When you hear the term “e-bike” you’re probably picturing something along the lines of a scooter, but in reality e-bikes look pretty similar to a regular bicycle with just a few differences.
e-bikes allow you to pedal as you normally would on a bicycle or you can use the built-in motor to power your ride.
There are 3 main components which make up an e-bike:
The electric motor: e-bikes usually have one of three types of electric motors – a front hub, rear hub or a mid-drive motor.
The battery: depending on the make of e-bike and the battery size, you should be able to get between 30 – 90km on a single charge. This can also vary depending on whether you primarily use the motor or a combination of the motor and regular pedaling.
The drivetrain: this provides the power and the torque that you’ll need to manually turn the wheels of the bike.
Charging your e-bike is as simple as plugging it into a wall socket much like you’d charge your phone or plug in a lamp. Depending on the quality of battery your e-bike has, charging time can take anywhere between 2 – 8 hours.
Selecting the right e-bike can seem a bit daunting but it’s fairly similar to choosing a regular bike with just one or two differences.
Comfort and quality are important, as is choosing the right type of motor and battery.
Most companies recommend either a mid-drive or a hub motor. You also need to choose the best size battery for your needs, most batteries are classified by their amp hours and voltage rating which is denoted as 2 sets of numbers – the first number shows the voltage rating and usually appears like this: 36V with the second number denoting the amp hours, it usually appears like this: 15AH
The higher the numbers, the more power the e-bike has which means that it will be able to carry a heavier load.
Maintaining your e-bike is fairly straight forward. Other than keeping your battery charged, you’ll need a basic tune-up after having cycled a certain number of KMs. Check with the store / site or manufacturer where you purchased your e-bike. You also need to ensure that you check your tire pressure regularly, and keep your tires inflated as indicated on the tire itself.
You might need minor adjustments from time to time, so it’s suggested that you take your e-bike for a check-up at least once or twice a year to the store where you purchased your e-bike.
