Bike riding is fun, but it’s also a great way to exercise. While we love getting a workout in while we hit the trails, sometimes we want to keep riding longer than our bodies will let us. Thankfully, there’s a way to extend your bike rides without worrying about exhaustion.
With an electric bike, you can keep riding for as long as you’d like. Today, we’re exploring how far you can travel with an electric bike and other important e-bike facts.
How Does an Electric Bike Work?
Before we can explain how far electric bikes go, it’s important to understand what an electric bike is.
An electric bike is a regular bike with technology that allows the motor and wheels to assist you with pedaling.
If you want to think of bikes on a scale from manual power to motor power, it would look like this:
- Regular bicycle
- Electric bicycle
- Motorcycle
Electric bikes are a happy in-between; they’re not as expensive or fast as a motorcycle, but they provide more support than traditional bicycles when desired.
Which Parts Make a Bike Electric?
For all the complicated machinery that goes into making an electric bike, e-bikes are actually very similar to standard bikes.
All bikes are similar in shape, function, and some basic parts. Technology is where they differ.
Electric bikes have a motor, battery, throttle/pedal-assist system, controllers, sensors, and a few other little details that aren’t shared with traditional bicycles. Without these parts, you’d be left with a standard bike.
The Motor
Without a motor, electric bikes simply wouldn’t be electric bikes. The motor powers the throttle or pedal assist system (PAS) — more on these below — making your ride easier.
You should be on the lookout for two key terms when shopping for an electric bike: Volts (V) and amp hours (Ah). Volts indicate how much power your motor has, such as its top speed and acceleration. Amp hours controls how far your motor can take you — meaning it’s essential to today’s discussion.
Additionally, there are a variety of motors available for electric bikes. Before making a decision, It’s important to consider how often you’ll be using your e-bike, where you’ll be riding, and how much assistance you want.
You can read more about the different types of motors available to you here.
The Battery
Like any battery, your e-bike’s battery provides its power source. Without it, your motor wouldn’t be able to turn on. Meanwhile, without your motor, your battery wouldn’t have anything to power up.
E-bike batteries are removable and need to be charged before your rides. They’re easy to pop in and out as needed, making charges easy and convenient. Still, we recommend having a backup battery pack handy on your rides, just in case.
PAS and Throttle
When you’re buying an electric bike, you’re often presented with a choice: a PAS or throttle control.
A PAS uses sensors that are connected to the motor to dictate how much the motor helps you out while you pedal. If you slow down, the PAS will pick up the pace. These systems are typically fully adjustable, so you don’t have to worry about going too fast or slow.
The throttle is exactly like a typical engine throttle. If you push the throttle forward, you accelerate. If you push it back, you slow down. The throttle is also directly connected to the motor and relays information.
All Velotric bikes come equipped with a PAS and throttle, so you can reap the benefits of both systems.
The Controller
The controller of an e-bike acts as a regulator for the number of volts used during a ride.
Most Velotric bikes, such as the Velotric Nomad 1, use a 48V battery. The controller helps relay the message of the throttle level to the motor. If you’re barely touching the throttle and cruising under 5MPH, you’re probably getting around five to 10 volts while the controller keeps the rest in check.
The Sensors
The sensors include the aforementioned PAS and the torque sensor. The torque sensor can’t be regulated or controlled by the rider. It lets the motor know that you’re pedaling and how fast you’re going.
The PAS is one of the most essential features of an electric bike, as it powers the pedaling assistance.
How Far Can an Electric Bike Go?
How far your electric bike can go is affected by many factors. If you buy a Velotric bike, our batteries typically have a range of 50 to 60 miles fully charged. However, size, motor, weight, battery range, battery packs, and more all play a role in the overall distance your electric bike can cover.
Make and Model
There is a variety of different bike and e-bike models available, which can have an effect on the distance you are able to travel.
There are e-bikes designed for leisure, commuting, exercise, smart tech, and more. Heavier models typically have less range due to their weight and tire size. Commuter bikes are on the opposite end of the spectrum, as they are usually light, durable, and built to take you as far as possible.
It’s essential to consider your needs before you decide on a model. Everything affects the range and speed, so be sure you know exactly what you’re looking for before you buy.
Motor Power/Torque
If your motor power or torque is sub-par, it can greatly affect your range. Your bike can’t go far if you don’t have the juice to power through, and your motor and torque are exactly what it needs to help push you over the finish line.
Battery
If you have a weak battery, you won’t make it far on your bike. However, with a strong battery like Velotrics’, you can ride from 50 to 60 miles before needing a recharge. If you want to ride even longer, an extra battery pack can extend your trip another 50 to 60 miles.
Where Will I Need To Ride My E-Bike?
Now that we’ve explained how far your electric bike can go, you might be wondering why you’d need to ride for 120 miles in the first place. Here are a few of the most common e-bike routes.
Commuting
If you’re tired of traffic, car maintenance, and all the other headaches that come with driving to work, it might be time to consider becoming a bike commuter. Commuting to work or school has plenty of benefits, including environmental impact and unclogging our busy streets.
Exploration
120 miles is a lot of exploring. Fortunately, there’s a lot of world to see, and now you have an excellent tool to go and see it. Mountain ranges, forests, dirt roads, urban riding — you name it. With an electric bike, the world is yours to travel.
Workouts
With a PAS and throttle to support you once you start to get tired, your workout can last as long as you’d like on an e-bike. You no longer have to stop because you’re tired and call it an early day — just cruise along!
See the Velotric Difference
Velotric provides high-quality e-bikes that can get you where you’re going.
Equipped with a PAS and throttle control, a high-powered motor, and a strong battery, we’re here to make your life easier and help you explore as much as possible. Enjoy the ride!
Sources:
Exploring the Adoption of E-Bikes by Different User Groups | Frontiers
How Far Can an Electric Bike Go on One Charge? | Scholarlyoa
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