Company Profile: IZIP

Ed already owns one kind of electric bicycle ... you know, the one that's bringing home the bread... but Rachelle decides to give him a different kind of charged-up bike for his birthday: an IZIP hybrid bicycle. Read on to find out what makes an IZIP bicycle run and how it can contribute to your green lifestyle.

In the past TreeHugger has reported on various types of electric bicycles, including folding ones and solar-powered ones. How do these hybrid bikes work, anyway, and why would you want one? After all, you can reduce carbon emissions by pedaling a traditional bicycle. Well, electric power can make your biking easier, on mountain trails or on the street. The ease of pedaling may inspire you to bike places where you would otherwise take the car.

IZIP bicycles' batteries are integrated into their frames, which keeps them looking sleek. The motor is positioned underneath the bike and gives you extra power as you pedal. They range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on your wants and needs. The catch: these bikes are meant to be ridden while charged, so make sure you keep yours powered up. If you run out of charge and end up pedaling sans voltage, you will find yourself facing the bike's considerable weight.

We have Dr. Malcolm Currie to thank for the wide range of IZIP bicycles. In 1997 he started IZIP's parent company, Currie Technologies, believing that alternatives to gas power would become increasingly important for environmental and economic reasons. How right he was. In the fight to save the planet and our wallets, IZIP strives to provide products that are convenient, among them scooters and IZIP bikes like the one Ed proudly owns. In fact, if you take a trip to www.izipusa.com, Ed's face may greet you. Unsurprisingly, he has become a bit of a company poster child.

This post is inspired by Living with Ed