Owning a car gives you plenty of freedom, but it can also put a dampener on your budget. Insurance, servicing and rego payments seem to roll around before you know it, and often at inopportune times. (Why do they always arrive exactly when you have a big vet bill or unexpected medical expense?)

It's not just about the money though: cars can cramp your style in other ways. There's the hassle of finding parking, sitting in traffic during peak hour and, for some people, concerns about the environmental impact of their car.

An electric bike can free you from these woes: you can sail straight past banked-up traffic, parking is a cinch, running costs are significantly cheaper, and your carbon footprint will be much smaller.

Whether you're e-bike curious or already a dedicated e-cycler, you might be wondering if you could ditch your car completely and just stick to your electric treadly.

Can you replace your car with an electric bike?

From personal experience, yes.

I sold my car and bought a long-tail cargo e-bike back in 2018, and I can tell you that it is definitely possible – but it's admittedly not for everyone. 

It works for my lifestyle: I work from home, the supermarket is close by, I'm a confident rider, and I hate the gym so it's a great way to get some exercise. 

I'm lucky to live in an area with plenty of public transport and several GoGet cars within a block or two for those days I can't ride, and my child is still small enough that I can easily make it up hills with her on the back.

You can fit a surprising amount on a cargo bike: a five-year-old, vintage coat rack, spider plant, toilet paper and a vintage blanket.

But some things are changing, and lately I've been wondering whether I should buy a car again. 

My daughter now goes to school a few suburbs away so I have to hire a GoGet several times a week, which is adding up, and she's nearly 10 and growing like a weed so it won't be long until those hills start feeling like mountains. Plus, we're planning some camping and road trips this year, so we'll need a car for those.

Is continuing my car-free existence sustainable? Maybe, but there's a lot to consider.

If you're thinking of breaking up with your car and taking up with an e-bike, here are the positives and negatives that I've experienced over the years. Plus, some tips on the types of lifestyles that may be suited to a car-free existence – and which ones aren't.

With a bit of creative thinking, you can fit some unexpected items on your e-bike.

Pros of replacing your car with an e-bike:

• The savings: no more costs for petrol, parking or rego, and cheaper purchase, insurance, repayment and servicing costs.
• Even if you need to pay for a car share subscription or occasional car hire, it usually ends up being far cheaper than owning your own car.
• It can be faster to get where you're going – you can avoid congestion by taking bike paths.
• You won't have to worry about finding a parking spot, and you can generally ride right up to your destination instead of having to walk from where you've parked.
• Exercise and fresh air while you're travelling.
• You'll significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
• You don't need a license to ride an e-bike.
• No more stressful, boring car commutes in peak hour.

Cons of replacing your car with an e-bike:

• You're at the mercy of the weather.
• It can be unsafe riding on the road.
• It's not always glamorous: think helmet hair and arriving sweaty and out of breath at your destination.
• Due to their high value and movability, e-bikes are often targeted by bike thieves – you'll need somewhere safe and secure to store it and lock it up, and potentially take out insurance to cover it in the case of theft.
• If you have a physical disability, chronic pain or other health condition (or if you develop one after getting rid of your car), riding may be too difficult.
• If you have children you want to carry on your bike, you may need to invest in a cargo bike and other accessories such as a child seat.
• As your children get bigger, it can get harder to transport them on the bike.
• You generally can't carry large, very heavy items on your bike.
• If you anticipate needing a vehicle here and there, you'll probably need to pay for car-sharing membership or similar.
• Some cities don't have great cycling infrastructure.
• You'll need to hire or borrow a car for road trips.
• Flat tyres can be difficult to replace, depending on your bike.

Will replacing your car with an e-bike work for you?

For some people, an e-bike can easily replace their car for most things – and will probably save a lot of hassle and money. But for others, it's not likely to be a realistic solution.

Here are the lifestyles for which a car-free existence could work – and the ones that definitely don't.

If you find the right one for you, e-bikes can be quite comfortable to ride.

Some factors that can make a car-free life feasible:

• You live in an urban area where public transport is easily accessible.
• You don't have to travel far to work, or you work from home.
• The area you live in has good bike lanes and bike paths to travel on.
• You don't have children to transport around, or if you do, they're still small enough that you can carry them on your bike.
• You don't go on road trips very often.
• There are easy-to-access car sharing options near you.
• You either don't need to buy large quantities of groceries, or you can easily have them delivered.

Some reasons you might not be able to ditch your car for an e-bike:

• You have a long commute.
• There aren't many public transport or carshare options in your area.
• You live in either a particularly cold and wet or very hot climate.
• You're not a confident cyclist
• There aren't many bike lanes or paths near you
• Physical limitations that can make riding difficult
• You're buying groceries for a large household or you buy in bulk
• You regularly go on road trips or long drives in your city
• Your kids (or pets!) are too big for you to carry them on a bike

Yes, you can fit two adults and a child on a cargo bike, but it makes for a nerve-wracking ride.

Try before you buy

When we've tested e-bikes in our labs, we've found that they can really vary in terms of how easy and comfortable they are to ride – they're not like riding a regular bike.

There are so many different options for motors, configurations, accessories and, of course, price that you really want to make sure you're choosing exactly the right set-up, especially if you're planning for it to replace your car.

The best way to decide whether a particular e-bike is right for you is to visit a bike shop and take a few different bikes for a ride. 

The company I bought my bike from offered a very generous two-week trial, which gave me the opportunity to assess whether I could realistically get rid of my car and just live with the bike. (I didn't use my car once during those two weeks, which was a pretty clear sign!)

And if you're still not sure you're ready to trade in your seatbelt for a helmet, you could try an e-bike subscription service such as Lug+Carrie. These subscriptions often cover bike rental, servicing, insurance and roadside assistance, so you can trial e-bike life before committing to it full-time.

Can you go car-free?

If your lifestyle and motivations align with a bike-only existence, then I say go for it! You'll still need to use a car for some activities, but you might find the slight inconvenience of having to hire a car or book a share car is worth it for the savings and improved wellbeing.

It is a big adjustment, though, so it's not a decision to be made lightly. There's also no reason why you can't purchase an e-bike, try it out for a few months while you still own a car, then ditch four wheels in favour of two permanently.  

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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