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Home > Currie EZip Eco Ride Electric Bike
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Currie EZip Eco Ride Electric Bike
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Show more by Currie Technologies
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- Electric bike with 250-watt DC Earth magnet motor for assisted riding
- Range of 15 to 22 miles per charge; top speed of 15 miles per hour
- TAG-PAS pedal assist system and removable lithium-ion battery pack
- Suspension fork, suspension seat post, and comfortable saddle
- Exclusive Currie aluminum frame; 240-pound weight limit; weighs 54 pounds
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Product Description:
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Bicycles are a terrific mode of transportation, but sometimes you just need a little extra push while getting around town. Enter the eZip Eco Ride electric comfort bike, which is equipped with a 450-watt DC earth magnet motor and a 24-volt Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery. Far cleaner than gas-powered scooters but zippier than a traditional bike, the Coastline will get you from point A to B in no time at all, but won't guzzle gas or belch pollutants in the process. The battery offers a range of 15 to 22 miles per charge, so you can make it back and forth to the grocery store several times without running low on power. And once you're on the road, the Eco Ride boasts a top speed of 15 miles per hour (contingent on the rider weight)--plenty fast enough for most bike-friendly city streets. Is your work commute too far to walk but close enough that a car seems wasteful? Turn to the Eco Ride, which comes with a rear rack to carry groceries and other gear.
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Bicycles are a terrific mode of transportation, but sometimes you just need a little extra push while getting around town. Enter the EZip EcoRide electric bike, which is equipped with a 250-watt DC Earth magnet motor and a removable lithium-ion battery pack. Far cleaner than gas-powered scooters but zippier than a traditional bike, the EcoRide will get you from point A to B in no time at all, but won't guzzle gas or belch pollutants in the process. The battery offers a range of up to 15 to 22 miles per charge, so you can make it back and forth to the grocery store multiple times without running low on power. And once you're on the road, the EcoRide boasts a top speed of 15 miles per hour (contingent on rider weight)--plenty fast enough for most bike-friendly city streets. Is the market too far to walk but close enough that a car seems wasteful? Turn to the EcoRide, which comes with a rack on the back to carry groceries or other gear. The EcoRide is powered by both the electric motor and good old-fashioned foot power, with an easy-to-use TAG-PAS pedal assist system helping propel you forward. The TAG-PAS system allows you to power the bike without pedaling at all, or you can use your legs to significantly increase your range and vary your speed. As a result, you can get as much or as little exercise as you desire (in hilly terrain, pedaling may be required). The bike is also extremely comfortable, with a suspension fork, suspension seat post, and comfortable saddle to soak up the bumps. Plus, recharging the battery couldn't be easier. Just park and lock the bike and carry the battery pack indoors. Other features include wide comfort street tires, alloy linear pull brakes, and SRAM grip shifters. 
The EcoRide's electric motor and pedal assist system help propel riders forward. |
Specifications:- Motor: 250-watts DC Brushed Earth magnet motor
- Battery: Lithium-ion, rack-top-mounted, 24-volt/10 Ah pack, 3.7-volt (7) rechargeable cells, advanced BMS
- Charge system: UL-listed lithium-ion Smart Charger with LED status display
- Top speed: 15 miles per hour (contingent on rider weight, rider input, and terrain)
- Range: 15 to 22 miles with normal pedaling (contingent on rider weight, rider input, and terrain)
- Drive: Patented Currie Electro-Drive system, Shimano Altus rear derailleur, SRAM grip shift, Shimano 7-speed freewheel
- Brakes: Alloy linear pull brakes with alloy brake inhibit levers
- Wheels: Alloy front QR hub, alloy 26-inch rims
- Tires: Currie Comfort tires, 26 x 2.0 inches
- Handlebars: Low-rise bar and alloy adjustable angle stem
- Fork: Suspension with fender eyelets
- User controls: On/off switch, easy-access charger port in removable battery pack, twist throttle with PAS function and battery gauge
- Saddle: Comfort design, alloy micro-adjust suspension seatpost
- Frame: Exclusive Currie aluminum, bottle bosses, fender and rack mounts
- Crank and pedals: Alloy 44T crankset, double chainguard, resin dual-sided pedals
- Size: Low step thru (unisex)
- Rider age: Young adult to adult
- Weight limit: 240 pounds
- Weight: 54 pounds
- Warranty: 1 year
About Currie Technologies
Dr. Malcolm Currie, the former chairman of Hughes Aircraft and Delco Electronics, founded Currie Technologies Inc. in 1997 based on his conviction that someday, in the near future, hybrid and electric vehicles would become increasingly important for fundamental economic and environmental reasons. Ten years of sustained experience makes Currie Technologies an acknowledged leader in the business. Its battery technologies include everything from sealed lead acid to nickel metal hydride to the newest and lightest weight lithium-ion battery systems. Currie Technologies utilizes its own factory and design team, who work in conjunction with an international research team to constantly create new designs and respond to market needs.
