Hello, cyclists - want a new motor? Electric bicycles mean less legwork, no road tax and emissions impossible.  More power to your pedal says James Ruppert.

CYCLING IS good for you - fresh air, exercise, environmentally friendly and all that. But these benefits are not always uppermost in the mind when you're struggling to pedal up a sleep hill, which is why our good intentions often get left in the bike shed. Motorbikes are faster, but they're also noisy and spout emissions, and they are liable for road tax.

SO what's the answer? A battery-powered bicycle, of course. These are conventional pedal-driven pushbikes, but with battery assistance when you need it. You can twist and go, just like on a motor scooter, but also pedal when you want-or when the battery runs out of power.

It is hard to predict exactly how far you can get on battery power, because it depends on the rider's weight, their pedalling input and the terrain. The maximum speed is limited to 15mph. but you could get as far as 20 miles before the battery needs a full charge. That can take as little as three hours and - by plugging into a normal mains socket-it costs just 2p.

The news gets even better: no licence is required provided the power output does not exceed the legal limit of between 200W and 250W; you don't need any insurance cover; and you won't be liable for road lax. However, riders must be at least 14 years old.

"This year the electric hike has come of age," says Chris Lewis, the national sales director of Powabyke. which makes a range of Jive cycles, "The fuel crisis and rail disputes all seem to have: tipped people over the edge and they genuinely want an alternative way to commute, especially over shorter distances. Using a car for a two-mile trip is just stupid."

So who is buying their electrictric bikes? "Certainly there is The 50-plus grey market, who still want to cycle but need a helping hand. But the real growth area is the commuter market. Recent research from Leeds University is proving that commuter buyers really are switching from cars to electric bikes and use them four times as much as someone who has gone the conventional mountain-bike route."

Sales are apparently strongest on the south coast of England, but surprisingly the toughest market for electric bikes is proving to be that traffic-jammed, polluted and expensive-to-park-city, London. That probably explains why the capital has only just gained its first dedicated specialist, The Electric Bicycle Centre in Wandsworth.

Jack Kubis, The proprietor, is pleased with The way business is picking up. "Previously we worked from an office in fulham, but now we have The shop more people can see what we do and lots of drivers park up and come in for a lest ride." They are also making inroads into the local and police authority rnarket, where bikes are now on trial.

If you already have a bike and would like to convert it to battery power, there are battery motor kits that either clip on or are bolted on to the frame, with a roller to spin the wheel. However, a lot of energy is wasted with such friction devices and they aren't cheap. The lowest price 1 could find was £399, whereas just £ £100 more buys you a fully electric bicycle.

An interesting alternative is an electric scooter. Picture one of those silver, folding items so beloved of teenagers, bul with a battery motor. Electric Feet is a company importing a wide range of those small-wheeled machines. Prices start at just £99 for the Light Foot, which has a range of 6km and a lop speed of 12kph (8mph). That's the basic package, but adding a larger motor, a seat, some lights and maybe even a couple of stabilising rear wheels pushes the price up. The Big Foot is £412 and the rather serious Pro Foot X3 is £749.

When the battery runs down you arc left with a conventional manual scooter that folds flat and can easily be carried. Steve Key, spokesman for Electric Feet, admits there is still a grey area when it comes to licensing and insurance implications. At the moment, though, you just hop on and go.

To find out what all the electric hike options are, try the Scottish retailer EV Select, which has a comprehensive range of bikes and conversion kits and deals with all the most frequently-asked questions about electric biking. The bottom line is - electric bikes are good for you, your pocket and. the environment.