

Riding on bumpy, technical, and soft-surface terrain uses more energy than doing so on smooth, consistent, and hard-surface terrain. For example, an electric road bike with an endurance riding position and fast-rolling 700c x 32mm tires can achieve high max ranges (over 60 miles) with low Watt-hour batteries.Ĭonversely, a heavy fat-tire e-bike with an upright riding position and slow 26″ x 4″ tires typically have much higher Wh batteries yet lower max ranges (40 miles). Good aerodynamics and low rolling resistance can significantly improve battery range. A higher voltage (e.g., 48V eBike battery) requires fewer Amp-hours to achieve the same total Watt-hour output, as illustrated in the table above.
SHORT IN AUTO BATTERY BUMPY ROAD FULL
The higher the Watt rating of a motor, the more battery voltage is required to reach full power. Motor PowerĪ high-power electric bicycle motor allows higher max speeds but dramatically increases the rate of energy consumption. Swap that battery for a 320Wh bicycle battery, and the range increases to 25 miles, and so on. Battery Capacity (Wh)Ī higher Watt-hour rating always equals more range as long as the other factors stay the same.įor example, an e-bike has a 250Wh battery with a max range of 20 miles. Therefore, a lighter rider and bike need less energy to move at a given speed, using less power and extending the range.

There is a direct relationship between weight and the power required to move that weight lower weight requires less energy to move. The higher the bike and rider weight, the lower the range you can get per charge. As mentioned above, a small capacity battery can achieve longer ranges than a large capacity battery if the conditions are favorable. Several factors impact the range of an electric bike battery. Batteries can have different combinations of Volts and Amp-hours, but they can equal similar a Watt-hour rating.įor example, a 36V 16Ah battery has the same capacity as a 48V 12Ah battery (576 Wh), even though someone might think one stores more power than the other. Watt-hour (Wh) is the best measurement to use for comparing batteries. Find the Watt-hours by multiplying Amp-hour with voltage, as seen below. The best eBike battery will undoubtedly have a high Wh rating. Watt-HoursĪgain, Watt-hours stand for the total power stored in a battery, factoring voltage and energy capacity. The batteries on modern e-bikes typically have up to around 20 Ah, but 10-14 Ah is the most common number. The other important measurement is the Amp-hour rating, indicating the battery’s total capacity and thus affecting the max range. Most e-bike manufacturers use a 36V, 48V, or 52V eBike battery. The more volts a battery has, the more power it provides to the motor. Volts measure the force of the electric flow from the battery to the motor. E-Bike Battery Capacity: Understanding Volts, Watt-Hours, & Amp-Hours Volts Li-ion batteries hold far more power, last longer, charge faster, and require minor care to prolong their lifespan. Lithium is less abundant and harder to process and refine, making these batteries significantly more expensive. Li-ion – Almost all bike manufacturers nowadays use lithium eBike battery technology. In addition, they are much heavier than Li-ion and require intensive care to extend their lifespan. However, they rapidly deteriorate, meaning they have short lifespans. These are inexpensive to produce because lead is a very abundant metal. Lead-acid – This technology used to be found in cheap electric bikes in the past, but now you rarely come across it in the e-bike world. The most common battery technologies on the market are lithium-ion (Li-ion) and lead-acid batteries. Higher torque leads to more noticeable acceleration and efficiency on steep hills.Īverage range: 40-100Nm Popular Types of E-Bike Batteries Ebike battery energy capacity or total power stored (Wh = V x Ah). Determines the force of the electric flow from the battery to the motor: more volts = more power for longer. A measure of the capacity of a battery: More Ah = better range. E-Bike Battery and Motor TerminologyĪh = Amp hour. We also recommend reading our detailed guide to what an e-bike is and how it works for a complete understanding of the topic. We believe current and aspiring e-bike owners should understand the different e-bike batteries on the market and the associated terminology.īy understanding the different terminology, capacities, mounting options, and factors affecting range, you can maximize your battery’s lifespan and range and make an informed decision the next time you buy an eBike. It provides power to the motor, determines range, and impacts handling, weight, and frame design. By James Heath / Last updated - Septem/ Blog, Electric Bikes, GuideĪn electric bicycle battery is one of the most influential components of an e-bike.