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Customers' Reviews:
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 More versitle electric bike, July 19, 2010
By Ed Heath (Pittsburgh)
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If you have looked at electric bikes, you know there is more than one model. I believe you can choose between models and brands based on what you want the bike to do. For example, if you are only interested in commuting by bike, you are heavier (which I am), you want a motorized boost because the terrain where you live is hilly (and to arrive not too sweaty at work or home), you can charge the battery at work, you want a cheap bike but a reputable company and your commute is five miles or less, the Trailz model (available on Amazon at around $400 and [...]) is a good choice. On the downside, it weighs 75 lbs, tough to take up and down stairs, and the sealed lead acid batteries are not supposed to be run down below 80% or they will not recharge properly (limiting range) and you are supposed to recharge them promptly after every ride. So the Trailz is not good for rides to the grocery store or gym, it is really just for commuting. Plus, although the batteries are relatively cheap (at $129 or so), they would likely last at most six months of workday use (rated for 150 to 300 charges).
The Eco Ride (the bike I am supposed to be reviewing) can do shorter commutes, but with a range (in my experience) of near twenty miles, it could also do longer commutes. The Eco Ride uses a lithium battery pack, so it is more forgiving of waiting to recharge the batteries after several rides (up to the twenty mile limit cumulative). The Lithium battery is supposed to be good for 1500 to 2000 charges, which if you use it for six months of the year and only charge it every couple of days like I am, means it should be good for up to four years. By the way, Curie does not show the Lithium battery pack on its website, but my best estimate is that it might cost four to five hundred dollars to replace, and it is a custom shaped battery pack (as far as replacing the batteries inside the pack, you are on your own, although that should be cheaper).
This bike is still heavy, being part of Curies' cheaper eZip line. The bike frame is steel and it weighs 50lbs; total weight even with the lighter lithium battery pack is 60lbs, still pretty heavy. But this bike rolls well, so the weight is not much of a factor. The motor works when you pedal, you can not use this bike as a motorcycle. But that's OK, I think you should pedal a bicycle and anyway pedaling saves on the battery, stretching each charge. The pedal assist from the motor runs at 50% of the motor's (potential) power, which means you get a considerable push from the motor when you start out. There is a throttle for additional power if you need it. I rarely use the throttle, only occasionally to get out of the way of an approaching bus or something. There just isn't much need for it.
My commute is somewhat hilly, and the weather here has been warm and humid. But this bike has allowed me to arrive at work or at home only slightly sweaty. As it happens, I could shower at work if I needed to, but so far this bike has allowed me to avoid the hassle of having to carry (clean, dry) clothes or keep them at work. That makes this bike attractive not only to the environmental set, but also those who would otherwise find bike commuting too inconvenient.
Now it happens I work at a University, and there is free (car) parking around a mile away from my office. So this bike does not save me that much money. But if you pay for parking and if you use this bike for short trips to the grocery store or the gym or the movie theater or to visit friends, it might pay for itself in six months or so. And in most cases, the battery should be good for multiple years (rated somewhere between 1000 and 2000 charges).
