How Far Can E-Bikes Go
The range of an e-bike basically means how far you can ride on a single charge. There are many aspects that determine how far an e-bike can go. Surprisingly, most of them have more to do with the way you ride than the specs of the e-bike.
How far can an electric bike go? At present, the maximum distance that electric bicycles can travel on a single charge is 350-400 kilometers. This e-bike is usually powered by a 3kW battery. A standard e-bike with a 400-500W battery can travel 100-120 km on a single charge. Simple city e-bikes typically travel 50-60 km on a single charge.
Of course, the better the battery, the wider the e-bike’s range of time on a single charge. At the same time, external factors also have a lot to do with the riding range. After reading this article, you will understand why sometimes your battery drains faster.
If you don’t already have an e-bike, you might want one now. Electric bicycles are one of the fastest and safest modes of transportation available. They also provide you with hours of fun and exercise.
Factors that affect how far an electric bike can go
How far an e-bike can go is a common question for novices and some experienced.
Usually, the box your e-bike originally came from will show you how far you can go on a single charge. It’s not an exact number because it doesn’t take into account how you ride, where you ride, and how much you pedal.
Some of the factors that affect how far an e-bike can go are:
How hard and how fast you pedal;
the level of help you are using (if any);
your weight and whether you have extra baggage;
how many times you stop and start;
If you have to face constant hills or flat terrain;
weather (usually sunny days provide 15% more range than rainy days);
tire pressure (soft tires are always less efficient);
How heavy is the motor and battery of an electric bicycle;
the type of battery you are using
As we mentioned above, many considerations do not depend solely on the characteristics of the e-bike itself. But you should also consider major aspects of the e-bike, such as what it was originally designed for.
Not all e-bikes are designed the same
Not all e-bikes are made for the same purpose. Essentially, they’re supposed to take us from one point to another. How they are assembled tells us more.
For example, e-bikes with fat tires are suitable for terrain with dirt, snow or sand. Thick tires should help you get through mud and other difficult surfaces.
Meanwhile, the thin tires are designed to give you speed and balance in urban scenes. These have the longest range because they are lighter than the other models. This radically reduces the weight an e-bike has to carry.
A regular e-bike can go up to 50km on a weekend city ride, or 80km if you’re on the open road. But if you take it up the mountain, the same e-bike can only go up to 25 kilometers.
Of course, the faster the e-bike goes, the faster the battery drains. Also, the harder the terrain, the faster it will bleed as well.
battery capacity
Typically, the battery capacity of an e-bike is expressed in amp-hours. We really should be looking at watt-hours to understand the range of electric bikes.
Watts are the result of multiplying voltage and capacity. The result is the kilometers per hour that your e-bike can travel on a single charge.
Voltage tells you how much power and amperage (capacity) it has, telling you how far you can ride it. So if we multiply the voltage by the amperage we get watts which basically tells us how many kilometers per hour our e-bike can travel on a single charge.
So if we have a 20Ah and 24V e-bike we have 480 watt hours, but if we have a 6Ah and 24V e-bike we only have 144 watt hours. This means you won’t be able to use your second e-bike for long periods of time regardless of the type of terrain. And the first on regular terrain can be used for much longer without recharging.
How can I use the range of my e-bike?
To get the most out of your e-bike’s natural range, there are a few tips you can follow to improve speed and battery efficiency.
For example, you are already heavy enough to fit an electric bike. So if you have to get around the city and don’t have much time to recharge it between trips, you can avoid carrying heavy luggage. Remember that batteries and motors are also heavy, and while you are the one pedaling with help, our battery is the one that does most of the work.
Second, don’t expect your battery to last all day if you’re using the highest level of assistance all the time. Pedaling certainly helps, but constant use of max assist drains the battery very quickly, and if you have to go up a lot of hills, it will definitely drain completely quickly.
Not using maximum aid is not the point, just t use it when it really is necessary. The rest of the time you can use the minimum.
If you ride an electric bike in a city, you will have to stop and start more than once on every trip because of cars, pedestrians, and traffic lights. This essentially means all the speed you just gained from pedaling or using the assistance will drop to zero and then it will require a new effort to regain it.
Riding conditions matter as well
You will learn many further tips just by riding your e-bike. It’s an experience, not something you learn in the e-bike’s manual, but reading a little about it gives you some light on what you may be doing wrong and how to fix it.
For example, you will notice that some days your battery does not drop to half and other days you will see how fast it will drain with just one ride. Both situations depend on where you are riding the e-bike and the assistance level.
If you have a really heavy e-bike designed for long trips on difficult terrains, but you use it in the city now and then, the range will be extensive.
On the contrary, if you do the opposite with a light e-bike, one charge will unlikely to take you through the day, especially if you have to take hills or rocky terrains.
Which electric bike has the longest range?
Hopefully, we have shed some light on the questions related to how far can an e-bike go. And if you are wondering which electric bike has the longest range, you could check some of these models:
tromer ST5: it can go up to 195 km and you know it all when you notice that it is powered by a 984 watt hour battery.
Delfast: Hold on, it has a huge range of 366 kilometers! And, of course, a 3kWatt-hs
Riese and Muller: More affordable here, it has a range of 130km but is still a pretty decent 1kwatts-hs battery.
Raleigh Mustang Comp: Finally, another powerful car at an amazing price. It has a range of 97 kilometers and a 400-watt battery.
related question
What is the exact range of an electric bike?
There is no exact range for all types of e-bikes, and the e-bike box will show a rough figure. The best mid-range e-bikes will tell you they have an impressive range of 56 miles or 90 kilometers.
But if we consider everything we’ve discussed in this article, plus the difficulty of the terrain, if you have to stop often, whether you use assistive equipment often, and your weight plus any extra weight.
Does this mean I should buy the electric bike with the highest range?
No, it doesn’t. Before getting an e-bike, or before replacing an e-bike you already own, consider the facts we mentioned at the beginning. If you don’t ride a lot, you don’t need a 56-mile e-bike.
Electric bikes with the longest range are usually more expensive, so why pay extra for something you don’t use regularly?
What if I don’t use any level of aid?
Pedaling while using an e-bike just helps it get started and you won’t get as tired as you would with a regular bike. If you choose not to use any assist level, you’re basically riding a normal bike.
Even if it were entirely possible to do so, people wouldn’t buy an e-bike just to use it as a regular bike. They will use at least the first level of help to speed up and reduce physical involvement in the activity.
Are e-bikes legal?
Yes, they are. However, depending on where you ride, you should comply with important legal obligations. For example, in New York, an e-bike cannot be ridden if it reaches 20 miles per hour, as it would be considered a motorcycle.
If you are looking for a new way of commuting or want a healthier lifestyle, we are here to help you. Visit our website to learn more about electric bikes and electric scooter or please leave information to us.