Electric bicycles have redefined commuting, exploring, exercising, and running errands. These machines are a substantial investment, and choosing the right one is the difference between making a best friend that goes everywhere with you or having a hunk of metal collecting dust in your garage.
Buying an ebike can be an intimidating proposition. Especially if you are not technically inclined. How many watts does my motor need to deliver? What’s the difference between a 36 volt battery and a 48 volt battery and what is an amp hour? If you’re not familiar with how ebikes work then you’re going to have a hard time deciding which bike is right for you.
Fortunately, our team has test-ridden hundreds of electric bicycles and can help you pick the best one to meet your needs. Keep reading to learn how to choose an ebike that will carry you further and faster!
Riding Goals & How To Choose an Ebike
Before nerding out on specs and features, take a moment to think about how you plan to use your electric bike. Are you commuting to work? Hitting the trails? Replacing your car for errands?
When learning how to choose an ebike, start by defining your riding goals- they’ll help narrow down the best options for your needs. Imagine how you will use your ebike:
- What distance will you travel?
- How long do you have to charge your battery?
- What terrain will you cover?
- How much cargo will you carry?
- Where will you store your ebike?
In most cases, there is a perfect ebike for how you want to ride. A mountain ebike with wide tires for off-roading, a commuter with skinny tires for weaving through traffic, and comfy cruisers for Sunday rides in the park.
Ebike Motor Options
To ride faster and tackle hills with ease, choose an ebike equipped with a motor that supports your needs—whether you prefer pedal assist, throttle-only mode, or both. You’ll also want to consider motor power (typically measured in watts), its placement on the bike (hub-drive vs. mid-drive), and the type of pedal assist system to match your desired performance and riding style.
Ebikes in the USA come in three classes:
- Class 1 offers pedal assist, boosting speeds up to 20 mph and taking some of the burn out of hills.
- Class 2 allows pedal assist or throttle-only riding, pushing you up to 20 mph without having to pedal.
- Class 3 ebikes reach top speeds of 28 mph with pedal assist and throttle only speeds of up to 20 mph.
Ebike Motor Sizes
Shopping around you’ll see electric bicycle motor specifications for watts (W), or torque(NM), with bigger numbers indicating faster speeds and acceleration. One thing to note, a more powerful motor comes with greater electricity needs, reducing the ebike’s range.
Some of the most common motor sizes include:
- 250W motors perform best as pedal assist on flat terrain, giving some help on hills and not much kick on acceleration.
- 500W motors offer a sweet spot of good hill climbing, acceleration, and cargo towing without eating through your battery.
- Motors of 750W or greater give you the best performance for mountain biking or hauling cargo, but you may need to increase your battery size to achieve an acceptable range.
Ebike Motor Location
Overall, you’ll have two choices for where your ebike motor sits, mid-drive, which is between the pedals and the chain, or hub-drive, which is in the center of the front or rear wheel. These two positions come with advantages and disadvantages.
Mid-drive motors provide more efficient power delivery and natural bike riding experience because they sync with the bikes gear system. For these reasons, they’re found in higher-end ebikes and cost more.
Hub-drive motors offer affordability and easier maintenance. But, being less efficient, you may need to spend more on a higher powered motor or bigger battery to get the same performance as a mid-drive motor.
Ebike Batteries
Like a fuel tank in a car, your ebike battery determines how far you can go before recharging. Most ebikes use lithium-ion batteries, and their capacity is measured in watt-hours (Wh) or amp-hours (Ah), with higher numbers indicating more energy storage and longer ranges.
A bigger battery provides longer range, but adds weight, hampering unpowered pedaling. Also, batteries are expensive, meaning if you want a larger battery, you’ll pay more for it. Overall, you want the biggest battery you can afford and fit on your ebike unless you plan mostly unassisted riding.
Battery Range
Ebike manufacturers advertise a distance range for their batteries. Usually, you’ll see something like “30-50 miles” or “up to 50 miles” because there are many variables affecting how long a battery will last, such as rider weight, road conditions, wind direction, elevation change, and riding style.
Manufacturers base their ranges on ideal conditions, and your real-world range is likely to be at the lower end. Therefore, pick an ebike with a minimum range that meets your riding distance goals.
Battery Charging Time
Ebike batteries typically require three to five hours to fully charge. Make sure you’ll have enough time to charge your battery between rides.
Battery Mounting
A removable battery lets you store or charge it away from the ebike frame. Also, replacing the battery could be as simple as buying a new one and mounting it.
On the other hand, non-removable batteries have a more sleek look and weigh less. But, replacing the battery could require professional help.
Also, choosing between an externally mounted battery and an internally mounted battery has a huge impact on your ebikes style:
- External batteries mount on the outside of the frame. They’re easy to remove and access but can look bulky and give you away as an ebike rider.
- Internal batteries hide inside the frame, often in the down tube, giving the bike a cleaner look that could make it difficult to distinguish from a regular bicycle. Internal batteries can be removable or non-removable.
Ebike Controller
Ebikes have little tiny computers that display info on a small screen between the handlebars. These ebike controllers tell you basic info like battery life, pedal assist level (which determines how much power is being delivered by the motor) and speed. More advanced controllers can tell you much more, including tracking your rides, fitness goals, and can even tell you how much CO2 is being offset by riding your bike instead of driving a car. Some even connect with your smartphone.
Ebike Storage & Transportation
The motor and battery of an ebike add weight and bulk. Ensure you have enough storage space and you can carry the bike if needed.
For example, if you need to carry your ebike upstairs, be ready for some heavy lifting. Or, ensure you can store your bike on ground level.
Folding ebikes can be more compact for transportation and storage. Also, if you plan to use a bike rack, check that it will carry the weight of your ebike.
What’s the Best Way to Pick an Electric Bike? Test Ride Some Ebikes!
Now that you possess the essential knowledge of how to pick an electric bike, it’s time to hit the pavement and meet your local dealers. Even if you plan to buy an ebike online, it’s a good idea to head to a bike shop so you can try one for yourself.
Test riding ebikes in person lets you feel the difference in motors, get a better idea of your riding style will help you decide how big a battery you realistically need. You can also determine the best fitting frame to ensure you’ll ride comfortably for years!