52 of 52 people found this review helpful
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 Initial quality is Lexus-class, June 25, 2011
By H. Ma (Alhambra, CA USA)
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Unlike the five previous electric bikes I bought since 2001 that were all dead on arrival (including two bikes by Currie Technology), this EcoRide was problem-free on arrival. After about 20 minutes of assembly, it was up and running. I give it a 5-star rating, but I still have a minor complaint: The motor noise is slightly too loud than I like. Currie Technology may have done so purposely for the sake of safety. My last Currie Technolgy bike lasted me 2.5 years before it dropped dead beyond repair. I hope this one lasts longer as it is more expensive. I also like a new feature: the battery can now be locked.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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 Be aware, June 18, 2011
By Gerard Gostanczik
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I bought the EZip a couple years ago and even thou I have not used it much at all the battery won't hold a full charge for even a week. Those batterys are $120 +. Check your state laws as in ND a electric bike is considered a Motorized Bicycle subject to being registered,inspected, having insurance and the operator having a driving permit. Many states consider a bike with a motor(electric or gas) as being motorized subject to laws that don't apply to a regular pedal bike.
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Great for commute, November 4, 2011
By p.m. (CA, US)
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Admittedly it doesn't feel and look as nice as some other competitors - and it makes more noise, but being on the cheaper side of the price spectrum it more than compensates for the difference.
I have had this for about 6 months and have used it for commute: about 3 days/wk average, 4.5 miles each way, uphill on the first trip and downhill on the return. It goes the entire one way without needing any pedaling, and starts to need help when coming back I normally charge it in office anyway so it doesn't need any help for me).
The charger is not too small, but not too big either; maybe triple the size of a laptop charger. It'll charge in less than 3 hours, but I have never emptied it fully.
Overall if you have a <10mi commute, this bicycle will pay for itself in about a year if you consider only gas. If you also need to pay for parking (college?!) then just go ahead and buy one of these and don't think about it! The only concern would be theft, which is why I bring it to office with me.
My issues with this bike :
- The battery compartment got very tight. At first I needed a lot of force to pull the battery out by hand, and now I simply can't do it without using a screwdriver to push it out from the front.
- The pedal assist system (PAS) failed a while ago and then came back to functioning recently. Might be due to hard impacts: Los Angeles is not quite well known for its asphalt roads!!
- They have put a red reflector behind the battery, and I'm baffled why they didn't put a light instead. It does seem a bit stupid to have to get your own AA-operated rear light, when you have this great source of electricity right on the bike! So after all I replaced it myself with a bright 12V red light (needed some wiring to get 12V out of the battery)
Oh, and EVerybody who looks at it will ask you about it. Get ready.
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This bike is fun and a great value!, October 7, 2011
By Gail
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This is one of the best purchases I've ever made. I'd give the bike 5 stars (as one of the best electric bikes at this price point), but I subtracted a point due to Currie's support, past specification mistakes on its website, less than ideal Owner's Manual (having only one manual covering all of its eZip bikes, which is confusing), and battery charging instructions.
The good news is that this bike is well constructed and just pure fun! I like getting exercise, so I use this bike mostly in its "Throttle and Go" (TAG) mode. Seventy percent of the time, I do not have the motor engaged and am riding it like a regular 7-speed bike. It's heavier than most normal bikes, so going up hills without the motor is a challenge, but isn't it always? This is when the electric motor comes in handy. I just twist the throttle towards me and get the boost that I need. I can exercise and sweat as much or as little as I want. This bike has helped me burn calories and develop stronger leg muscles without the pain. Who says, "no pain, no gain?" I can explore places that I would have never otherwise, because they were passed some big hills. I have ridden this bike 15 miles and still have been on "green". Sometimes I go on a second ride without recharging and I get another 10 miles on yellow. I have yet to really know how far I can go on a normal ride before the battery runs out of juice. The bike handles well and I feel like a kid again.
This bike is good for commuting to work, running errands, getting exercise, being gentle/lower impact on the knees, extending the places to explore on a bike, keeping up with others on the bike path, etc.
