Someone told me one day here in Sydney, that the project “Electric Bicycle World Tour” was too ahead for the present times. That society was not prepared to understand the project, and as a result it would be hard to find sponsors to support it. At that time I did not pay much attention, but now after two months working hard to find one, I begin to think that maybe that person was right.

Now I understand they repeated over and over in China: “Without “guanxi”, without contacts you’re not going anywhere”. Yes, an initiative of this magnitude as it was raised at first, really need good contacts, needs money and need the support of those involved in one way or another. But no worries, maybe I have no guanxi, but if I have a project going on that was born of a dream, and I will not stop the fight.

May have to restructure certain aspects of the project, or may not, but the philosophy and purpose remain intact. May the force be with you!

So at present still in Sydney to make the jump to Southeast Asia again in late September, working hard for the project. Now a conference, now media, now a film for a festival trailers, now a meeting … non stop.

Participation in the Pecha Kucha Sydney within the program of the Biennale of Art in the city, was very well received and so was the presentation of the trailer done by the artist Aiko Mineishi in the Keynote festival, which unfortunately could not personally attend ☹.

Electric Bicycle World Tour from Aiko Mineishi on Vimeo.

So I keep working hard to go ahead with renewed energy and hope that with the support of more sponsors soon.

EBWT 1st anniversary from Electric Bicycle World Tour on Vimeo.

Time flies! It’s been a year since I left Beijing. The truth is that I started the project almost without thinking about what I would find. I simply knew that I wanted to prove that electric vehicles are good and reliable. The itinerary, the route to follow, was planned but open at the same time, “if you do not know exactly where are you going, it is impossible to get lost”. And gradually, promoting the project and electric bicycles has been finding an echo in the media around the world and the itinerary has been drawn with the help of friends I’ve made.

From Beijing’s Olympic stadium to the Sydney Opera House. This has been 12.000km full of adventures, short but unforgettable friendships, passions, feelings to the surface, love, landscapes, conversations that have marked a before and after of the project, and especially to discover that every day there are more and more of us who think electric bikes are a future that is already present.

Video thans to Mike Rubbo http://www.situp-cycle.com/

Around the world in an electric bike charged with solar energy, awaking interest wherever it goes. There have been few times I’ve been stopped on the road and someone has invited me to their house, congratulating me on the adventure in general but above all to thank me for having opened their eyes. Electric bicycles can be easily recharged with solar energy, and so, one gets the benefit of a motor’s boundless energy at zero cost.?

I had believed that this would capture the attention of the people and in turn attract the attention of companies that promote ecological, social and health services. I also believed that governments or municipalities, they would participate in an initiative to help improve urban mobility in a way that respects the environment. But unfortunately it hasn’t been the case.

Last Saturday was the first anniversary, and so far the project is still basically run from my personal savings. Much appreciated help from Wisper, NOW, OSSO, The Electric Bicycle Company and Drivania, mostly providing product, has been essential to celebrate the first anniversary. But now, I have decided to stop for a month in Sydney to find a sponsor to help financially so the project can continue to progress as planned.

Sooner or later, someone else than I, and all the ones who follow the project, will realize the potential of the project, and especially the response and admiration among those who discover and follow it. If there is anything particularly I’ve noticed during  this year on the road, it is the electric smile. Watching the smile, the look of joy and words of thanks from those who are lucky enough to try “Bonica” (my 906 Wisper Alpino), is priceless. They, you, are the project’s main sponsor. There is much more than money in this world, and an electric smile is priceless.

]]> http://www.electricbicycleworldtour.com/en/blog/?feed=rss2&p=914 http://www.electricbicycleworldtour.com/en/blog/?p=925 http://www.electricbicycleworldtour.com/en/blog/?p=925#comments Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:35:56 +0000 admin http://www.electricbicycleworldtour.com/en/blog/?p=925 I was greatly surprised when Maurice Wells contact me the first time. He told me he opened the first Electric Bicycle shop entirely dedicated to Electric Bicycles, and once I arrived in Sydney I went to visit them. Gloworm Electric Bicycle shop is a gem, something I’ve never seen it before. Among other brands, they are offering Wisper bikes as they become the dealer for my sponsor brand since I visit the shop. If you plan to buy one, or just to have a test ride, do not doubt you’ll not get a better service than at Gloworm Electric Bicycle shop in Marrickville.

15.00 hrs Electric ride around Marrickville, Sydney, Australia

Meeting point: Gloworm Bicycle shop, 117 Addison road.

Gloworm has a limited number of electric bikes to lend for free for this ride.

20:00 hrs Electric Dinner (TBA)

22:00 hrs Party time around Newtown, Sydney, Australia

Very soon; in two weeks, it will be Electric Bicycle World Tour first anniversary!

Yes, yes, already one year on the road showing electric bicycles to people, opening their eyes to this amazing environmentally friendly means of transport that can easily become 100% sustainable, if you charge your batteries with a solar panel as EBWT is doing.

But, sadly, during this year that brings me through 12 countries, I did manage to observe the reality as it is. Nobody seriously cares about the environment.

In countries like China, where there are more than 100 million electric bicycles, the reason to ride them is because they are cheap. Fair enough for a developing country.

Then in developed countries, like Japan or Australia, the star of the show is the car, and I observed that cars are an individual means of transport. You can see people going to buy milk to a supermarket that is not farther than 500m from their homes. Or thousands of people every morning going one per car to work.

If you ask people if they will consider commuting by an electric bicycle instead of by car, they start pointing some reasons why not do it. The main ones, are comfort, social status, the weather… nobody thinks about using an environmentally friendly means of transport that will help you to do some exercise while going to work. Nobody. Also, governments and institutions seem not to be really excited about the idea to promote this means of transport. All EBWT efforts to organize activities with them, end up always with a answer like “we don’t think our citizens will be interested”… Do they really know what the society want?

But once people start realizing that with an electric bicycle you do not need a license, or insurance, or pay parking fees; and that if you add a solar panel to your home or office then you can have a 0 travel cost means of transport… then their eyes start getting open… Go to work, to the supermarket, to the doctor, to visit my friends or out for dinner, while doing exercise and for free? Mmm…

EBWT has decided to stay for another month in Sydney working hard to find new sponsors that can sustain the project financially, and also, together with GloWorm electric bicycles shop, awakening Sydney’s interest for this fantastic means of transport.

The worldwide electric two-wheel vehicle market is expected grow at a compound annual rate of 9% through 2016.

We are bound to be successful!

]]> http://www.electricbicycleworldtour.com/en/blog/?feed=rss2&p=903 http://www.electricbicycleworldtour.com/en/blog/?p=898 http://www.electricbicycleworldtour.com/en/blog/?p=898#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 08:28:18 +0000 admin http://www.electricbicycleworldtour.com/en/blog/?p=898 Due to some preparations for a bigger event, The first Sydney Electric Bicycle ride planned for next sunday 23rd of May has been postponed until further notice.

He’s aiming to be the first person to ride around the world on an electric bicycle. Needless to say, Guim will have fascinating stories to share about his adventure and the technology. This is a great opportunity to celebrate Guim’s arrival, learn about the technology and to meet like-minded people. Invitations are open to all, but please rsvp so we know what to expect. BYO alcohol.

Guim will be presenting some video and images of his trip and his electric bicycle will be on show along with the other electric bicycles at Glow Worm Bicycles. Rides on electric bicycles will be available, bringing to people’s faces what Guim likes to call an ‘electric smile’.

Please spread the word and we hope to see you there!

Promote the use of alternative transport options that has less negative impact on the planet,

while providing electric smiles on the way.

Your donations keep EBWT going.