Whoever thought to add an electric motor to a bicycle deserves a prize for such an innovation. Electric bikes are a popular commuter tool and way for anyone to get outside into fresh air. While these bikes overcome many of the problems inherent with standard bikes, especially people tiring too soon, they do come with the problem of having to navigate the terms used for their electric components to make the best selection.
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If you want to purchase an electric bike of your own, you need to understand wattage, voltage and amp-hours and what they mean for your ride to make the best decision for your lifestyle. Here, you will find electric bikes explained with the definitions and more about their operation.
Electric bikes use a motor to assist the movement of the pedals, making riding the bicycle less taxing. Some designs allow the bike to move forward under its own power from the motor while electric pedal bikes require some assistance.
Don't confuse electric bicycles with motorcycles. The electric motor and battery don't last as long as a gasoline-powered engine. However, e-bikes are better for the planet because they do not generate polluting exhaust when you ride them. They also are a healthier option for you because you will have to use your power to move the bike, which will improve your cardiovascular fitness.
While you might think electric bikes don't have an upper limit for their speed, thanks to the addition of a motor, they do. Because federal regulations under the Consumer Product Safety Act regulate the definition of low-speed electric bikes, you will have a speed limit for how fast you can go with motor assistance. Depending on the bike you have, you may have a speed limit of 20 to 28 miles per hour (mph).
E-bikes have three classes in states that define what an electric bicycle is. Check with your state laws because some places regulate the operation of certain e-bike classes to specific age groups.
Electric bikes have three main components that set them apart from standard bicycles — the battery, the motor with its controller and the sensor.
The battery powers the motor. This device's capability for generating power and how long it lasts are where the numbers for wattage, voltage and amp-hours come into play. To keep these weighty parts of the bike from upsetting your balance, they have a position low and centered on the bicycle.
While bike batteries have shrunk in size and increased in power since converting from lead-acid to lithium cores, they still contribute a significant amount of weight to your bike.
To prevent electric bikes from going too fast, they have sensors that monitor your speed to determine when to instruct the motor to turn the throttle or pedal assist on or off. The sensors may measure speed or torque. Both act in similar ways, though. The speed sensor watches how fast you travel. A torque sensor, however, monitors how hard you pedal, as harder pedaling correlates to faster speeds.
Electric bikes use a motor to boost your ability to ride. If you tire out while riding an e-bike, you can use the throttle to help you move. Pedal-assist also kick in while you pedal the bike, allowing you to use less effort. As soon as you stop pedaling or go over the preset speed limit of the bike, though, the pedal-assist stops.
The motor changes electric power into mechanical work that it uses to help turn the bicycle's wheels. Manufacturers have three positions for placing the motor — the front hub, rear hub and in the center of the bike. Motors placed on the front hub have become less popular today than those installed in other locations on the bike. You will typically find these front-installed motors on low-end e-bikes.
Rear-hub motors drive the bike from the rear wheel and integrate with the bicycle gears. The motor in this position improves traction and handling thanks to its connection to the gearing. With better control, rear hub motors often appear on mid-class e-bikes.
Premium, and very expensive, electric bikes have their motors near the center of gravity and attached to the frame. This motor position does not prevent you from quickly changing tires on your bike while making the bike stable.
E-bikes are typically made with electronic components that have secure coverings with tight seals to prevent damage from light rain. They can withstand a variety of climates, but it's important to use common sense and avoid overexposing an e-bike to significant water and/or rain.
Now that you know about the parts that set an e-bike apart from a regular bicycle, learn more about the power options and what they mean.
The wattage is one aspect of your bike's battery power. Along with voltage and amp-hours, the wattage informs you about the potential speed and performance of your bike. Understanding the differences between wattage and watt-hours will also help you to see how long you can ride your bike before you need to recharge it.
Wattage refers to the power output of a motor. You will see wattage listed with the motor power as both peak and nominal power. These ratings measure the ideal calculated value and typical operating capability of the motor, respectively.
