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In the News The Province - Test Ride - Jun 2010

Win this electric bike

The Province

Neville Judd takes an Cruiser Electric Bicycle (E-Rover) from RayBen Motors for a test ride through the streets of Vancouver, BC.

See what he thinks!

Bike to Work Week: Win an electric bike at our Facebook page BY NEVILLE JUDD, THE PROVINCE MAY 30, 2010 Province editor Neville Judd test drives the E-Rover Electric Beach Cruiser from Rayben Motors.Photograph by: Ward Perrin, Province videoIts like riding a bike but different.When I buzzed past traffic up hilly Arbutus Street in Vancouver I really began to appreciate the benefits of an electric bike. And not just any electric bike.My lime-green E-Rover Electric Beach Cruiser from Rayben Motors made easy work of getting around Kitsilanos streets. Perched high on a fat saddle that felt like a throne, I gripped the handlebar throttle and forgot about pedal power, even on flat sections.For a seasoned pedal-biker who commutes from the Sunshine Coast, the ease of letting a 350-watt battery do all the work was too good to resist!Just in time for Bike to Work Week, Rayben Motors on West 4th Avenue in Vancouver and The Province are giving away a $1,399 E-Rover Electric Beach Cruiser.Simply visit The Provinces Facebook page this week and respond to our question: What should Vancouver be doing to make bicycle commuting easier?Well pick a winner next Monday. You can find our Facebook page by searching The Province (Vancouver, B.C.) on Facebook.In the meantime, it seemed only right to test-drive the prize on your behalf. The first thing I noticed was that I was being noticed. Or at least the bike was being noticed. Electric bikes are still enough of a novelty that people do take a second look when a bike takes off at 32 kilometres an hour.It helps that the E-Rover actually looks like a regular cruiser bike, so well-concealed is its battery pack mounted atop a rear bicycle rack. One fully charged battery powers the bike between 40 and 50 kilometres. When the batterys drained, pull it off the rack and plug it in at home to recharge. It costs about 10 cents to charge, or about 20 bucks a year based on 200 trips something worth considering when comparing the cost of a bus pass or gas for your car.The best part is getting to your destination fresh from a little pedaling but not drenched in sweat perfect for short commutes and for commuters who dont have time for, or access to, showers.It feels a bit like cheating. But so what!njudd_theprovince.com© Copyright (c) The Province
Georgia Straight - Tech Toys - Jun 1010 georgia straight cover_page_1

Shaw TV - The Express - May 2010

Shaw TV - The Express

Interview with RayBen Motors on the ease of installing an Electric Bike conversion kit and the benefits of doing so.

Reported by Erin Shaw

Rayben Motors Ebike on Shaw TV

Two-wheeled chariots - May 2010 Two-wheeled chariots to go green in style All tricked out for challenges of Vancouver roads BY ANDREW MCCREDIE, FOR CANWEST NEWS SERVICE MAY 12, 2010 Ray Kwan believes his three-year old Vancouver-based business is an idea whose time has come."With gas prices always going up, going green can save you money, and with the ongoing municipal support for green transportation such as bike lanes and free parking for scooters and bikes, it's much easier to go green nowadays."Options available at RayBen Motors include e-bike conversion kits for those who already own a good bicycle; custom-built RayBen e-bikes designed with Metro Vancouver riding in mind; and three gas scooter models, ranging from 50cc to 150cc, and also built with City streets and conditions in mind."My partner (Benjamin Ho) and myself spent a lot of time travelling through Asia and Europe and we noticed how many people use bikes and scooters as day-to-day transportation," Kwan explains of the Kitsilano-based company's origins. "And we figured that in North America the reason those modes of transportation have not caught on is because there were not enough options, not a good price point and not enough style."We started the company because we felt we could do a better job in offering products that are more interesting and stylish for the North American consumer," explains Kwan."Our scooters have vintage styling, chrome handlebars and unique gauge clusters, and we have a beach cruiser e-bike with a style all its own."As to those e-bikes, RayBen Motors takes custom built bicycles and attaches a number of specially designed components, including a seven-speed gear (instead of the stock one-gear) and a front derailleur that accommodates a grip throttle.The seven-speed upgrade reflects the somewhat unique challenge of Metro Vancouver's undulating roads and trails, and likewise Ray-Ben's scooters come tricked out with custom features tailored to the City's road system.That includes a performance carburetor, a custom air filter -- each adding torque to the China-built scooters -- hydraulic front brakes and Halogen headlights. Those last two features are found only on Vespa scooters, and according to Kwan, "we're anywhere between 30 and 50 per cent below our competitors' prices for similar products."As to the e-bike conversion kits, Kwan says they are an excellent way to give your regular bicycle a little more utility."We have lots of customers from the North Shore, and lots of seniors too who have a bad knee or something but still want to ride a bike. And with an e-bike conversion, they can do it."Earlier this year RayBen Motors opened a distribution warehouse in Ferndale, Washington, for its ever-growing online U.S. customer base, but for Kwan, "my hometown of Vancouver is an excellent place for us to be."© Copyright (c) The Province
E-Bike Revolution - Apr 2010

Vancouver Poised for an Electric Bike Revolution

Conditions for mass e-bike adoption: rising gas prices, political trends towards clean-energy, friendly municipal bike transportation policy, more individual consideration of carbon footprint, and an aging population.

