If you were passing by a green pasture and noticed that it was littered with glass bottles, plastic waste and papers, you would probably be totally outraged. Or just think of sitting in endless traffic jams and breathing exhaust emitting fumes, horrible huh? Yet, it seems that today many of us living in urban areas are exposed to noise levels that are way above the recommended thresholds, and we do not even think twice about it.
With noise, most people assume that it is simply an annoying side effect of modern-day city living -not a problem. And yet, noise is a societal problem. In fact, noise is so omnipresent everywhere in society that it can be called "noise pollution". The EU considers long-term exposure to noise levels over 55 decibels (dB) as high, and health impacts are likely to occur at this level1
It probably wouldn’t surprise you to learn that one of the biggest contributors to noise pollution in Switzerland is road traffic. But did you know that a typical diesel / petrol car emits around 70 dB, a passing diesel truck 85 dB or a single combustion engine motorbike a whopping 100 dB!2
In fact, according to an article published by Medical News Today, unwanted sounds in our lives bring with them a range of negative health effects. Our brains are always monitoring sounds for signs of danger, even during sleep, so even the most innocent sound disturbance can trigger feelings of anxiety and increased sensitivity to stress. One of the challenges is that the noise in our lives is difficult to control, which can lead to a person feeling irritable, on edge, frustrated, or even angry, all of which has a bearing on our personal wellbeing.
So widespread is the issue that the “noise abatement “department in the city of Zurich (yes, this office actually exists!) is looking at investing in noise absorbing materials on its roads with the objective of reducing road noise in Zurich, but we all play a role in reducing the noise in our daily lives.
So what can you do to help control the noise in your life? Well for a start, making the transition to electric mobility dramatically reduces the noise created by your regular journeys. An electric scooter for example, contributes less than 45 dB – a dramatic improvement to its traditional counterparts! It’s no wonder that the popularity of this versatile form of electro mobility is quickly increasing. Zipping around the city on an electric scooter brings with it multiple environmental benefits. Compared to cars and conventional combustion motorbikes, the compact size of e-scooters helps to reduce crowding on our roads in urban areas, but moreover, thanks to the e-scooters quieter ride, you can feel more connected to your local neighbourhood and the environment around you whilst enjoying your personal space on your daily commute.
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How does financing work?
When financing a purchase, such as an E-scooter, you pay a monthly fee which covers the price of the scooter over time. This is done by the help of a bank. To be eligible for the finance, the bank will conduct a credit check of you. Once the credit check is approved, which only takes a day or two, you can start paying for the scooter in monthly installments. The scooter is fully owned by you immediately, just like with a normal payment.
The benefits of financing
Buy paying monthly it enables you to to spread the cost of the purchase, making the expenses easier to fit within your budget, without having to dip into your savings. Instead, you can keep your money free for other purposes, such as an emergency or investments.
"Afford” a nicer scooter
With financing you are able to afford a more expensive scooter than you would if you payed all at once.
No upfront costs
0% financing with Pineapple Bikes allows you to get the scooter you want with no “upfront” costs. No down payments and no hidden costs.
It’s fast and easy to apply
You’ll find that the time it takes to apply, get approved, and receive the scooter at your doorstep is surprisingly fast and easy. The entire process is done online.
Flexible
Flexible terms give you the ability to choose if you want to repay quickly or pay smaller amounts over a longer period. With Pineapple Bikes there are no interests no matter how many months you chose to pay it over.
The drawbacks of financing
While financing is a smart way to afford a purchase, they are not available to every buyer. The seller always wants to minimize the risk by only providing financing to buyers they know can pay pack the full amount.
The downside with financing is that the bank usually charges a high interest rate. This can be as high as 10%. However, this is not the case with Pineapple Bikes, which have 0% interest on all our products, meaning you pay no extra costs to be able to pay monthly. The price is the same as if you would pay all in once.
Another drawback is the high fees that might apply if you miss a payment. To avoid this, make sure the monthly payments are automatically paid from your bank account. That way you won’t miss any payments.
For further information on how 0% financing works with Pineapple Bikes, check out our page on How it works.
]]>Obtain your vehicle registration document and license plate. To receive this, you need to register your scooter with the Road Traffic Office in your canton. Before registering the vehicle at the Road Traffic Office, you need the following:
Below you can find the contact details of the Road Traffic Office in your canton:
https://asa.ch/strassenverkehrsaemter/adressen/
Which insurance provider to choose?
Regardless of whether you just want to enjoy a feeling of freedom, are looking for an alternative to traffic jams or want to benefit from lower fuel consumption from an electric scooter, you still need an insurance. To find out which insurance company is best for you, we recommend to use comparis.ch. They have compared the motorcycle insurance premiums of the major insurance companies in Switzerland.
]]>Since January 1st 2021 motorbikes and scooters (including electric) up to 125 cc capacity (A1) will be allowed to be driven in Switzerland from the age of 16 instead of 18 as it was previously the case. The Federal Council is thus adapting the Swiss regulation to the EU regulations which have been in place for several years.
No more direct entry into motorbike category A from the age of 25
Direct entry for large motorbikes from the age of 25 (motorbike category “A unrestricted”) has been abolished in Switzerland from the 1st of January 2021 onwards. The new rule applying now obliges to drive a motorbike with a maximum power of 35 kW (48 hp) for two years and only then will one be able to take the "A unrestricted" motorbike test.
Furthermore, the practical basic training has been adapted. Regardless of the motorbike category, 12 hours of practical basic training are required. Once completed, the exam results remain valid.
