How bad are electric bikes for the environment?
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Are these things actually a net positive for the planet? Watch an extended cut of this video on Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/simonclarkCheck out Electroheads...

I editorialised the title as the original was clickbait, but the video itself is quite good. Interestingly, e-bikes are claimed to have lower emissions than acoustic bikes, although it likely depends on diet (the author didn’t specifically compare a vegan diet between the two types but did indicate that vegan + electric is the most carbon efficient form).

  • vormadikter@startrek.websiteEnglish
    33·
    9 months ago

    Ok, so i am not a native speaker of english, so excuse my questions…

    Whats an acoustic bike?

    And if an E-bike runs with electricity, the acoustic bike runs when i scream at it?

        • toadyody@kbin.social
          81·
          9 months ago

          It usually works out pretty well with native speakers not familiar with the term. They usually have a moment with a blank stare thinking “what the hell is an acoustic bike?” and then realize all at once with a smirk.

          As for your second question, acoustic becomes a good classification when talking to a group where electric bikes are the default, just like electric becomes a good classification where pure pedal bikes are the default. In a group where ebikes are the default they might assume you’re talking about throttle type if you say analog, or a pedal assist bike if you said manual. It started as a joke and became a useful term.

          • boatswain@infosec.pubEnglish
            22·
            9 months ago

            I’m a native speaker and my first thought was “wtf is an acoustic bike?” “Analog bike” would make a bit more sense.

        • n2burnsEnglish
          22·
          9 months ago

          Analog is the opposite of digital, which doesn’t describe an electric bike.

    • Jako301@feddit.deEnglish
      4·
      9 months ago

      Another term for a non electric bike. Like electric guitar and acoustic guitar. No idea why you would call it that, but it’s only used in a smal circle of enthusiasts.