Electric Bicycle Batteries Explained
One of the benefits of an electric bicycle is that it can ride for a range of 32-160 km, depending on factors like power mode, weather, or terrain.
But one of the most important factors is the rechargeable battery.
A high-quality battery is often the most costly part of your electric bike— and the value per price can range significantly,
so picking the right one for your riding habits and an e-bike is important.
Finding the Right Battery
Since batteries can be an expensive purchase, it’s great to understand the basics of battery packs before you buy them.
This is only a concern if you are purchasing a new or additional battery,
as most e-bike companies like RIDEL already come equipped with high-quality batteries that ensure a smooth and seamless ride over the long-term.
To understand how e-bike batteries work, you’ll want to understand the 3 key components— voltage, amps, and watts:
Electric Bicycle Voltage
The voltage explains the flow of energy that propels electricity to the motor — these days, with technological innovations, electric bikes run at either 36V or 48V.
Voltage is directly correlated to your bike’s power, so the higher the voltage the faster you’ll be able to ride.
Electric Bicycle Amps
Amps refer to the electric current that flows from the battery and directly impacts the length of time and distance you can travel on your electric bike.
For people who plan to use their electric bikes for far ranges or outdoor adventures, it’s best to have higher amp-hours.
Electric Bicycle Watts
Watts refers to the combination of voltage and amps.
A battery’s capacity is measured according to watts-hours (Wh), or the Amp-hours multiplied by the voltage.
Weight and size: An electric bike is significantly heavier than a typical road bike,
mostly due to the motor and battery weight.
While electric bikes have seen a great deal of improvement in terms of technological development and innovation, a battery still takes up 30% of the overall weight.
This can impact your overall riding experience, especially if you carry additional cargo on your daily commute.
The good news is learning to ride an electric bike is like learning to ride a conventional bike,
after a few test rides, your muscle memory will kick in.
For more information on maintaining and protecting the battery of an electric bike, read here.
FAQ
Since batteries can be an expensive purchase, it’s great to understand the basics of battery packs before you buy
Voltage is directly correlated to your bike’s power, so the higher the voltage the faster you’ll be able to ride.
Amps refer to the electric current that flow from the battery, and directly impacts the length of time and distance you can travel on your electric bike
Watts refer to the combination of voltage and amps. A battery’s capacity is measured according to watts-hours (Wh), or the Amp-hours multiplied by the voltage.
An electric bike is significantly heavier than a typical road bike, mostly due to the motor and battery weight. While electric bikes have seen a great deal of improvement in terms of technological development and innovation, a battery still takes up 30% of the overall weight