By John Konrad

San Luis Obispo - Many recognize that a bicycle is the most efficient mean of transportation yet people are often scared off by hills and long distances peddling that can leave your legs numb in fatigue. But one new technology solves that problem, electric bicycles.

The idea is not new. The first patent for strapping an electric motor onto a bike was filed with the US Patent office in 1890 but, lacking sufficient battery power, these early bikes had a very limited range. They were also cumbersome and heavy.

The first problem of providing enough power to they bike for long distance riding, was only recently figured out. In 1996 researchers at the University of Texas announced a new battery design offering high performance and a fast rate of charge. The batteries,  lithium iron phosphate (LifePo4), are similar to laptop batteries providing large amounts of power and short recharge times. They are also thin, relatively light weight, and have been much improved in the 16 years since their initial debut.

With the invention of LiPo the stage was set for bolting electric components onto bikes but this didn't solve the second part of the problem. Many of the ebikes still being produced today are heavy and cumbersome, few are practical for being packed into the trunk of a car or stowed on an RV or boat.

One manufacturer, however, seems to have perfected the formula. Early this year the maritime website gCaptain tested a number of small electric bikes and found many of them to be heavy or expensive or, like the well built A2B Metro, both. But with a modest price point and quality components we found a clear winner in the Prodeco Mariner S, a small, sleek looking bike which that was delivered in a rather small box. How could an electric bike fit in a package no larger than one designed for a large microwave? The answer was that it folds.

And it has plenty of power. The mariner uses a 250 watt free-spinning motor mounted in the front wheel for propulsion and  high capacity 36 volt 9 amp hour advanced lithium battery (LiFEPO4) which provide a smooth, powered ride on flat and hilly terrain. Just a twist of the throttle surges power into the Mariner's front wheel and the bike soars beneath you.

For the test of the bike gCaptain's editors took to the foothills  of Morro Bay California, a region popular with mountain bikers and hikers for the hilly terrain. In tests the bike performed well when climbing up slopes and gave a substantial kick of power when coasting on level ground.

Most impressively, after a day and a half of hard riding, the battery still showed a few bars of available power on the bike's display. After a week of riding, with charges every few days, the bike retained it's smooth ride and power assist but it did require a small tune up of it's disc brake system.

For the tune up we visited Dynamic Electric Vehicles in San Luis Obispo California where co-owner Vince Pacifico, gathered a few tools and tightened the brake cables with ease. Pacifico is a retailer of various electric bikes but claims Prodeco are his favorite. "They are popular and the manufacturer sometimes has difficultly keeping up with orders but my customers and I are very happy with the bikes".

One of Pacifico's customers works in San Luis Obispo, close to the shop but lives in the distant suburb of Morro Bay. According to Pacifico she first bought a Prodeco to help her bike the hills of her town but she soon found herself bicycling the 20 miles to work, and back, every day.

For the summer months gCaptain packed the Mariner S aboard the company boat on a trip down the California coast and it's small folding frame made it easy to stow. We predict it will be very useful for traveling around each port of call.