The biggest complaint is how Currie documents the care of its battery. On the battery itself is some yellow tape that says, "Charge before first ride then immediately after every ride." The "Before You Ride" instructions and the "How to use the Li-on Chargers" instructions don't tell you what is most important for your first few rides, which you must find in the "Battery FAQ's" section where it states that you should "break-in" your batteries by completing three full discharge/charge cycles. Fortunately, I did see this and practiced it, but had I just read the yellow tape on the battery and recharged after a short first ride, I'd be a "sad sack" as these batteries are very expensive to replace.
I have ridden the less expensive Currie eZip Trailz bike. IMHO the EcoRide bike is far superior. The Li-on battery keeps its charge much better than the Trailz SLA battery and I understand that it doesn't have the strong "memory" like the SLAs. The EcoRide bike weighs less, is more nimble and feels more balanced. If you can afford the higher price, you should spring for the EcoRide over the Trailz. I was concerned that the EcoRide would not be as powerful as it only has a 250W motor compared to 450W motor on the Trailz. The Trailz may have an advantage on very steep hills, but so far the EcoRide motor has been sufficient for my needs (on small angled inclines with some gently rolling hills).
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Exceeds Expectations, December 4, 2011
By D. Hunt (Columbia, MO USA)
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I bought the Eco Ride as a birthday present for my wife, but have been riding it a good deal because I wanted to take the battery through the three full charge/discharge cycles recommended before winter set in and the warranty expired. I didn't keep track of the mileage on the first discharge cycle, but I got 22 miles on the second, and still have a bit of battery left after 27 miles on the third.
I rode in the pedal-assist mode, but opened the throttle wide on hills during the final two or three miles because I wanted to run the battery down more quickly. I'm not used to having batteries perform BETTER than advertised, but this one seems to. (The range obviously will be affected by the characteristics of the rider and the terrain. I am a fairly fit 62-year old who weighs 165 pounds, and more than half of the miles were on a level pea-gravel trail.)
Though I can't find any written documentation of this feature, I think one key to the long battery life is that on pedal-assist mode the motor shuts off not only when you stop pedaling, but when (as on a level road in high gear) your pedaling load is extremely light.
Besides having this remarkable battery-assisted range, the Eco Ride is perfectly satisfactory as an ordinary bike. I could nit-pick, but my nits have been mentioned by other reviewers. My general experience is that the bike has been an unalloyed pleasure to ride. When friends ask, I'll recommend the bike highly. I'll also tell them that they need to protect their investment by breaking in the battery properly (see page 35 of the owner's manual, an obscure place for such important information).
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Thumbs Up, December 2, 2011
By John R Bochenek (Ft. Myers, FL, US)
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I bought the Eco Ride about a month ago. The assembly was simple, the battery charging has been uneventful and the time outdoors on the bike has been a blast.
The main reason I bought the bike was due to a health condition. I have lived with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for eight years and have had little opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities. Despite having been an everyday runner before CFS, now there are days when getting through a grocery store can be challenging. So being able to get out and enjoy a physical type of activity without the need to exert a great deal of enrergy has brought enjoyment to my life. I imagine it would do the same for people with any number of health conditions.
I have been questioned about the bike by neighbors and people I meet. The feedback has all been positive. One gentleman even took out a notepad and copied down information about the bike to pursue a purchase.
Quite simply, the Eco Ride is more than just an environmentally friendly bike; it is the best money I have spent in quite some time.
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Ecoride, November 25, 2011
By mp
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This is my first electric bike, and overall I really like it. I've had a few problems, but nothing major enough to discourage me from using it happily as my main means of transportation. Here's a list of notes after over a month of use:
- Back reflector is on the battery, so if you're riding without the battery (presumably because you're still charging it or don't want to use the motor on a particular trip), you wont have a back reflector.
- Charging station came busted. When turned on, the second light (not the red one that indicates power, but the
yellow/green one that indicates charging) didn't come on, whether or not the battery was connected. Currie replaced it for free (other than shipping which was a little over $10 for me), and the replacement worked fine.
- The charger according to my measurements uses ~67 watts as it charges, and the 4-6 hours to charge written on the battery is accurate. From that, the cost of charging can be calculated based on your power rates. I charge 2-3 times a week.
- At one point the back wheel started making an irritating squeaky sound. I put some oil between the transparent plastic circular flap (behind the gears) and and the wheel and that seemed to fix it.
