MAURICE WELLS has cycled across Australia but says he only came across a handful of dangerous drivers.
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The entrepreneur and former Canberran runs an electric bike business and used battery-powered machines to help him on the 5000-kilometre journey.
The group of unsupported riders became the first to cross the Nullarbor Plain on electric bicycles by travelling up to 200 kilometres a day before recharging at road houses during a trip that lasted several weeks.
''It was fun - I saw a bit of the country,'' Mr Wells said.
''The hardest part was when it rained for a whole week in south-west WA.''
The former Stromlo High School student, who now lives in Sydney and sells e-bikes throughout Australia, rode 4500 kilometres from Cape York to Sydney last year.
He did the trip with 60 kilograms of gear, which included his bike, saying it was about 10 kilograms heavier than a non-powered bike.
The bike, when pedalled with the assistance of electricity, is described by some as like riding with a strong wind at your back.
It is not known how many electric bikes are sold in Australia each year, although Peter Bourke from Bicycle Industries Australia estimates about 5000 are imported each year. Several Australian states, as well as the ACT, have introduced the European standard for e-bikes, which means they can have maximum power of 250 watts, although South Australia and WA have not.
Mr Bourke said major manufacturers had avoided sending e-bikes to Australia until the popular European standard was adopted throughout the country.