Vancouver, BC April 26, 2010: The conditions for mass electric bike adoption are here and gaining momentum and include rising gas prices, political trends towards clean-energy, friendly municipal bike transportation policy, more individual consideration of carbon footprint, and an aging population. Paired with improving e-bike technology and lower prices, industry advocates say we are poised to experience what is spreading like wildfire in China and parts of Europe. Colorado-based market analysts Pike Research, predict that North American sales will quadruple from 250,000 e-bikes in 2010 to more than 1 million in 2016.

In China, an estimated 120 million electric bicycles hum along the roads, up from a few thousand in the 1990s, replacing traditional bikes and motorcycles and allowing people to put off the switch to cars. From virtually nothing a decade ago, electric bikes have become an $11 billion global industry. In the Netherlands, a third of the money spent on bicycles last year went to electric-powered models. Industry experts predict similar growth elsewhere in Europe, especially in Germany, France and Italy, as rising interest in cycling coincides with an aging population. (source: David Goodman New York Times). E-bike sales in China are expected to reach a staggering 22 million in 2010 alone, bringing the number of e-bike owners in the country to one tenth of the population (source: USA Today).

Vancouver-based Rayben Motors, an importer and retailer of e-bikes and scooters showcasing at the Spring Living Fair in Yaletown yesterday, says E-bike sales and demand have grown exponentially since they opened their Burrard Street store just over two years ago and that the technology has improved substantially in that short time period. Riders can now experience distances of up to 60 km on a single charge at a cost of less than ten cents a charge. E-bikes can reach speeds upwards of 45 km/hour and lighter, more compact lithium batteries have replaced the old heavier and bulkier lead acid.

A typical customer falls into one of three categories, people with physical limitations, common amongst the elderly, who wants to continue to be active but need assistance on steep hills and over long durations; new commuters embracing a green lifestyle who want to get our of their cars, save some money, and start bike commuting; and early green adoptors those who love green technology and want to experiment with it for fun, says Raymond Kwan, President of Rayben Motors. We don't see many regular bicycle commuters these people are in a routine and do not need the assistance, although he has heard about challenges that limit regular bike commuting including lack of showers at workplaces.

With Vancouver aiming to be the greenest city in the world with 10% bike transportation by 2020, Mayor Gregor Robertson points to major milestones including the Burrard Bridge designated bike lanes, new segregated bike lanes in downtown, and car free days. The Province is set to release its Green Energy Policy in the coming weeks.

E-bike Conversion kits cost from $300 up to $1,200 and E-bike Beach Cruisers starting at $1,399. (source: Rayben Motors)

Tips for a consumer considering the purchase of an E-bike or E-bike conversion kit:

Distance of average ride - The longer the ride the more powerful the battery required

Average terrain of ride - More hills means the e-bike needs more torque (higher amp batteries) and a more powerful motor

Weight of rider - Consider a more powerful motor if the rider is heavier

Cost - Amount of money they are willing to spend

Climate of ride -Rainy climates need more robust battery covers and motors

Mechanically inclined - If yes, then consider a "do-it-yourself" kit, if not then they should go to a shop that offers ins