- The range is good. I can easily get to work (roughly 4 miles but hilly) and back twice and then some. As a result of which, I always leave the charger at home.
- The motor is loud. I read this in other reviews before I bought, but I nonetheless underestimated it. I often reduce my speed or stop the motor as I pass people to not bother them. This is my least favorite thing about the bike.
- The 250watt motor gives a good kick usually, but it does have a bit of trouble getting me (~175 lbs) up hills. I pedal with it to keep a decent speed, but on it's own it will go really slow up hills. I do find myself wanting a more powerful motor, but I wouldn't say this one is insufficient for my needs.
- The bike is (as expected) quite a bit heaver than an average bike. Most of the weight is on the back wheel (even without the battery), and this makes it a bit awkward to carry.
- The chain sometimes falls off of the crankset (where the pedals attach). It somehow comes off the teeth and sits between the teeth and the plastic. I've had to get off while riding multiple times to put the chain back on but it fast and easy (though you do have to get your hands/gloves dirty), but this is easy enough to fix and not common enough to really annoy me too much.
- When I ride handless, sometimes the handlebars and front tire will wobble increasingly, until I get a little worried and place my hand back on temporarily to stabilize. Not sure why this is or if there's an easy fix.
- I thought I would use pedal assist mode a lot, but actually I use the tag (throttle) mode more. My favorite way to ride is to throttle 100% and then peddle as much as comfortable, so I get there quickly and get as much or little exercise as the situation calls for.
- The battery locks with a key, which you get two copies of. When turned, a metal knob comes out of the battery downward into a circular hole in the aluminum holder over the back wheel. In my case, the knob didn't line up quite right with the hole, and I had to file the hole (perhaps less than a quarter centimeter) one side so the knob would go in.
- The gears are good, but I really think there should be one more in between the lowest gear and the second lowest. That particular shift is more dramatic than desired.
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exceeded my expectations, November 25, 2011
By superjtrdr
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I have been cycling for 40 years in the third windiest city in the United States.Grew up on motorcycles as well. This is my first pedal assisted electric bike. So far I have gotten about 2 months worth of daily use out of it.I have been using this bike more than a pedal only bike and yes it's great transportation. The wind makes pedaling annoying but with this bike problem solved. It does get the 20-23 miles on a charge as advertised but the top speed varies a bit. I haven't figured out why it runs a bit faster or slower at times. It doesn't appear to be the conditions.This bike could also use rear suspension since the motor, battery and my rear end is mounted there.
The good:
Comes almost completely assembled
Great price
smooth shifting gears
Relaxation of a motorcycle and bicycle in one
The bad:
Don't really like the green color
Top speed varies just a bit
Could use rear suspension since that's where most of the weight is
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My first electric bike, May 26, 2012
By MR wilderness (Bozeman, MT)
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I've been riding this bike for years now, and just decided to review it here on Amazon, after some online troubleshooting for some minor issues. More on that later.
I have no experience with electric bikes, and this is my first, and hopefully last electric bike. I think this is an awesome bike, and am very happy with it so far. Overall, it is solid, and functions very well, but there are a few minor issues which kept me from giving it a 5 star.
I will say that I have beat the heck out of this thing, so any broken parts and such I am not deducting stars for. I have had to replace the wiring harness on the battery, the front brakes, a tire, chain, and a power cord. Right now things which need attention on the bike are the chain case near the pedal (cracked), and the front brakes again (totally done, and not even functioning as of now). This is because I use this bike every day, sometimes hauling upwards of 100 pounds (double bike trailer + 11 month old + groceries) and sometimes take it off road.
We use our bikes (wife has one as well) in terrible conditions. -25 C, icy roads, muddy roads, bumpy roads, etc. We live in Montana, so it's pretty much unavoidable. My wife used her bike MUCH less than mine, and her bike is in much better condition and is much quieter. My motor is now pretty loud, and I am trying to figure out why, which is how I ended up on the internet. The controls cut the power off to the motor now as well, and I am working on figuring it out. I have had success with shifting to a much higher gear while pulling our trailer, but it is an annoying problem while pulling a trailer and going uphill. I can barely make it up a hill with that much weight (about 350 lbs total with me, baby, bike, trailer, and misc stuff), and I am in pretty good shape.