Peak power indicates ideal power from the motor under full throttle and ideal operating conditions. Your motor will likely never reach this value because some power gets lost through friction and other means.
To give you an idea of the realistic amount of power you will get from the motor, manufacturers list the nominal wattage. At the highest power levels, the nominal wattage will typically be 75% of the peak operating power. This value is the second number you see listed with motor power and reflects actual usage. Use this number when calculating watt-hours.
Watt-hours tell you how long your bike can last with its specific motor before you need a recharge and will also dictate the top speeds your e-bike is capable of going.
The motor power wattage helps you to calculate the watt-hours for your bike. Motors with higher watts will require a longer-lasting battery to support the extra power.
Watts come from the product of the battery's voltage and the motor controller's amps. For example, a bike with a 52-volt battery and 20-amp controller will produce an ideal wattage of 1,040 watts.
52 volts x 20 amps = 1,040 watts calculated power
Find the nominal motor wattage by multiplying this value by 0.75 or 75%.
1,040 x 0.75 = 780 watts nominal power
You calculate watt-hours by multiplying the battery's voltage by its amp-hours. For instance, a 52-volt battery with 13 amp-hours will produce 676 watt-hours of power.
52 volts x 13 amp-hours = 676 watt-hours
To use this information to calculate how long your bike's battery can last at full throttle, divide the watt-hours by the nominal motor wattage. For the above example, divide 676 watt-hours by 780 nominal watts.
676 ÷ 780 = 0.867 hours
Multiply this value by 60 to find out how many minutes the battery will last.
0.867 hours x 60 minutes = 52 minutes
This value reflects running the bike at full throttle continuously. You can save battery life by pedaling more and using the motor less frequently. There are a lot of other factors that affect riding range and battery life, including total payload, average speed, tire pressure, and much more. Ideally, e-bikes supplement your biking skills rather than take them over.
The voltage for your electric bike will depend on the bike's battery. Lithium batteries offer much higher voltages compared to their older lead-acid counterparts.
Voltage measures how much power the battery can send to your bike's motor. Higher voltage means more power can flow from the battery to the motor in less time, boosting performance. Combined with amp-hours, the voltage gives you an idea of the battery's watt potential.
You will see the voltage listed with the battery. Batteries for premium bikes might be 48 or 52 volts. Even if you have a lower voltage required for your bike, you can still use a higher voltage battery to boost the performance. Most bike motors will allow for a specific amount of voltage overage before they break down.
For some bikes, such as those from us at Juiced Bikes, the motors are backward compatible with some lower voltage batteries. For instance, you can use either a 48-volt battery or a 52-volt model on the RipCurrent S bike. Other bike brands do not offer this capability to use lower voltage batteries with higher voltage bikes.
Currently, 52 volts is the highest amount for electric bike batteries. Higher voltages likely won't appear on existing electric bike models as it would tip the voltage into the high-voltage range, which would require much stricter regulations.
Every bike in the Juiced portfolio includes the industry leading 52 volt battery.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Electric Bicycle.
E-bikes will have a voltage range you must stay within when selecting your battery. Choosing a higher battery voltage can improve the performance of your bike.
Higher voltage batteries operate more efficiently, which explains why they can boost your bike's performance. These higher voltage batteries need less current while supplying the same amount of power as lower-voltage batteries. Since they need to work less, they have greater efficiency and a much longer battery range.
Higher voltage batteries will help your bike get the extra push it needs to climb hills or move more massive people or cargo. It does this by getting the electricity from the battery to the motor faster compared to lower voltage batteries.
If you need to know about your battery's capacity, look for its amp-hours. Related to the amps measurement, the amp-hours give you a clear idea of how long your battery will last.
Amps measure the output of your battery. Amp-hours indicate the capacity of your battery by noting how much electricity your battery can put out in an hour at top voltage. The higher the amp-hours, the longer your bike can run, generally.
