What are eBikes?
The popularity of eBikes has soared in recent years with eBikes sales quickly outpacing electric car sales in the US. With all the eBike buzz, you might wonder how they work and why they are becoming so popular. Read on as we go over eBike basics.
Parts of an eBike
Electric Bikes can look and feel just like traditional bicycles with a few key differences. While traditional riders depend on muscle power alone, eBike riders can substitute muscle power with motor power supplied by a battery. Motor power can help relieve fatigued riders and offer additional assistance when climbing hills and keeping up with traffic.
Most Ebike have the following components:
Motor: There are two main types of eBike motors. The first is called a mid-drive. Mid-drive motors can be found near the cranks and work by turning the bike chain. The second type is a hub-motor. Hub-motors can be found in the rear or front hub of the tire. The work by turning the wheel.
Battery: Most eBike batteries on the market today are lithium-ion. They typically are made to be 24, 36, and 48 volt.
Display: The display allows you to see information about your bike including battery status, speed, and settings.
How far can you go on a single charge?
The answer to this question is… it depends. There are many factors that impact riding distance. These include the terrain, weight of the rider, and size of the battery. An eBike can travel between 15 -70 miles on a single charge. You will use the battery more quickly if you go up hills, have low tire pressure, or travel at a high speed with just the throttle. Using the pedal assist along with physical pedaling will help you reach the maximum range.
Electric bike class system
There are three classes of eBikes. Class 1 can reach a top speed of 20 mph with pedal assistance. This class does not have a throttle. Class 2 comes with a throttle that can propel the rider up to 20 mph by using only the motor (no-pedaling). The remaining Class 3 includes all pedal-assist bikes that are capable of reaching a speed of 28 mph. Since Class 3 bikes can travel at a higher speed they are typically not allowed on bike trails. They can be ridden on roads and road bike lanes.
Why buy an eBike?
Electric bicycles offer all the same great benefits as a traditional bicycle including cost savings, health benefits, and improved well-being.
Other advantages include hill climbing efficiency and being able to achieve a better range. If you experience knee pain or are just getting back into cycling, electric bikes can be a great way for you to get back out there. They might convince your friend or significant other to join you on the trails more often or they might enable you to commute to work with little to no perspiration.
Electric bikes can be a lot of fun and are a great alternative to owning a car or using public transportation. If you’re thinking about getting an eBike for the first time, browse our selection to find a quality ebike perfect for your cycling needs.