The “e-bike” revolution has still to catch on in the West but this might soon change. The journey being undertaken by Guim Valls Teruel, a 33-year-old Spaniard from Barcelona, will cross five continents, starting from the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing in May and concluding three years later in east London.

“I want to spread the message of this incredible invention to all corners of the world,” he said announcing his journey in Beijing, “millions of Chinese people already use them and they can be an important part of a green revolution in the rest of the world.” Mr Teruel, who came to China two years ago to manage a restaurant which then folded, bought an electric bike – also known as a “pedelec” – when he got fed up with sitting in Beijing’s interminable traffic jams.

Using solar power to recharge his three batteries, Mr Teruel plans to pedal-glide through China, Australia, India, Europe, South America and the east coast of the United States before arriving in England via Ireland.

The electric bike – a pedal bicycle which is assisted by a battery-powered motor that makes pedalling feel almost effortless – has caught on with astonishing speed in China, a nation of 450 million push-bike owners.

According to the China Bicycle Association, sales of electric bikes stood at 58,000in 1998, compared with the 20 million recorded just a decade later in 2008. Industry analysts have predicted that 350 million Chinese could eventually upgrade to an electric.

E-bike Stats

RED TAPE: None. Electric bikes are still bicycles, so have no road tax, no insurance, no license plates, etc

POWER: Maximum output of 250W, powered by a rechargeable Lithium-based battery

AGE REQUIREMENT: 14 to ride on the road

MAX SPEED: 15.5mp/h (25km/h), as regulated by law