You know whats not going to happen? Cars aren’t going to save the earth. We’re not all going to swap out gas guzzler for the Tron-like swoosh of an electric car and suddenly fix the worlds problems.
Nice fantasy. But no. Not happening.
What might help is the humble e-bike. It has a low footprint (both on the road and environmental) is easy to ride, and can do just about everything a car can do. Compared to anything else, the e-bike rider is a modern day super hero.
An ebike can't do that.
Traditional petrol vehicles emit greenhouse gases, clog our streets, and rely on expensive, finite resources. In contrast, electric bikes produce zero tailpipe emissions, sip energy efficiently, and are incredibly lightweight on the road and the environment.
A typical e-bike uses around 1.5 kWh of electricity per 100 km—a fraction of what a petrol or even electric car would use for the same trip.
What Makes E-Bikes So Sustainable?
Traditional petrol vehicles emit greenhouse gases, clog our streets, and rely on expensive, finite resources. In contrast, electric bikes produce zero tailpipe emissions, sip energy efficiently, and are incredibly lightweight on the road and the environment.
A typical e-bike uses around 1.5 kWh of electricity per 100 km—a fraction of what a petrol or even electric car would use for the same trip.
Also, it uses your power. A little excercise would do you a world of good.
The Gold Coast is Built for E-Bike Commuting
With over 2,400 km of bikeways (some of them reason bikes too, not those bullshit ones where they paint a line on the road) and a climate that’s made for riding, the Gold Coast offers one of Australia’s most e-bike-friendly landscapes. Short distances between suburbs, beachside paths, and increasing support for bike infrastructure mean getting from A to B on an e-bike has never been easier—or more fun.
Throw in the hills of Currumbin, the beach cruisers of Burleigh, and the bike lanes around Broadbeach, and you’ve got the perfect urban-rural mix for every type of rider.
Yesterday I did 15km. Nothing special about that. The wife and I had some fun riding ainlessly about the suburbs. Later I got two bags of cement. Fifteen kms on an ebike is easy. Importantly, it’s 15km of car driving saved.
Ditching the Car (At Least Some of the Time)
Let’s be real: you dickheads aren’t replacing your cars any time soon. But replacing just a few car trips per week with e-bike rides has a measurable impact. According to studies from Europe and the US:
Replacing car commutes with e-bikes can cut CO₂ emissions by up to 90% per trip
Most urban car journeys are under 10 km—well within e-bike range
Daily riders save on average $3,000–$5,000 per year in fuel, maintenance, and insurance
And it’s not just about savings. E-bike riders also report higher daily activity levels, improved mental health, and better sleep—all without the sweaty arrival of a pushbike commute.
Powering Your Ride with the Sun
It seems like everyone has solar panels these days. Everyone but me, that is. My house is surrouded by trees. Year, I know, stupid trees.
Anyway, if you charge your e-bike from the wall, your power might still come from coal-fired generation. But pairing your e-bike with a rooftop solar system means your daily commute becomes truly emission-free.
☀️ Solar + E-bike = a zero-emission lifestyle
A 6.6 kW solar system—the most common size for Aussie homes—can easily produce 25–30 kWh per day. Charging your e-bike might only use 0.3–0.6 kWh per charge, depending on battery size. That means your e-bike can run for weeks on just one day’s worth of sunlight.
And it’s not just theoretical. Many Gold Coast households are already embracing this setup: combining solar, battery storage, and e-bikes to create a sustainable daily rhythm powered entirely by the Queensland sun.
Looking to Go Solar? Here’s Who We Recommend
If you’re considering installing solar to support your e-bike lifestyle (and drop your power bill while you’re at it), we highly recommend checking out Wix Energy.
Based on the GC and known for high-quality installs and honest pricing, Wix Energy specialises in:
Residential solar systems
Solar battery storage
Off-grid and hybrid solutions
Performance monitoring and aftercare
Whether you’re just starting with a few panels or want to pair your home setup with a battery system, they’ll design something to suit your needs—no pushy sales pitches, no cookie-cutter solutions.
They’re also one of my clients. Nice guys to deal with.
Bullshit People Believe About E-Bikes
“e-bikes are cheating?”
Stiff-fucking-shit. When I ride to the mountain bike I don’t want to hear anything about cheating from someone pulling their bike off the roofracks of their car. Is this is cheating then everyone should cheat.
The legal e-bikes are pedal-assist, meaning you still ride—just with a bit of help on the hills. You get exercise without the hurt. (Let’s not talk about illegal e-bikes. The suburbs are chockers with them. What the actual.)
“Aren’t they expensive?”
Not compared to cars. Most good e-bikes cost between $2,000–$5,000, with much lower running costs. You’ll make it back in fuel savings alone within a couple of years.
“Can they handle hills or distance?”
Yes and yes. With ranges of 50–100 km per charge, and torque to tackle hills, e-bikes are built for Australian terrain. Get a good e-bike with a mid-drive motor. They have heaps more get-up-and-go compared to the hub motors. Yesterday I dragged 40kg of cement and two dogs up a hill without raising a sweat. Nouf said.
The Bigger Picture: A Greener Gold Coast
It’s no longer about doing everything perfectly—it’s about making practical, positive shifts that add up. Choosing to ride an e-bike, even for a few days each week, has a ripple effect:
Less traffic congestion
Reduced urban air pollution
Lower fossil fuel dependency
More community-friendly streets
It’s also highly social. You don’t get any interaction with anyone when you’re locked away in your car. Step out of that box and you’ll be amazed at just how normal life feels when you’re person to person.
Final Thoughts: One Small Ride For A Man, One Giant Leap For Mankind
In a time when everything feels big—big problems, big debates, big solutions—it’s comforting to know that sometimes the best thing we can do is something small.
Like choosing to ride an e-bike.
Like powering that ride with the sun.
Like inspiring others just by showing up differently.
So if you’ve been on the fence about buying an e-bike or wondering whether it really makes a difference—this is your sign. It does.