10023EN - What range can I expect from an electric bike? ⛽🔋

How many kilometers can I cover with an electric bike?

It's a question we hear every day in our offices and one that an electric bicycle user takes into account, but it requires a somewhat more complex answer than a simple figure.

The calculation of the range of any vehicle, including electric bikes, follows a very simple formula given by the amount of energy we have, the speed at which we travel, and the energy consumption of the vehicle.

What range can I expect from an electric bicycle?

Let's use one of our bikes as an example.

Suppose we have purchased a Legend Monza with a 36V 10.4Ah battery.

Well, the amount of energy we have is 36V x 10.4Ah = 374.4Wh. If we establish a consumption of 5 Wh per kilometer to maintain a speed of 25 km/h, the equation is simple.

Range = Capacity/Consumption

Range = 374.4/5 = 74.9 km.

However, adapting the model to reality requires taking many factors into account. The difficulty lies in the fact that the consumption of the ebike cannot be precisely predicted.

In the specifications of a battery, a figure within an approximate threshold is usually used, one of the reasons why it is not a round figure is very simple, and that is because we will never pedal on a completely level surface.

When we say that a full charge allows for 70 or 80 km, we mean that this distance will be covered if we move on a surface without slopes, something really complicated in any geographic environment. So if we constantly pedal uphill at a 10º slope, our battery will probably cover a much shorter distance with a full charge.

Similarly, if we go downhill without stopping to pedal, our battery will last much longer than specified.

The level of assistance is another decisive factor. Usually, there are five levels of assistance from lower to higher pedaling assistance, so if we move at a low-medium level, we can extend the battery charge to really long distances. The maximum level generates the maximum power, and this obviously results in an extra consumption of the battery charge. Similarly, it also influences what we like to call the "level of cyclist assistance to the bike," that is, when talking about an assisted pedaling bike, there are two driving forces: the electric motor and the human motor. These two forces work independently in a system with a cadence sensor, so we can say that the less effort the cyclist makes while pedaling, the lower the range will be.

Another factor to consider is the weight that the motor will move. Once again, estimates are based on the considered "usual" standards that are the weight of the electric bicycle plus the weight of the cyclist. These values are in weights of 20 kilograms for the electric bicycle and 70/80 kilograms for the individual.

Additionally, if the journeys we make with the bike have many stops, such as traffic lights, the range will be affected because there is a very high consumption during acceleration from a standstill to a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

This is why when we purchase a battery for an electric bicycle, we cannot know exactly how many kilometers per charge it will cover, but we can estimate a figure taking into account all the factors mentioned above.

Homologation R200 - DIN/TS 31064

You can find more information about the R200 homologation standard at the following link: Homologation R200: What is it?