Amp-hours for your bike's battery give you an idea of how long the battery will run before it needs a charge. For example, if you have a 20 amp-hour battery, it will last for 20 hours providing one amp of power. Should your motor draw more energy, it will last less time. At two amps per hour, the battery will last for 10 hours.
Think of amp-hours as the gas tank with amps as gas. Higher amp-hours will last longer with similar bike use and energy draw.
The amp-hours and battery voltage are both essential factors in finding out how long you can ride your electric bicycle on a single charge. As noted, the product of these gives you the watt-hours.
Because amp-hours act like a gas tank, amps as gas and volts as gas flow, these parameters help you to see how long a charge will last at maximum capacity, which gives you watt-hours. Without knowing amps or amp-hours for your bicycle's battery, you would find comparing models complicated. Amps also help you to find the best charger for your ride.
You will see amps listed with the battery and the charger. Higher amps on the charger will recharge your bike much faster. The amps listed for the charger indicate how many amps the charger will move per hour into the battery.
For example, a standard two-amp charger adds two amps of power back to the battery each hour. It would take 5.2 hours to recharge a 13 amp battery from 10% to 90%. If you replaced the standard charger for an ultra-fast model that moves seven amps per hour, the charging time drops to 1.5 hours.
Watts, volts and amp-hours all play roles in the quality and longevity of your e-bike. However, you also have to know the construction of your bike will live up to high values for these statistics. Look for trusted names in electric bikes, like Juiced Bikes. We build high-quality, high-performance rides for the daily commuter, fitness enthusiast, casual rider and weekend off-road warrior.
Yes. Under UK law, all electric bikes must use pedal power to work. You can read more about this on our electric bike laws page. That's exactly why we believe using electric bikes counts as exercise, you still need to put in some pedal power!
According to UK law, e-bikes aren’t allowed to travel faster than 15.5mph using pedal assist on UK roads. If you’re just pedalling the bike and not using the electrical motor assist, you can go as fast as your legs can take you! Of course, make sure to check the local guidelines on speeds in case certain parks or other spaces have cycle speed restrictions.
Charging an electric bike is super simple - just like a mobile or laptop, you'll just need to plug it into any wall outlet. Batteries can take from 2 to 8 hours to charge; the time it takes is dependent on the make and model of the battery. Raleigh bikes use either TranzX, Suntour, Ebikemotion or Bosch motor systems. Each of these will have different battery types and sizes. You can find out more about these individually on our electric bike batteries page. Most of our electric bike batteries will last up to 1,000 charge cycles.
Electric bikes are typically heavier than non-electric bikes so the added weight needs to be considered in stopping distance and safety. However there is no direct impact on how hard you have to use the brakes on electric bikes due to the power when compared to non-electric. Any assistance provided by the motor is cut out as soon as you stop pedalling.
The answer to this question is very simple: just like a regular bike! Electric bikes are essentially regular bikes with the added boost of the motor and battery. This means that the actual cycling technique itself is pretty similar to that of regular riding. The main thing to note is that e-bikes are heavier than normal bikes, which can take a bit of getting used to when you first start.
Our advice is to start slow and get to know the feel, handling and weight of your electric bike when you first start riding. Get used to using the electric assist, and before you know it you’ll be conquering hill climbs like they’re nothing and powering away from traffic lights with ease!
There are a couple of tips and tricks that can help boost the range that your bike will take you.
Cadence: Slow pedalling is costly in terms of energy, whereas keeping your cadence above 50 revolutions per minute can optimise your drive unit.
Weight: Carrying less luggage with you will keep the total weight of the bike down and keep your e-bike running for longer.
Starting & braking: Just like a car, when riding an e-bike it's more effective to travel a longer distance with a constant similar speed, versus stopping and starting.
Gear shifting: Staying in the correct gear will ensure the bike is more efficient.
Tyre pressure: Always inflate tyres to the maximum permissible tyre pressure for the smoothest and most efficient ride.
