The Environmental Benefits of Electric Trikes

As we become more conscious of our environmental impact, the need for eco-friendly transport has never been greater. This is why we're seeing more electric bikes on our streets. But now, people are beginning to recognize the benefits of electric trikes. Electric trikes are fun, practical, and sustainable, offering a genuine alternative to traveling in cars and public transportation. In this article, we will explore the environmental benefits of electric trikes.

The Need for Eco-Friendly Transportation

With the rise of global emissions and air pollution, people are switching from vehicles with traditional internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. The electric trike is an excellent example, as it balances mobility affordability and sustainability. Trikes also offer other benefits over cars, such as being easier to park and maneuver in tight spaces while promoting a more active lifestyle.

Lower Carbon Footprint

When you compare an electric trike to a car, motorcycle, or bus, you can see they have a significantly lower carbon footprint. Internal combustion engines contribute a large portion of CO2 emissions, especially in busy cities where traffic jams are common. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year.

On the other hand, an electric trike produces no emissions while you are riding. In fact, according to Polytechnique insights, the carbon footprint of an electric bike is an average of 13g CO2e/km traveled. Therefore, whenever you ride an electric trike, you are helping to reduce greenhouse gases, which are responsible for climate change.

Energy Efficiency

Another aspect of electric trikes' green credentials is that they are incredibly energy efficient. Even though you need to charge the battery, they use less energy per mile than most electric vehicles, including cars. This efficiency comes from light weight, more straightforward mechanics, and the fact that the rider is peddling. The energy savings of riding an electric trike benefit the planet and also save you money in the long run.

You can improve the efficiency of your electric trike in a couple of ways. Firstly, electric trikes are more efficient when they are properly maintained. Therefore, make sure your electric trike has a clean and well-lubricated drivetrain. This will reduce mechanical losses while prolonging the lifespan of drivetrain components such as the cassette, chain, and chainring.

Part of this maintenance is ensuring your tires are correctly inflated. Under-inflated tires have a higher rolling resistance, causing the motor to work harder and drawing more energy from the battery. So, we recommend checking your tire pressure before you ride regularly.

The next method of making your electric trike more efficient is by modifying your riding style. Riding in the top assistance level will deplete your battery quickly. So, try to use lower assistance levels to save battery power when possible. Also, riding aggressively is incredibly inefficient. Heavy braking and hard acceleration use up battery power faster than if you were to ride smoothly. Anticipate the road ahead and coast to junctions, traffic lights, and obstacles. Doing so will allow you to keep moving rather than having to stop and start all the time, wasting battery power.

Optimizing battery use is another great way to improve an electric bike's efficiency. You can do this by avoiding running your battery down to 0%. To prolong its life, try to keep it charged to between 20% and 80%. Additionally, batteries work best when they are not exposed to extreme temperatures. By keeping your battery in moderate temperatures, it will perform better.

Reduction in Air and Noise Pollution

Electric trikes have a significant impact on local air quality. Traditional internal combustion engine-powered vehicles constantly emit harmful pollutants into the air, particularly older diesel models. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 75% of VOC emissions (by weight) come from transportation. About one-quarter of particulate matter in the air is due to vehicles. After prolonged exposure to these pollutants, you can experience health problems such as asthma and bronchitis, which is terrible news for those living in inner city areas.

As electric trikes run on electricity, they don't produce harmful emissions. Therefore, if more people rode them instead of driving, the air quality in urban areas would be dramatically improved. On top of this, more journeys done on electric trikes would reduce ambient noise. The average street noise level is usually around 70 dBA but typically fluctuates between 55.8 dBA and 95 dBA. Electric trikes are virtually silent, so noise pollution is at a minimum. The benefit of less noise is that cities would be more peaceful places to live and work. Noise within cities often causes stress, health issues, cardiovascular problems, and sleep disturbances.

Sustainability in Manufacturing

Electric trikes aren't just more eco-friendly than cars when traveling. They are also much more sustainable during the manufacturing process. Electric trikes use considerably fewer resources than full-size cars, and manufacturers try to use recycled materials and renewable energy when possible.

One of the most significant advances in the manufacture of electric trikes lies with battery technology. Most modern lithium-ion batteries are more efficient, last longer, and are easier to recycle than older models. This means fewer batteries are being dumped in landfills, and the energy they store is used more efficiently.

Conclusion

It doesn't take much to recognize the environmental benefits of electric trikes. They have a much smaller carbon footprint than internal combustion engine vehicles. They are also more efficient in reducing air and noise pollution. If you're looking for a greener way to travel, an electric trike is a fantastic option. The industry is doing its best to become more sustainable, making the future of electric trikes even brighter.

So, consider an electric trike if you want a more sustainable way of getting around. There are some excellent options on the market, such as the Mooncool TK1 and the MC350. Both these electric trikes offer an exceptional user experience while being versatile and fun to ride. Check out the Mooncool online store for all the details.