Electric glide on easy street

At the second annual Asiabike expo in Nanjing, e-bike maker Citybug displayed a stylish new white and green framed electronic bike to crowds of eager onlookers. With price tags starting at 5,000 yuan, the bikes are selling at several times what the average Chinese consumer would pay. But its factories in Dongguan and Shenzhen are not targeting Chinese, says Citybug's sales representative He Rui.

Designed and priced to appeal to "emerging e-bike markets", she says 80 percent of sales go to Germany, with the rest mostly to other parts of Europe. "Right now we don't sell any in the US, but we want to eventually," He says.

But for Chinese manufacturers in the US, price continues to be paramount.

Taking advantage of China's low manufacturing costs, Chinese brand Taotao is adopting a more direct approach to selling in America.

Earlier this year, the Taizhou-based company opened its sixth North American distribution center in Indianapolis, Indiana, cutting out expensive import-export services and offering its electric vehicles at one of the lowest costs in the US market.

But regardless of price, consumers should pay attention to the true value of e-bikes, both economic and ecological, Jamerson says.

"People need to focus on the value. Compared to a $30,000 car or a $40,000 electric vehicle, for short trips these just cost pennies to run."

Contact the writers through toddbalazovic@chinadaily.com.cn