How Does An Electric Bike Work?

MyProScooter features a great range of electric bikes. Electric bikes are becoming ever more popular. They are fast, handy and safe and easy as affordable as top range pedal bikes. They are even being developed to be as economical and environmentally friendly as well.

There are different types of electric bikes out there some that are made for commuting and some that are designed specifically for more extreme hobbies such as mountain biking in rough terrain! The question is, what makes them different from the average pedal bike and how exactly do they work?

How they Work

Of course, all electric bikes are different, and there will be variation from bike to bike. However, the basic principles of their core functions remain the same throughout. They all have the same key components, yet, those components vary from model to model.

Key Components

Battery – The battery is the part that needs the most maintenance, however, it is also the bit that keeps the bike going. Without the battery, the motor wouldn’t work. The battery dictates the range that the electric bike can travel, and each electric bike comes with a different sized battery of course.

The most popular watt for an electric bike battery is within the 30-40V range and mostly always is of a lithium-ion variety. This means that the average range of an electric bike is around 20KM, which is excellent. You don’t want anything much bigger as it would weigh the bike down; the bike still needs to be lightweight enough to cycle without causing you strain and injury.

Ideally, the battery should be detachable for ease of charging. Not all electric bikes offer this function. An average sized battery should take around four hours to be fully charged, and it is worth fully charging the battery after each use.

Motor –The motor of the bike is also an important feature. They are electric, of course, to match the bike and it tends to dictate the speed that the bike can travel at. An average sized motor is around 40W, and from that sized motor, the average top speed that you are able to travel is around 25KM. However, it is worth checking out the road law around you so that you don’t get into any bother and lose your riding privileges.

Brakes – Brakes are important on any mode of transport. That goes without saying. However, with an electric bike, they become that little bit more at the forefront of your considerations. You need something safe, something that will enable you to stop immediately if necessary and something that is not going to skid you out of existence.

Most electric bikes are built with front and rear disc brakes as standard, especially on the more substantial models. However, this is not always the case and should be researched thoroughly with regards to how and when you want to use your electric bike and what level of braking you are going to require.

Bike Frame – A large number of electric bike models are built with foldable frames. This means that they are easily storable, but it doesn’t make them sound overly sturdy. However, they are sturdy and strong and massively durable. The most popular material for creating electric bikes is aluminum or alloy steel.

The frame needs to be strong enough to hold your weight, and the average capacity of the average electric bicycle is around 240 lbs. So, they are quite strong, but it’s not just your weight that the frame supports, it is the weight of the battery, the motor and the heavier wheels which are there to accommodate the faster turning from the electric motor.

If the frame is heavier, then a natural consequence of this is that you won’t be able to travel as far on one battery charge. So, as there are so many options out there, it may be worth doing that bit of extra research and finding a more lightweight frame so you can go that little bit extra when traveling around.

Extra Quirks and Features

Some electric bikes are built with additional features that are less common across the majority of models.

Some of these features include:

Cruise Control – Cruise control is more popular in cars and commercial vehicles. It is a piece of technology usually powered by a button, that you can press in order to set the speed of the bike and not have to adjust the gears or your pedaling. It is a clever little trick and makes riding around a bit more enjoyable.

LED Headlamp – Having an LED headlamp, of course, means that you can ride around in the dark and the daytime. This is an excellent feature for commuters who may be finishing and/or starting work before and after it gets light outside.

If you liked the article, please leave your feedback.