How Far Can Electric Bikes Go?

If you’re shopping for a new E-bike, you might not be getting a straight answer on how far it can go. Part of the reason is because there’s dozens of factors that impact the total distance an e-bike battery will last. Tire size, terrain, the level of power being used, and even the outside temperature are just a few of the factors that impact how far you can pedal. Even so, if the e-bike manufacturer doesn’t give you an estimate, here are a few general things to consider in determining your e-bike distance.

Important Note: You can Still Pedal even without an E-bike

One of the more common misconceptions is that, like a car, if your battery goes dead you’re left with a useless bike. That isn’t true at all. Whether at a full charge or if it’s completely dead, you’ll still be able to pedal an e-bike just like a normal bike even with the motor pedal assist turned off. So, should you buy an e-bike and overestimate the distance it can go, you’ll still be able to operate it normally even when the battery is used up.

Things to know about E-bike batteries

• Watt Hours (wH) are the best indicators of your battery capacity: When you’re looking over the spec sheet of an e-bike, you want to examine the total watt hours, abbreviated as wH, to understand the battery capacity. Watt hours are calculated by multiplying the amp hours by the voltage of the battery, should the spec sheet fail to list the wH. While the exact amount varies depending on extraneous factors, the general rule is that one mile of constant pedal assist is equivalent to 20 wH. By moderating your usage, you can easily go more than a 100 miles, even with a 500 wH battery.
• Your e-bike Battery will degrade with use: While you’re looking at e-bike batteries, you might have noticed the listed charge cycles. 1 charge cycle is one total drainage and recharge of the battery. So, for example, you would have to pedal and recharge your battery twice if you only drained half the battery each ride to equal 1 cycle. Every time you drain and recharge your battery though, its total capacity is reduced.

  However, batteries are rated for 80% of capacity, instead of their total lifecycle. If a site lists that a battery has 1,000 cycles, then after draining the battery and recharging the equivalent of the full capacity 1,000 times, your battery will be reduced to 80% capacity. So, even after you hit the listed charge cycle limit, you’ll still have plenty of battery storage left to continue to use it for months, if not years after.

• Recharging E-bike Batteries: Most e-bike batteries are pretty easy to recharge, and come with a cord that you plug into your standard wall outlet. Some e-bike battery cords even allow you to recharge them without removing them from your e-bike! However, while the time needed to recharge your e-bike battery varies by model, a completely dead battery usually takes between 6 to 8 hours to charge. Fortunately, you don’t have to recharge your battery everyday. You also don’t have to wait for your battery to be dead either, and can always top it off no matter at what level your battery is.
• Additional E-bike recharging Options:
  There are also some e-bikes that come with additional charging methods, though they tend to drive up the e-bike price as well. Regenerative braking is a feature in some e-bikes, though it isn’t common yet. Regenerative braking retains some of the energy created as you brake, causing the e-bike to have an extra 5 to 10% in total battery life over the course of a ride. However, regenerative braking increases bike weight as well, so unless you’re planning on a ride that is at least 4 or 5 miles, the tradeoff isn’t worth it.

  Alternatively, there are some e-bikes that have solar powered recharging panels as well. While these can actually provide an additional 30-35% battery range per ride, and can recharge your e-bike without an outlet if left outside, they are currently very limited in e-bike compatibility. Those that they do work with also cost between half to the same price as the e-bike yourself. Still, it is another option for those looking to make the most out of their e-bike battery.

• Most e-bike batteries are interchangeable: Lastly, while this isn’t true of every e-bike, most e-bikes have easily interchangeable batteries that can be changed in seconds. If you are planning a long adventure with your e-bike that you know will exceed your typical limit, you can purchase and bring along an extra e-bike battery. Just be aware that some e-bike batteries are easier to change than others, and that it’s not uncommon for even smaller e-bike batteries to weigh at least 10 lbs.

With this in mind, there are a number of important factors to consider when determining how far your e-bike will go. These include:

Total E-bike Distance Factors

• How much you weigh, and if you load your e-bike with additional cargo.
• The level of power you pedal with.
• How many charge cycles your battery has undergone.
• The type of terrain you’re pedaling on.
• How fast you’re going, including how long you leave pedal assist on.
• How often you have to stop and restart pedalling.
• Temperature, with colder temperatures decreasing performance by up to 20%.
• Tire pressure, with firmer tires offering better performance.

Conclusion: Read reviews for the best idea, or look for a 30-day guarantee

While the tips and suggestions above will give you some general ideas about how far you can go with an e-bike, nothing beats practical experience in discovering the limit. If you’re lucky, you might be able to rent the e-bike you’re looking at locally to figure out how far it can go on a single charge. If you can’t though, it doesn’t hurt to look up reviews online to try to figure out its capacity. Many e-bike companies also offer a 30-day guarantee that will give you time to try out a bike and figure out if it works for you.
Do you have a more general question though about e-bikes? Or do you want us to clarify something in this article? Feel free to leave a comment below, or send us an email with your questions. We’re more than happy to talk e-bikes, and are willing to help you figure out the best e-bike model for you as well at this link.

Thank you for reading, and we look forward to hearing about your next e-bike ride!