A new electric version of dublinbikes will be hitting the streets of the capital from March 30 with half of the 1,600 rental bike fleet being replaced with the hybrid option.
The NOW e-dublinbikes do not have a throttle and the pedals need to be rotating for the motor to kick in but when it does kick in the rider can zoom along at a maximum speed of 25 Km/h.
Subscribers will be able to upgrade their normal membership by paying an extra €60 a year on top of the regular €35 subscription to use the e-dublinbikes.
Once signed up you will be sent a 500g portable battery and when fully charged this allows for an 8km pedal enchanced journey.
Photo Chris Bellew /Fennell Photography.
The clever battery is small enough to fit in to a jacket pocket or a small bag and is equipped with a micro USB-C port so can be used to charge a mobile phone or tablet when not in use on an electric bike.
The hybrid dublinbikes are identifiable via a blue basket at the front of the bike which contains the slot for the portable battery and can also be cycled as a regular pedal bike without a battery.
dublinbikes first launched in September 2009 with 40 stations and 450 bikes. Since then the scheme has expanded to 117 stations and 1,600 bikes.
Dubliners have taken over 31 million journeys on a dublinbike over the last 10 years, making it one of the most successful schemes of it's type in the world!
The introduction of NOW e-dublinbikes to the scheme follows the launch of a new App earlier this year which allows subscribers to take bikes out at stations using their mobile phones and also see bike availability and parking space details.
Photo Chris Bellew /Fennell Photography.
I was given the opportunity to test the new hybrid option around town recently and being a frequent user of the regular dublinbike I think the convenience and vast availability around town of the new e-dublinbike makes it a clever more enjoyable and sustainable commuting option in the city, however the extra €60 might be a bit steep given it's not a "full" electric bike.
Another downside of the e-dublinbikes is the temporary tethering cable lock feature available on regular dublinbikes is unavailable on e-dublinbikes. An electronic locking system, which will be activated via the NOW dublinbikes App or by tapping an annual card on the handlebars of the bikes, will be enabled later this year.
Put simply, the e-dublinbikes are great for those who don’t want to build up a sweat going to and from work thanks to the electrical assistance the hyrbid can provide and so I do recommend you give it a try for yourself.
You can sign up for a NOW e-dublinbikes subscription via dublinbikes.ie or on the official NOW dublinbikes App. Once you subscribe to the option you will receive a battery to your home within 2 working days via courier.
Listen to me on the e-dublinbike chatting with Marty Miller