No more exam-free category A1, instead it can be obtained from the age of 16
From 2021, every category will have to pass an examination. If one has a driving licence category B, one only has to complete the basic course 1 + 2 to obtain the A1.
]]>First of all, be careful when driving
Most of us do not ride our scooter in the winter, however, if you’re planning to ride your scooter during ice or snow, be extra careful. Drive slowly and be gentle when braking and steering. Always be cautious of the road and weather conditions. Remember, the breaking distances will increase on slippery roads. Other examples are potholes that might not have been gritted or ice that take longer time to thaw on the edge of a road.
For electrical scooters, the most important part is the battery
Almost all electric scooters have lithium-ion batteries. The temperature of the storage place of your scooter should never reach below 0 °C. Temperatures below this point will cause loss of storage capacity over time and damage the battery. If you can’t find a storage place for your scooter above 0 °C, consider removing the battery and storing it separately. Of course, avoid this if it voids your warranty. If you choose to store the battery separately, there are special bags which will protect it from outside influences, and protect your home from accidents involving the battery.
Further to the temperature of the storage place, you should also take into account the charge level of your battery. The battery preserves most of its life when stored at around 40%. Never let the battery fully run out of charge. This can be permanently damaging and therefore the most important part of storing your electric scooter.
Additionally, the battery should not be stored charged at 100%, which will cause it to lose its lifespan and capacity faster. Charging your battery up to 60% once every month while stored, is a good solution. This makes sure it stays at a healthy level of charge during storage time.
It is also recommended to bring the scooter to room temperature and give it some time to warm up a little, before charging the battery.
Tires, care for them
It’s always a good idea to rotate the front tire of your scooter periodically. This can prevent the progress of a flat spot when storing your bike over the winter. Ensure the tires are fully inflated to the recommended pressure. Some experts recommend placing a piece of lumber under the front tire, to keep it away from cold concrete that can lead to flat spots.
Don’t forget to clean
Be vigilant with cleaning. Grit from the roads, especially during winter months, can rust the bodywork. It is recommended to clean your bike after a ride, which will help keep it in a good condition. If you have to store your scooter outside, prevent corrosion by covering it to protect it from the elements.
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Electric vehicles used to be something only the rich could afford, but this is not the situation today. Over the years the price has significantly dropped thanks to the reduced cost of batteries and the expansion of the numbers of electric vehicles available. The purchase price is still higher than a comparable combustion vehicle, however, the total lifetime cost is cheaper as electric vehicles are cheaper to operate than combustion vehicles. This is a result from lower energy, maintenance and repair costs, as well as possible tax concessions and insurance premiums.
2. Batteries are immature and not reliable
Lithium-ion batteries are powerful! Due to the rapidly increase in demand and the outlook of a strong market growth, lithium-ion batteries are advancing fast. Lithium-ion batteries have advantages in terms of energy density, high number of discharge cycles and short charging times compared to other storage technologies. Various test by car manufacturers have confirmed the quality, long-term performance and service life of lithium-ion batteries. With the new generations of electric vehicles, most manufacturers have increased the warranty period for the batteries, and often individual cells of the battery can be replaced instead of the whole battery.
In the future, the technology will continue to improve, with the improvement of energy density and costs. Alternative storage choices are being investigated in conjunction with lithium. In addition, better solutions to minimize or eliminate cobalt is being made along with solutions on how to best recycle and reuse old battery parts. One of these solutions is to reuse the batteries on buildings to reduce power peaks.
3. Not as safe as conventional vehicles
Electric vehicles are safe and they burn less often than vehicles with combustion engines. They do not carry any flammable or explosive liquids. The media has created a falls impression that electric engines burns more often than combustion engines as this creates more user clicks. Nonetheless, scientific investigations have proved that electric vehicles catch fire less frequently than combustion vehicles. Current electric vehicles are therefore "just as safe" as conventional vehicles.
In the event of a crash, electric vehicles achieve top ratings. All the safety advantages of electric vehicles are due in particular to the combustion vehicles. In the event of a crash, no heavy engine block is pressed into the driver's area, and the high weight of the weight in the underbody (battery) minimizes the risk of overturning.
For further myth busting facts about electric mobility, head over to www.swiss-emobility.ch
]]>Environment
For many the sustainability aspect of en electric motorcycle is key. An electric scooter is a zero emission form of transportation and therefore much more sustainable than conventional scooters. If electric vehicles were more common there would be a significant relief of the environmental impact that transportation has. Electric bikes are particularly beneficial in cities because they reduce smog.
It has been debated that electric vehicles is more resource consuming to make, and that the electricity often is sourced from a non-renewable source. However, production methods are improving, batteries are becoming recyclable and there are many sources of renewable power being used.
Motorbikes are often much more unregulated than cars, which means that while there is not so many motorbikes as cars, they still emit more smog than cars.
Sound
Another benefit which also benefits the environment is the reduction of noise pollution. Did you know that noise pollution can cause several health problems such as high blood pressure, stress and anxiety, especially in big cities with lots of traffic and public transportation. By choosing an electric motorbike you help reduce the noise level where you live.
Saving money
Yes, electric motorbikes are often more expensive than conventional bikes, but over time you will actually save a lot of money due the low maintenance required and the fact that electricity is cheaper than fuel.
In addition, a lot of governments have incentives on purchase price, taxes and other expenses.
Instant torque and power
With amazing power comes speed! With 100% instant torque, you get a rapid acceleration that a conventional motorbike cannot match. The delivery of this torque is linear, meaning the surge feeling you get with conventional motorbikes is gone.
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