Internets. There are several sites out there for hooking up with a driver or riders, whether you want a daily commute into the city or a one-way from New York to San Francisco, Kerouac-style. Here’s a round-up for easy reference:

Roadsharing This site skews toward Europe, but what a way to get around the Continent. It’s way more reliable than sticking out a thumb and hoping for the best. Terms and conditions, as of this posting, are only in Italian.

Zimride This ride, carpool, and cabshare finder is also available as a Facebook app, a widget, and, as of September 2008, on your mobile phone. Free registration.

Carticipate Get this rideshare app for your iPhone via iTunes. Free.

PickUpPal An ticker at the bottom of the homepage tells you how many potential tons of CO2 have been kept out of the air thanks to the site’s bidding system for rides. Free registration.

Ridester A clean, simple web interface for finding a commute buddy. Ticket Fee, Driver’s Fee, and Processing Fees.

Divide The Ride Carpooling for families who have to deal with soccer, ballet, Little League, the school paper, etc. The same people have launched CarLine Manager for after-school pickup, too. Free.

Many communities also have local rideshare boards online (like San Fransisco’s rideshare.511.org), so search for sites in your city for a local commuting option to save gas and seriously cut down on traffic and emissions.