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The Most Efficient Traveler Isn’t a Bird or a Fish—It’s You on a Bike
(www.scientificamerican.com)
this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2025
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Compared to other things that walk, yes. Muscle efficiency is gutter tier shit in general. Internal combustion engines look good in comparison, and no, I'm not joking.
This is why e-bikes are the most efficient form of travel in terms of calories burned per km. Batteries and electric motors are about as efficient as anything can be, and it's better when they're not pushing around a large metal box.
In terms of lifetime CO2 output, though, they never quite catch up to regular bikes due to the extra manufacturing needs. It's not a huge difference, though; if an e-bike is what gets people out of a car, that's a massive win.