Steve Demarest, left, brought an electric bike to Chelan County PUD to show to employees.

If you can’t wait for an affordable electric car to come to the market, here’s one option: the electric bike.

Steve Demarest of Leavenworth has opened a business to rent and sell the Ultra Motor A2B electric bike.  The bike runs on a lithium ion battery that will go for 20 miles before it needs a re-charge.  Recharging takes three hours. There’s room for a spare battery under the seat if you need to go farther, faster.

You can pedal the bike, too, although the bike is relatively heavy at 72 pounds. Up a hill, your legs are in for a workout. On the flat, though, it’s easy as, well, riding a bike.

Top speed is 20 miles per hour. No driver’s license is needed, Demarest said, but to be street-legal, drivers must be 16 or older.

The bike shop is located at 321 Ninth Street, in the Sonnen Building. Demarest is focusing on rentals, marketing primarily to tourists. He’s attached picnic-size baskets and map holders to his rental bikes so visitors can explore the countryside along East Leavenworth Road, head out to the fish hatchery, visit Blackbird Island or take a winery tour.

Rentals are $35 for a half day and $60 for a whole day. The bikes sell for $2,699, but Demarest said he will make deals with customers who rent first, then decide to buy.

Two of the electric bikes also are available for rent at the Go-Bent bike shop in Wenatchee.

More information is available on the A2B  Web site.