“Can I try it?”

I read and signed the memorandum on precautions and responsibilities. I also wore a helmet. The above-mentioned attitude of the staff is quite serious. 'How dangerous is it?' I got on the bike and started pedaling. As I was going uphill, I pedaled 'gently' as the staff said, and I almost slipped backwards. The dashboard was pitch black.

“There isn’t much difference between this?”

Employee: "Oh, it didn't turn on."

I was so disappointed. Back at the starting point, the staff turned on the electric control panel and adjusted the gear to 3rd. There are 5 gears, but they said that 3rd gear would be enough for the grade. I climbed back up and pedaled again.

“Ahh!”

I was trying to kick the swing forward with all my might, but it felt like someone was pushing me hard from behind.

Employee: “When you climb a slope or ride on flat ground, the motor detects the pedaling force and operates. You can pedal like a regular bicycle, but ride comfortably with less force.”

There are two types of driving methods: power assist, which provides power in proportion to the strength and speed of pedaling, and throttle type, which increases speed by turning the handlebar like a motorcycle. The electric bicycle that the reporter experienced was the Samcheolli Bicycle Fandom series, which was a power assist type. The city-type minivelo-like Fandom Zero and the MTB-style Center Motor Fandom EX.

I tried changing the gears from 1st to 5th several times, but the sections were short and the gradient wasn't that steep, so I couldn't feel any difference in gear output.

The city type weighs 17.2 kg and is light to step on, while the MTB weighs 23 kg and feels solid and stable. The maximum speed is the same for both models, 25 km/h. It is equipped with a lithium battery from Samsung SDI. The charging time is 3 hours for the city type and 4~5 hours for the MTB, and the riding distances are about 60 km and 100 km, respectively. The price is also more than double, at 980,000 won and 2.32 million won.

Another difference between MTB and city bikes is the location of the electric motor. The urban Phantom Zero has a motor in the rear wheel with a hub motor, while the MTB Phantom EX has a motor in the center.

The most curious question is, how long will the battery life be?

Employee: “You can think of it like a cell phone battery. If you discharge and recharge it repeatedly, the battery life will be shortened. If you completely discharge and recharge it 500 times, the battery will be reduced to 60% in about 2-3 years. You can also replace the battery separately.”

The electric bicycle-related laws will be revised in March next year. They can be ridden on bicycle paths just like regular bicycles, and anyone over the age of 13 can ride them without a license.

I wandered around another booth. It was an 'electric wheel' that looked like it required quite a bit of technical skill, standing on wheels and steering with both feet.
“Can I ride this?”

Without a word of explanation, I put both feet on the electric wheel. The electric wheel vibrates. My legs are shaking because I can't keep my balance, and that is transmitted to the wheel. If I lean my body forward or backward, it moves in that direction. If I put force on my right foot, it goes to the right, and if I put force on my left foot, it goes to the left. The theory is simple. However, it doesn't go forward and just keeps spinning to the right. I tried to bend my knees like I was snowboarding and shift my weight forward and back, but I failed.

The staff member held onto one of my arms tightly, lest I fall. Feeling both sorry and embarrassed, I came down.

“How long does it take to cook?”

Staff: “10 minutes. If someone holds you tightly in a large space like a park, 10 minutes is enough.”

The maximum speed of the electric wheel is 10 km. The battery is also similar to that of an electric bicycle. It can be charged for 3 hours with a lithium battery and can be ridden for 2-3 hours. However, the company explains that it will be used for longer because it will be ridden less often than an electric bicycle. The weight also varies by model, but the wheel that the reporter rode was a 'smart balance wheel', which weighed 12 kg.