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| Fig. 1: This is a lithium battery which is used by Super 73 to power all bike models. (Source: Wikimedia Commons) |
Super 73 is a United States manufactured electric bike company based in Orange County, California that upgraded the traditional bike riding experience into more efficient means of transportation. Like all electric bikes, the Super 73 impacts the environment and society simultaneously. Electric bikes help reduce our carbon footprint for an individual of ranging demographics, age range, and occupation, from their daily transportation emissions from traditional vehicles. This is especially pertinent to individuals living in large cities or college campuses where alternative transportation to cars are both more affordable monetarily and a shorter commute than suburban areas.
Super 73 manufactures 3 different electric bikes, the Super 73-Z the most affordable model at $950, the Super73-S1 which is an upgraded Z costing a buyer $2,200, and the Super 73-Original listed at $2,800. The Super 73-Original is the companys most advanced bike that boasts a top speed of 27 miles per hours and battery range of 25-30 miles. The Super 73-Original is fueled by a 48V 14.5 Ah (696 watts for one hour) battery and a rear 1000-watt hub motor which translates into faster pickup (See Fig. 1). The battery is controlled through a thumb throttle that gives the rider the ability to control speed easily. The pedal assist mode offered on all Super 73 electric bike models increases the battery range significantly from 25-30 miles without pedaling to with the pedal assist option. Charging the battery is very simple and can be done in any home. The battery simply detaches from the bike, which allows the rider to carry the small battery inside to change while leaving the bike in the garage or locked to a bike post.
The Super 73 overall has a positive impact on both the environment and its riders. To begin, the Super 73 is a perfect alternative to a car for students on university campuses. As a Stanford University student, the electric bike has shrunk Stanford's large campus and is definitely the quickest method from getting one place to another. [1] By purchasing an electric bike, a college student is able to save money on parking permits, car insurance, and other expenses. Another benefit of riding an electric bike on Stanfords campus rather than a pedal bike is the time saved throughout the day. As a student athlete, I never seem to have enough time in the day so reducing the time spent commuting from class to the field then home gives me a few more minutes of spare time. A negative to its potential harm to public health. [2] If electric bikes like the Super 73 are to completely replace traditional bikes there would be no benefit to public health. [3] This fear was combated by a Norwegian study which proved that despite minimal reduction in physical activity, the electric bike does not have a negative impact on public health.
Super 73 Electric Bikes is the standard for the growing electric bike industry. Many factors will continue to influence the increase in electric bike usage in the United States and rest of the world. Some of these factors include a greater price range so that these electric bikes are more affordable to all socioeconomic levels. Another factor is road reconstruction, so that bike lanes are more widespread. Additionally, as people continue to migrate to cities from suburban areas, alternative transportation will also increase. This gives electric bikes, and in particular the Super 73, a clear place in the future of urban transit.
© Zach Sehgal. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.
[1] I. V. Mcloughlin et al., "Campus Mobility for the Future: The Electric Bicycle," J. Transp. Technol. 2, 1 (2012).
[2] D. H. De La Iglesia et al., "Increasing the Intensity over Time of an Electric-Assist Bike Based on the User and Route: The Bike Becomes the Gym," Sensors 18, 220 (2018).
[3] H. B. Sundfør and A. Fyhri, "A Push for Public Health: the Effect of E-Bikes on Physical Activity Levels," BMC Public Health 17, 809, (2017).
[4] A. Summerville, "Sondors Electric Bikes," Physics 240, Stanford University, Fall 2016
