The range of an electric bike is how far you can ride it on a single charge. A common problem is determining how to estimate the range of an electric bike. The advertisement states that all electric bikes have a certain range. However, these stated ranges are often inaccurate. In fact, sometimes they are outright exaggerated and can even be four times larger than reality. Here's a guide to help you determine the true range of an electric bike.

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Factors to Consider that Impact E-Bike Range

If you think about it, it is impossible for electric bike range claims to be totally accurate. There are too many factors that make the range different from person to person. These factors include:

  • How much the rider weighs (if you weigh 100 pounds, your riding range will be wider than if you weigh 400 pounds);
  • What level of assistance does the rider choose;
  • the terrain they're driving through (the French Alps have a shorter range than the Sahara Desert);
  • the amount of luggage they carry;
  • how fast they move (1/3 speed = 1/2 range);
  • how hard they pedal;
  • how many times they stop and start (especially on hills, it drains power);
  • wind conditions;
  • Temperature (on a warm sunny day, the battery range will be approximately 15% greater than in winter);
  • tire pressure (as with regular bikes, soft tires = less efficient = less powerful ride);
  • what type of batteries do they use;
  • How old is the battery (batteries lose charge over time);
  • Bike motor size (big motors are good, but obviously they use more battery power);
  • How fast they go.

For example, if you decide not to seek any assistance at all because you are on flat ground and feeling strong, your e-bike mileage is the maximum distance you can ride before you crash.   For some it may be 200 miles, for others it may be 20 miles. On the other hand, if you constantly use the highest level of assistance and are in a very hilly area, you can drain the battery very quickly.

soodoo is the world's highest quality e-bike battery

And if for example you have a lithium battery, you’re going to keep going a lot longer than if you have a nickel-cadmium battery, as lithium batteries have a higher energy density. 

Bear in mind that your battery size and your electric bike motor have to be well matched in order to get optimal range. As a general rule of thumb, look for a setup in which the battery capacity in watt hrs is equal to the motor capacity in watts. This kind of setup will have the greatest range because the motor will not over-tax the battery. You should be able to get at least one hour at maximum assist with this kind of setup.

For example, the top model BionX PL 350 HT DT L had a battery with a capacity of 355 Wh (36 V/9.6 Ah). Thus, engine power and battery watt-hour capacity were almost identical, and the battery was advertised as having an impressive range of 56 miles (90 km). However, the reality is that you won't be able to travel 56 miles in an hour on most electric bikes (unless you're descending Mount Everest).

Keep in mind that many e-bike motors are limited to 20 mph (32 km/h), so 56 miles in about 3 hours, and you definitely can't use full power all the time - that's a lot of time.  There’s also a lot of pedaling going on!

Battery Capacity is the Most Important Factor

Related Post: How to Determine the Range of an Electric Bicycle

Most people want the most powerful bike engine they can afford.   But in reality, engine power only affects how quickly you can get going and how well you can climb uphill.   This doesn't necessarily affect how far you can go.   When it comes to the range of an e-bike, the most important variable is the battery capacity.

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The size of the battery is directly analogous to the size of a car’s gas tank.

Battery capacity is usually measured in Watt-hrs. Watt-hrs = amp-hrs x volts (that is, power is equivalent to how long the current will be applied to the battery’s potential, multiplied by the amount of potential power the battery has).

 Watt Hrs vs. Amp Hrs

Note. When looking at e-bike advertisements, you may find that some batteries' capacity is simply expressed in amp-hours.   This is not sufficient because it does not take into account voltage and does not reflect true energy intensity.   So, if a bicycle ad uses a 36-volt battery with a capacity of 9 amp-hours, the true capacity of the battery is 9 x 36, or 324 watt-hours (written as 324 Wh).

Watt hrs are important, because watt hrs determine the range of your bike, that is, how far you can go.

For example:

  1. Bike A has a 24 Volts and 20 AH battery = 480 watt hours.
  2. Bike B has a 48 Volts and 10 AH battery = 480 watt hours.
  3. Bike C has a 24 Volts and 6 AH battery = 144 watt hours.

Bicycles A and B have the same energy. If motorcycles A and B have the same engine and the same driver, they will perform very similarly. A bike with a higher voltage battery will accelerate faster and climb hills better, but it will cost some energy. On the other hand, the C bike won't take you that far.

Keeping the above in mind will help you evaluate the advertisements and claims made by battery manufacturers. Generally speaking, you will need a battery with a capacity of at least 200 Wh.

Do Your Due Diligence

As a starting point, it is safe to assume that the range is lower than what the manufacturer claims. The advertised range is based on laboratory conditions, you will not travel to a laboratory. Manufacturers have greater freedom to create any range they choose, as there is no international standard for calculating e-bike range such as the one used in the United States to calculate EPA vehicle range ratings. environment).

Even the cars' actual mileage doesn't match EPA ratings, although they are tightly controlled. That's because in the real world there are so many variables in how people drive real cars that it's absurd to think we can achieve a completely accurate estimate of expected mpg.

There are no standards governing manufacturers when it comes to e-bikes, so it's still the wild west when it comes to range.

So all you can do is learn as much as you can. If you're buying an ebike from a reputable and knowledgeable dealer (and you really should be), ask the dealer how range is calculated and under what conditions (e.g. what level of assistance is used and what level of assistance). The driver pedals). You can also ask the dealer if he has tested the bike personally and if he was able to achieve the stated range.

Crank Drive Motors vs. Hub Drive Motors

Also consider range issues related to the type of motor you purchase.  For example, there's a good argument that crank-driven motors have better range than hub-driven motors because they work in conjunction with the gears.

How Weight Impacts Electric Bike Range

You should also consider your weight.   Are you very heavy or very light?   The bike may weigh between 40 and 60 pounds, but you will likely weigh much more.   Thus, your body weight is the most important weight variable.   If you are very light or very heavy, it will affect your shooting range.

If you are heavier, your battery has to put out more power to help your bike move

Interestingly, bike manufacturers are trying to reduce the weight of their bikes by a pound or two, and the fact that most people can handle a weight loss of 5 to 50 pounds can have a significant impact on range. On the other hand, losing a pound or two from the bike won't have a noticeable impact on range.

If you plan to carry heavy luggage, or tow children with a trailer, your needs will of course be greater.

You will need even more range on your electric bike if you are transporting two children!

Terrain Also Impacts Range

Will your bike commute include major hills? If so, you will use up a lot of battery power quite quickly, so you need to be looking for a bike that claims to have a very long range.

If you are in very hilly terrain, you can eat through your battery charge pretty fast

The Battery is the  Most Important Consideration for Electric Bike Range

Remember, battery capacity is the most important variable that affects range: If range is important to you, spend as much money as possible on a good battery with as many watt hours as possible. soodoo produces some of the best batteries in the world, as shown below.  Click here to see the current price of this soodoo battery.

Take the time to ask if there is an option to get that same bike with a higher capacity battery. It may very well be worth the extra cost (and the extra time while the dealer puts it together for you).

The bottom line is that the range claimed is very much a paper claim. This is not to say that it is certain to be wildly inaccurate, but just to say that you should not take the range on blind faith.