So you’ve just bought yourself a new electric bike, and now it’s time to find out how far you can go on one of these bad boys.
That sounds exciting, but what’s the fun in just going down the road and back again? You must take this thing off the beaten track and into uncharted territory.
Electric bikes are great for exploring new roads, commuting daily, or enjoying a leisurely weekend ride through the countryside.
So, let’s see how far you can go before your bike runs out of juice.
Charging Your Electric Bike Battery: The Easy Way Or The Hard Way?
One of the most important things to consider when riding an electric bike is how far you can go on a full charge.
This will depend on three main factors:
- Type of terrain – the terrain you are riding over, for example, smooth or rough, flat or steep.
- The effort you put into the ride – the harder you push, the more energy is used.
- Battery size and quality—Generally speaking, heavier bikes often have larger batteries, which provide greater range.
Now that we know how important these three factors are in determining your bike’s range let’s examine each one.
1. Terrain
Your electric bike should be able to handle different types of terrain easily due to its motorized assistance.
Still, sometimes, you just cannot get across certain terrain without making some real effort.
So, if you’re riding on flat terrain, you’ll be able to cover a lot of ground before recharging.
If you struggle uphill every day to get to work, you will likely get nowhere near as far before needing a charge.
2. Effort
Let’s face it: electric bikes are pretty cool, but sometimes they feel like clunky old pushbikes with all the effort still being put in by your poor legs.
This is where the fun starts, though, because if you want to cover more ground faster, simply pressing down harder on the pedals will do this.
However, as soon as you stop pedaling, the power from your battery kicks in and helps you along, so even riding downhill can recharge your battery.
3. Battery Size and Quality
The range of an electric bike is directly linked to its battery size, which should tell you everything you need to know about its range.
Generally speaking, the more expensive electric bikes have larger and better-quality batteries that allow for a greater range before recharging.
If you’re looking for a long-distance ride, it’s worth investing in a good-quality battery.
Electric Bike Range – How Far Can You Go?
Now that we know all the things that affect how far your electric bike can let’s examine some real-life examples.
Smooth Terrain
If you’re riding around your neighborhood or on a smooth path, you can expect to get up to 40 miles on a single charge.
Rough Terrain
If you’re cycling over rougher terrain, perhaps on a beach where the sand gets harder further down the coast, for example, then you can expect to get around 20 miles on a single charge.
Uphill Terrain
If you cycle uphill every day before work, you should plan for an average range of about 15 miles per charge.