The motor used in electric bikes will vary depending on the brand/manufacturer of a specific model. For example, the Raleigh electric bike range uses a variety of motors including rear and centre-mount motors from a range of manufacturers such as Bosch, Suntour, TranzX and Ebikemotion. Centre mount motors such as those on our Motus and Centros range provide a greater level of power and are perfect for climbing long, steep hills.
The Raleigh electric bike range uses a variety of motors including rear & centre-mount motors from a range of manufacturers such as Bosch, Suntour and TranzX. Centre mount motors such as on our Motus and Centros range provide a greater level of power and are perfect for long, steep hills.
The Raleigh electric range incorporates motors from a number of manufacturers, depending on the needs and requirements of the rider and bike model. The Bosch system uses cutting edge components to create precise motor control and lower noise output than other motors. Suntour motor systems are used on the Raleigh Array range to create an affordable mid-drive motor system that provides 3 power levels. The Stow-e-way folding Raleigh electric bike uses a TranzX motor system as it is a compact and simple solution to be used on the go with the folding bike.
The best size of motor for an electric bike will always be determined by the bike that it is designed to help power. For example, the Stow-E-Way TranzX motor we’ve mentioned above is 250w - that’s perfect for a smaller folding bike. For something bigger like a Motus or Centros, we use a Bosch motor which can range from 400-625w.
In general, an e-bike hub motor should last roughly 10,000 miles. That does assume that you’re taking care of your hub motor properly though. The most wearable component of your hub motor will be the bearings (assuming you’re not using a brushless motor). Aside from rusting, the risk of which you can minimise by storing your bike inside, your hub motor could last a very long time.
When it comes to hub motor vs mid-drive motor, ‘better’ is usually down to the type of electric bike you have and how you’re using it. Hub motors are super low maintenance - they’re just a sealed unit so there’s less for you to worry about; it’s the reason that they’re so popular. However, they’re typically more suited to flatter riding as they only allow a single gear ratio.
Mid-drive motors, on the other hand, don’t have a single gear ratio. This makes them better suited for tackling hillier routes on a regular basis. You’ll also typically find that they’re lighter than hub motors which can be important if you’re worried about the overall weight of your electric bike. If you’re also concerned about looks, the mid-drive motor has you covered - they can be a bit more discreetly placed than a hub motor. Oh and if you ever need to change a tyre, you don’t have to worry about dealing with the weight of a motor attached to a wheel.
In summary, when deciding between a hub motor or a mid-drive motor, the best choice is entirely up to what you intend to use your electric bike for.
Electric bike motors are usually DC. This is down to the simplicity of their design and how readily available they are
A lot of modern electric bikes use brushless motors (also known as BLDC motors). BLDC motors don’t use brushes to control the flow of electric currents to the motor. Brushes are one of the components of a motor that can wear over time, so removing them reduces the risk of wear on your motor and can prolong its lifecycle.
The main disadvantage of a BLDC motor is cost. They’re more complex than your average motor and the price tag reflects that. However as we’ve mentioned above, they tend to wear less quickly than motors with brushes which gives you a bit more peace of mind. If you ask us, that’s worth the extra cost!
Yes, a 250W motor is definitely enough for an electric bike - it also happens to be the maximum that you can have on your e-bike here in the UK. Many of our electric bikes (such as the Motus and Centros) use 250W motors and they’re perfect for both leisurely and more adventurous rides!
Choosing an e-bike motor doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, you’ll find that all of our electric bikes come with motors that help you to get all you need (and more) out of your bike. For example, our Stow-E-Way folding electric bike uses a simple TranzX quick stop motor, while the Centros uses an advanced 250W Bosch Performance Line motor. Both motors are perfectly suited to their bikes - that’s one less thing to worry about!
Like any other part of your e-bike, your motor needs to be serviced. Bosch recommends that an initial inspection of your bike is conducted after 4 weeks (or 300 miles) and then at regular intervals after that.
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