But overall, I have been extremely happy with the bike, and when not beaten down and when taken care of properly, this thing will zip along with rush hour traffic, and with pedaling, I can get going close to 30 mph, faster than the traffic. I get a lot of wistful stares as I pass everyone on my way home, while they sit and wait for a someone to make a turn or something. When it does need maintenance, I have not found many shops that are knowledgeable about it, but I also live in Montana, where most people just have plain old mountain bikes. I have learned to maintain it myself, and have slacked on it lately. The issues listed below pertain not to maintenance, but to possible improvements for other models in the future.
Pros:
- Very easy to maintain, although it can get expensive when you need to order a part from Currie (shipping). I chose to order parts from independent retailers and have not gone wrong yet.
- I use this to commute to and from school, about 1 mile away, I use this on my city's trail system (dirt), I use it for grocery shopping, and generally anything within a 5 mile radius of my house.
- I have attached a bike trailer (Instep Sierra double) for our baby and to haul stuff. So far we've had some issues, but it seems to work and pull the trailer great. Look in the cons for more issues about the trailer.
- I have definitely paid for this bike in gas savings already. We use it about 3 times a day, for the past 2.5 years. I also bought both bikes at auction for $600 total, so I have definitely saved that much in gas over the years. I have put around 3750 miles on this thing, using it on average of 5 miles per day 300 days out of the year. This is a conservative estimate, as I cannot think of a day that we didn't use it. There was maybe 4 days of extreme weather here last winter I did not take it out of the garage. When I park it, it sits outside in the elements, which got down to -25 at the coldest I can remember. So, just for my bike ($300) I have saved as much gas as the bike cost me in 2.5 years. (We have a dodge ram which gets about 350 miles per tank).
CONS:
- The biggest con I have is that the bike will shut off when there is too much load on the motor. I'm not sure why this happens, and it happens sometimes when I am pedaling on a flat road with nothing attached to the bike. It baffles me sometimes, and it is infrequent, so not too big of an issue. Some days it shuts off more than others. I am assuming it has something to do with the motor overheating, and is a protective measure. Lately, with a bike trailer attached, it happens all the time. So I am wondering if I should get a normal bike and just pull the trailer with that. Any info on this would be great, as I have decided to finally research it.
- There is a lot of maintenance involved with this bike if you use it every day, year-round. I honestly beat it up, as I use it about three times a day. I used 5 miles a day in my calculations, but I probably use it about 15 miles a day. I don't have any way of knowing the exact mileage. There is A LOT of bumps where I live. The roads get torn up during the winters here, so I hit a lot of major bumps. I have had to replace screws on the battery mount. Like every month, until I started using some threadlocker on the bolts. They still come out but very slowly.
- The harness on the battery is (was) very flimsy. I had to replace it, and although it cost $7.99 for the part, shipping was around $15 from Currie, which was unacceptable to me. I purchased from another retailer with $4.99 shipping. I found the chain on the bike to be pretty cheap as well. You will need to keep this thing very greased. It degraded much quicker than my chain on my trail bike. The rubber handles seem to slip off consistently. I am not sure how to fix this, and it only takes a few seconds to put them back on, but it is annoying.
- If you want to attach a bike trailer to this, be aware that the motor sticks out on the left side of the rear axle. This is, unfortunately, where every bike trailer I looked at attaches to. I rigged up an extension which enables me to use the trailer on the bike, but my right turns still need to be wide. Left turns are no problem. Just be aware of that if you are purchasing a trailer for this bike.
- The motor gets loud after a lot of use. This is my main concern, as it got loud before we had our trailer. I am not sure why, and am hesitant to open the motor case and grease it up. Nothing so far that I have done has addressed this issue. It is more of an annoyance and hasn't really affected my riding. It just makes a lot of noise, and I get a lot of stares.
All in all this is a great bike. Like I mentioned, I really beat on it, but I don't think there would be any bike which would function better than this one. 4 stars!
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