Kicking the Tires of an E-Bike? Why Motors, Battery, and Service Matters

 

    If you want to upgrade to an electric bike, you might be like thousands of other new riders trying to find the best electric bike for you and your expected price point. Although there is a lot of information, we think one of the best ways to start searching is to check the motor and battery. These two components will affect the performance, price and weight of the electric bicycle, so finding the drive unit and battery that suits your riding needs and budget is the best place to start.

   We are here to help you move heavy objects. Start with the electric bike quiz below, find out which type of riding is best for you, and continue reading because we have broken down the key considerations for all important parts of an electric bike.

   When you finish reading this guide, you will know what to look for next time you go to a store or shop online.

Engine

  All electric bicycle motors start with the same basic function: converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. A brushless DC (BLDC) motor has a rotor inside, and a permanent magnet on the rotor rotates in a circle of electromagnets called a stator. The Hall-effect sensor turns the electromagnet of the stator on and off in the order of the rotating rotor, generating torque and making your electric bicycle drive.

  All electric bicycle drive units use this design, but there are three main motor designs that use the power of BLDC to achieve different results.

    The middle drive motor places the motor between the cranks, which is the position of the bottom bracket. These motors use internal gears to reduce speed and produce high torque in a small package. Combined with the bicycle’s gear transmission system, this means that performance lines like the CX Bosch can climb mountain after mountain without overheating.

   High torque, high efficiency, and concentrated weight distribution make mid-drive motors popular on electric mountain bikes, electric cargo bikes, and higher-quality hybrid bicycles. However, due to the lower manufacturing cost of in-wheel motors, the price of mid-drive electric bicycles is often higher than that of similar in-wheel-drive models. However, if you are looking for something that can efficiently climb hills, cross-country, or simply provide the smoothest, natural riding, then choose a mid-mounted electric bike.

    Hub motors are just as they sound: in the front or rear hub of a bicycle. They have two basic variants, direct drive and gear drive. The typical diameter is 3 to 6 inches, with spokes on the outside of the hub and electromagnets on the inside. When you apply power, the electromagnet rotates the hub, turning the wheel. The direct drive hub motor has only one moving part, so it is low-cost and reliable to manufacture-as long as it does not pass through many hills.

   Dragging you and your electric car over steep hills is not a direct drive motor, however, do your best. Without gear reduction, motors require a lot of current to accelerate, causing them to heat up and burn out the battery faster. However, they are very suitable for high-speed cruising, because the faster you go, the more efficient they are. They are also the only motor that can perform regenerative braking that you can buy on a complete electric bicycle. Only a small amount is needed when you squeeze the brake lever, by reversing the polarity of the motor, the battery The battery is restored.

   Geared hub motors have internal gear reduction and potentially higher torque compared to direct drive hubs. They are popular among affordable electric bicycles. When a medium drive torque level is not required, some electric road bikes will choose a compact gear hub motor.
    However, mid-drives still dominate the high-performance market, as geared hub motors struggle in key areas such as heat dissipation and toughness. They are suitable for road riding and light off-road riding, but users report that after off-road riding, the internal gear fails, which may be the reason why you can’t see them on the electric mountain bike.

   Battery

  Your wallet will feel the battery of an electric bike more than any component, so you will want to know how you spend your cash. Most electric bicycles use lithium-ion batteries, which can be found in cordless drills and blade hair dryers. They are favored for their high energy density and durability. You can also choose Hotebike A6AH26, this one can meet all your requirements

   Battery capacity is measured in watt-hours (Wh), which is a unit of energy. Most electric bicycles have batteries between 250 and 500 watt hours, and you will end up paying about $1 per watt hour.

  The cruising range of an electric bicycle will depend on the height of your driving route, the weight of the bicycle, the rolling resistance of the tires, and other variables. But in our tests, a 500 watt-hour battery with moderate help can allow most people to walk at least 30 miles, including some fairly large hills. With this convenient product, SHUANGYE can easily explore the cruising range distance calculator for all motors.

   Before buying, please make sure that the battery of the bicycle is a lithium-ion battery. Some electric bicycles use lithium polymer batteries, which are popular in remote-controlled cars and drones because they are lighter and discharge faster than lithium-ion batteries. However, laminated packaging is usually used instead of cylindrical batteries, so they are more susceptible to damage

  To give you more peace of mind, try to find a North American product testing company Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification, which strictly inspects consumer electronics products to make sure they don’t shock you or catch fire.

Weight and reliability

  In addition to the motor and battery, you also need to consider the weight and reliability of the electric bicycle, both of which will affect your owning experience. You don’t want an electric bike that is too heavy to fit on a luggage rack or often breaks down.

  Weight: Energizing the bicycle will increase the weight, which will exceed the compensation during riding. This is another reason to consider the weight distribution of the center drive motor. However, there is no electronic assistance in lifting an electric bike to the back of a pallet rack or minivan, so you also need to consider how often you must lift the bike. Consider whether you want to move it upstairs or public transportation. If you want to travel by bicycle, you must choose an electric bicycle with an easy-to-remove battery to reduce weight. Many suspensions are now being developed to accommodate heavier electric bicycles and easier loading solutions.

  Reliability: Just like acoustic bicycles, electric bicycles sometimes break down and require regular maintenance. The electrical components (motors, batteries) on electric bicycles are not as easy to replace as mechanical components (cassettes, shifters), so make sure they come from a sustainable company with a long history. Before you buy, think about how to repair your bicycle-this is not something that every bicycle store will do. Brands like SHUANGYE have extensive global influence dealers, no matter which country we have dealers come to serve in person, and other people may send technicians or ask you to return the bicycle. In any case, if something goes wrong, you must know your choice.

  

Show

   The electric bicycle display can do more than just control the basic functions of the bicycle. Make sure that the display of your next electric bike tells you which key data is important to you, whether it’s heart rate data, how much battery you have left, or how to navigate your journey. The following is the Bosch electric bicycle display, which allows you to quickly view all the riding data.

  Amanda has introduced you so much knowledge, do you know how to choose? Please give me an inquiry if you like our products