Electric bikes, sometimes known as e-bikes, have become increasingly popular. It’s easy to see why. E-bikes will assist you in climbing hills, allowing you to travel for longer periods, and zoom past other cyclists on your Sunday ride.
Furthermore, they introduce cycling to a broader range of age groups and demographics, increasing the number of bicycles on our roads. They’re also entertaining.
There are many different types of e-bikes available. There’s something for everyone, from folding bikes to full-fledged enduro mountain bikes. There are alternatives for almost every riding style, just as for normal bicycles.
Manufacturers are constantly developing lighter, longer-lasting batteries with greater range. So, where do you begin? When purchasing an e-bike, we’ve identified five factors to consider before purchasing e-bikes.
1. The Goal
First and foremost, before purchasing an e-bike, consider where and when you’ll be riding it. Do you, for example, reside in a metropolis where regular stair climbing and other basic commuting requirements are required? Or perhaps you live in a more isolated location and plan to take it off-road?
Thanks to the motor’s assistance in hauling you up challenging hills, e-bikes are perfect for carrying extra weights for commuting or shopping. For pannier bags, many have standard rack mounts. However, if you need to transport more – such as your children – a dedicated cargo e-bike is a possibility.
Before purchasing an e-bike, consider battery range and weight. If you’re interested in the leisure rides model to buy.
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There are 4 broad categories of e-bikes to choose from once you’ve determined your needs:
- Electric road bikes
- Electric mountain bikes
- Electric hybrid bikes
- Foldable electric bikes
E-road bikes and e-mountain bikes are both performance-oriented bicycles, and both are built for speed and are geared to going on extended rides. As a result, their rack options are limited, and they may not be as comfortable for commuting in general.
For city riding, hybrids are a good choice, and they have a comfortable upright design for casual riding and various commuting options.
They are an affordable way to get started with e-bikes, with big bike stores offering sales and offers, such as leisure lakes bikes discount codes and others.
They are extremely hefty, which might be an issue if you take the bike up stairs or on public transportation.
For shorter city journeys and those with limited storage space, folding e-bikes are the ideal alternative. The batteries of folding e-bikes are frequently smaller, resulting in a shorter range.
They’ll be heavier than ordinary folding bikes and may be inconvenient to transport over extended distances.
2. Size and Power of the Battery
Different types of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are used in other e-bikes.
The technology is the same as that utilised in electric automobiles. They charge quickly and have an overall lightweight.
The battery can be installed in a few different locations on the bike. The battery is usually attached to the down tube, where it is easily accessible and removed. It’s sometimes mounted on a rear rack, as seen on some early Lime rental bikes.
The battery is built inside the downtube near the bottom bracket or sometimes within the seat post in more expensive bikes. This results in a cleaner finish, but it comes at a price.
A basic rule of thumb is to go with the largest size and highest quality that your budget will allow for battery size.
The capacity will be indicated in Watt-hours (wh), crucial when calculating your e-range.
3. Range
Your battery is unlikely to run out on a typical travel if you start with a fully charged battery. The ‘range’ of your e-bike – or the overall distance you can ride before running out of charge – will be critical when it comes to charging.
The less you have to charge your battery, the greater your range. Watt-hours (wh) are used in this situation. If you have a 300w motor and a 300wh battery, it will deplete in one hour if you run it at maximum power (on paper, at least).
There are many more variables in practice. For starters, the battery will never be fully charged all of the time. It’s more likely that you’ll switch between modes, and some will include eco modes, which will, for example, give you longer battery life.
Furthermore, the rider’s weight, the terrain you’re riding on, and even the weather might affect the battery’s range. To help you estimate the range, here’s a useful calculator from Bosch.
4. Weight
To understand the impact of weight, consider the intended purpose of your e-bike and riding style.
If you’re a road rider who wants to ride in groups, you’ll probably want a lighter bike.
The weight will affect the bike’s performance and handling in this area despite the additional motor assistance. You won’t be held down by weight if you tackle some hills without the motor.
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When you aren’t riding the e-bike, the bike’s weight will have a greater impact. The extra weight will be difficult to manage daily if you have to carry your bike up flights of stairs, on and off crowded trains, or even onto a car rack.
E-bike technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and they are no longer as heavy as they once were.
5. Cost
E-bikes have become less expensive and are no longer considered luxury items. You can now acquire a hybrid electric bike for under £1000 if you want an entry-level commuting cycle. While this may seem to be a high price, it is made more bearable by the availability of e-bikes on cycle-to-work schemes.
Finally, the cost will be determined by how much you anticipate using the bike and your budget. Carbon fibre and other high-end materials are expected to be used in high-end road and mountain bike models.
Wrap Up
Ensure to consider these 5 factors before purchasing an e-bike; goal, battery size and power, range, weight and cost. If you shop carefully, you may acquire your dream e-bike without breaking your bank.