Introduction
Bikes have come a long way, and they were the first milestone in transport technology before vehicles came to life. People used animals such as donkeys and camels, which proved to be slower. Bikes have also improved thanks to technology – we now have electric bikes faster than normal bikes. There is also minimal use of energy. We will have a look at how different electric bikes are from regular bikes, the advantages of electric bikes, different classes, and most importantly, we will get to learn how far these electric bikes can go.
How electric bikes differ from regular bikes
When you first look at the electric bike, you may not see how they differ from regular bikes as they look the same. They have the same body geometry, same wheels, and handlebars as regular bikes. Electric bikes just have an added electrical drive system which consists of an electric motor, battery, and a display screen or controller. An electric motor is part of the bike, which delivers extra power to your peddling, making you use less energy in peddling. The motors can be either rear-mounted, front-mounted, or center-mounted.
The other thing that differentiates electric bikes from regular bikes is their weight. Though they are not as heavy as motorcycles, they are heavier than regular bikes with an excess of fifty pounds. This characteristic makes it harder for them to be lifted from one place to another, say down the stairs, to be loaded on the car maneuvering into a bike rack.
Advantages of electric bikes
There is a reason why electric bikes have come to being and why many people are shifting to them, compared to normal bikes. Let’s have a look into some of their advantages.
More affordable
Electric bikes offer a more affordable mode of transport. With electric bikes, you do not have to worry about buying fuel, pay for registration or special license, paying for transport daily, or paying for parking. You just incur a little bit of money when buying it, and all you need is to charge the battery, which does not take too much time or power.
Offers bonding with family and friends
Electric bikes offer time for people to bond. People can ride electric bikes as a recreational activity with their family and friends as they catch up. People can talk and stay in the loop on what happens in their friends and family life since they use less effort with the help of the electric motor, making people sweat less and save their energy as they interact with their loved ones.
Sweat-free commuting
One of the many benefits that come up from electric bikes is the elimination of the sweating part. Many people use bikes as a form of commuting to their various destinations like school and work. One of the drawbacks of regular bikes was arriving at your destination all sweaty and out of breath. Thanks to electric bikes, this is now a problem of the past. Now more people own electric bikes as a mode of transportation.
It is healthier
If you have a knee injury and still want to have that bike ride as you get some fresh air, then an electric bike is the choice for you, that is if the doctor allows it. Electric bikes are also a good way of exercising as you can control the amount of assistance you can get from the motor. It enables you to limit your exercise to whatever level you want and can even decide to turn the bike into a regular bike by not having any motor assistance at all.
Eco-friendly
e-bikes have proven to be more environmentally friendly than other modes of transport such as vehicles. Global warming has become a real issue over the past few years, and every country experiences its effects. E-bike is the way to go as it has no issues, such as air pollution since it doesn’t use petrol.
How far do electric bikes go
When it comes to how far electric bikes can go, there are various factors to consider as each of them will determine how far the bike can go. On average, most electric bikes can go between 25 to 50 miles depending on some underlying factors. You need to look for an e-bike whose battery size and electric motor are a good match to obtain optimal range. When the battery capacity equals the motor capacity, the motor won’t strain the battery; this allows the bike to cover maximum range. How about we see how each factor affects how far the electric bikes can go.
Battery capacity
One of the most factors that affect how far an e-bike can go is the battery life. The more powerful the battery life, the more range the e-bike can cover. The more capacity the battery life, the heavier the e-bike. The type of e-bike will also determine the battery capacity. For example, the general commuting electric bike has a lower battery capacity of about 300Wh, while mountain e-bikes have a larger battery capacity of about 500Wh and above. You can also replace a battery to enhance its range coverage when it starts to wear out. Another amazing way to solve this problem is to always have an extra charged battery with you every time you go for along e-bike ride, as you only need to replace the battery once it is out of charge, instead of having to ride it as a normal bike. The distance covered may be too long to ride it as a normal bike.
Rider weight
I know this might surprise you, but it is true. Weight affects how far e-bikes can go. Factors such as the rider’s weight, bike, and any luggage all fall under this category. Depending on your weight, it will equally impact how far the e-bike can go. The bike itself weighs around 40-60 pounds, and an average person is more than this which will affect how far the e-bike will cover. If you travel lightly, you will be able to cover longer distances with one charge, but if you carry a lot of luggage with you, the distance covered will reduce.
Wind and temperature
Wind capacity and direction have a huge impact on the range covered by e-bike. The battery will drain faster when you ride directly into a strong headwind. You will be able to cover more distance on a light or no wind day. The good thing about e-bikes is that you will never be stranded as you can ride it as a normal bike whenever the battery fails. Temperature also affects the distance covered by electric bikes. Warm temperature does not affect the range covered, while cold temperatures reduce the range covered. You will cover a longer distance on a normal day compared to during the cold season.
Throttle operating system
One of the factors that make e-bikes more fun is the throttle operating system. Throttles are not usual in European countries, but they come in handy for Americans and other country users. But if you consider covering a longer distance, this will greatly affect it as the throttle operating system tends to burn the battery faster than the pedal assistant system. If you tend to cover a longer distance, you should opt for a pedal assistant system rather than a throttle operating system. You can decide to go for both, throttle operating system and pedal assistant system and switch between the two depending on the distance you want to cover.
The type of tires
The type of tire will depend on what the bike is intended for. The best electric bikes for snow and sand tend to have thicker tires which tend to have a greater contact area with the road. It makes them have a shorter range coverage due to having a higher resistance. Commuter bikes have thin tires and hence offer the longest range.
Conclusion
Human life has become easier with the invention of electric bikes. These offer very many advantages, such as affordability, offering a recreational, a healthier way of commuting, and finally is that it’s a friendlier mode of transport than other avenues such as vehicles. Electric bikes generally cover a distance of around 25 to 50 miles but have several factors that affect how far they can cover. Such factors include battery capacity, rider’s weight, weather conditions like wind and temperature, throttle operating system, and the type of tires. It is important to keep in mind the distance you will be covering and where you will be riding your e-bike to help you make the right decision on the type of e-bike to buy. You can always have an extra battery with you when going for longer rides so that you can replace it when it wears out and, in the process, have a seamless adventure without worrying about being stranded. Finding an e-bike whose battery capacity equals motor capacity is another way of increasing the range covered, as you won’t have issues of straining the battery leading to its range reduction.