Scooters take sting - Jun 2009 Scooters take sting out of gas pricesJanaya Fuller-Evans, Special to Vancouver CourierPublished: Friday, June 19, 2009As gas prices go up so do scooter sales, but Vancouver is still lagging behind other cities in supporting this form of transportation, according to city retailers and riders."We're trying to catch up with Toronto," said Bob Hillman, owner of Urban Wasp.Hillman, who has owned the shop (formerly called Vespa Vancouver) for three of the five years it has been open, thinks the city should provide free parking for scooters."In Toronto they've had free parking for scooters and motorbikes for four years," Hillman said. "In Europe, there's free parking on the sidewalks, as long as it is not a Honda Goldwing or some big monster."Some of his customers have complained recently about getting towed."I parked my scooter downtown in a designated [free] spot on Pender and Howe," Ian Tootill, a local business consultant, said. "When I came back, it was gone."According to another local dealer, some free parking is available downtown, but he wants more provided by the city."In terms of extra incentives, it would be helpful to have the free parking spots," said Ray Kwan, president of the newly opened Rayben Motors.He said adding scooters to the B.C. Scrap-It program--where owners can trade in cars built before 1995 for money toward a new vehicle--would also encourage people to use the more environmentally friendly vehicles.Gas-powered scooters get approximately 85 to 90 miles per gallon as opposed to the average new car which gets 25 miles per gallon.But city spokesperson Theresa Beer said city council is more focused on increasing the use of electric scooters over gas-powered ones because they don't produce any emissions and are even better for the environment.According to Beer, the next step is providing free parking for electric scooters as part of the city's green action plan, though the idea hasn't been presented as a motion to council yet. "I think that's the direction they're going," Beer said.Hillman said the city uses old data to determine whether the gas-powered scooters should be part of the plan for a greener city."Their statistics are on the old two-stroke scooters, which were the old models with marine engines, and were really smoky," Hillman said. "They're basing reports on scooters from the 1970s and '80s."Beer said the city has approximately 30 half-price parking meters for scooters and motorcycles throughout Vancouver.EasyPark, a parking company affiliated with the city, provides discounted rates for scooters and motorcycles at three lots, including locations on West Pender Street, Richards Street and West Georgia Street.Despite the challenges, Hillman said his business has seen sales slowly increasing. "It was slow at the beginning of [this] year [but] sales are definitely going up [in June]." He attributes the slow start to the bad weather in Vancouver this past winter.Kwan said his business has done well since it opened three months ago."Considering the economy, it is better than I expected."Last month Rayben Motors sold approximately 20 units. The business sells gas-powered scooters as well as electric bike kits.janayafe_gmail.com © Vancouver Courier 2009
Vancouver Duo - May 2009

VANCOUVER DUO OPENS UP CANADIAN SCOOTER MARKET

Rayben Motors launches flagship store to meet growing demand

Vancouver, BC (May 29, 2009) – Sales of scooters last year were up 41.5 percent compared to 2007, and Vancouver’s Rayben Motors is positioned to meet growing demand with new models and lower prices than were previously available in Canada.

“More people are seeing scooters as green transportation that can reduce traffic congestion and make parking easier,” says Raymond Kwan, President of the newly opened Rayben Motors on 4th Avenue in Vancouver. “We now offer Canadians more choice in style and a wider range of price points.”

Stringent Environment Canada and Transport Canada standards for emission control and safety have traditionally limited Canadians’ choice of scooters to a handful of manufacturers as compared to their consumer counterparts in the United States and Europe. After several years of research and testing a wide variety of scooters, Rayben Motors has been able to meet those tough Canadian standards and bring the crème de la crème of scooters, already available in Europe and the US, to the Canadian marketplace.

“I spend less than $12 a month to commute from New Westminster to the University of BC every day. I bought my scooter to save some money and to have reliable green transportation to get to work,” says Andy Vlachos, who works at UBC. “I love the retro style of the Rayben Scooter and how well it rides.”

Besides being better for the environment than cars, scooters ease traffic congestion, make parking easier and save owners a lot of money in gas over traditional vehicles. Fuel economy ranges from 40 to more than 100 mpg, depending on engine size, vehicle weight and passenger size.

Rayben Motors is launched by two ex-technology executives who had travelled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and Central America by scooter and wondered why more selection in scooters wasn’t available in Canada. “It was a long road to bring more choices in scooters to Canada,” says Kwan, “but we are pleased at the overwhelming response from customers. Scooters are just a great way to get around, save gas and parking money, and make strides towards a better environment.”

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Scooter:

1. Scooters get you where you need to go quickly

2. Are very convenient to park

3. Get great gas mileage (85 mpg or more)

4. Are inexpensive to operate: $3 full tank of gas, $40/month insurance

5. Are much more environmentally friendly than cars

6. Ease traffic congestion

7. Only require a regular driver’s license to operate, if smaller than 50cc

8. Are compact, reliable and fun to drive

9. Are real eye catchers, particularly the Rayben Retro

10. Open the door to social networks through scooter clubs

About Rayben Motors

Rayben Motors provides transportation alternatives that improve the livability of the planet and environment. By offering viable transportation options at reasonable prices, including gas scooters and electric bicycle conversion kits, Rayben Motors gets people out of their gas guzzling vehicles and into more environmentally friendly vehicles, one person at the time. Rayben Motors is located at 1703 West 4th Avenue in Vancouver, BC and has dealers across Canada. For more information, please visit www.raybenmotors.com.

news1130 interview

News 1130

The Province

The Province - Test Ride - Jun 2010

Georgia Straight - Tech Toys - Jun 1010

Shaw TV - The Express - May 2010

Two-wheeled chariots - May 2010

E-Bike Revolution - Apr 2010

Scooters take sting - Jun 2009

Vancouver Duo - May 2009

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