How Do Electric Bikes Work?

Lithium-ion batteries are light, affordable, and easy to recharge. They are also readily available in several wattages. At Schwinn, our smaller (less wattage) batteries provide up to 20 miles per charge while our largest batteries (more wattage) can deliver up to 80 miles between charges.

Chuck said riders should think of the battery as a gas tank in a motor vehicle. Larger capacity batteries that provide more watt hours don't make the bike any faster, they just allow them to go farther &#; just like a car with a larger gas tank can travel farther than the same car with a small tank. All Schwinn bikes are classified as "Class 2 e-bikes," meaning they are legal to ride just about any place any conventional bike is allowed, have a maximum speed of 20 mph, and are throttle assisted. The capacity of the battery they use doesn't change that.

On most of Schwinn's bikes, the battery is located on the down tube of the bike frame, but on our Mendocino models, the battery is mounted above the rear tire on a rack.

Seven Running contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

Whether you&#;re ditching the car or want an easier ride to the top of trails, an electric bike can offer many of the benefits of a non-assisted bike, with motorised power on tap when you need it.

Electric bike technology has advanced at a pace in recent years. From diminutive electric folding bikes to long-tail e-cargo bikes, you can now find pretty much any type of bike with a motor.

In this general guide to electric bikes, we&#;ll explain exactly what an ebike is, how an electric bike works, how to ride an ebike and answer some of the key questions you may have before buying. You can skip to the different sections by hitting the links below:

What is an electric bike?

An electric bike has a built-in motor and battery to assist your pedalling. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate media

An electric bike, or ebike, is a bicycle equipped with an electric bike motor to assist you when you&#;re pedalling. The motor will get its power from a rechargeable battery mounted on the bike.

To classify as an ebike, the motor has to help you rather than propel you on its own. As a result, you need to pedal to get that assistance. How much power the motor delivers is regulated based on how hard you are pedalling and the level of support you have selected.

Electric bike systems offer a number of modes to choose from, enabling you to balance the amount of power supplied through the pedals with range and battery life.

Electric bike assistance is restricted to 25kph in the UK, EU and Australia. - Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Electric bike laws on how much help the motor can provide and the speed at which assistance cuts out vary around the world. However, in general, the motor is limited to 250 watts' output and must cut out when your speed reaches 25kph/15.5mph &#; except in the USA, where it can continue to work up to 20mph.

You can go faster than that, of course, but only under your own effort &#; the bike&#;s motor will no longer provide assistance.

Electric bike laws in the UK

ccording to the Department for Transport (in the UK), for a bike to be classified as an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC), it must have pedals used to propel it, and meet the following requirements.

It must show either:

• The power output
• The manufacturer of the motor

It must also show either:

• The battery&#;s voltage
• The maximum speed of the bike

Its electric motor:

• Must have a maximum power output of 250 watts
• Should not be able to propel the bike when it&#;s travelling at more than 15.5mph

How does an electric bike work?

An electric bike offers motorised help when you turn the cranks. - Russell Burton / Our Media

An electric bike will typically have a motor housed either centrally on the bike (often referred to as a mid-drive motor, powered through the cranks) or on the front or rear hub.

Whereas a hub-based motor will push the wheel around directly, an axle-mounted motor will work through the ebike&#;s chain and gears.

When you pedal, a torque sensor will measure how much effort you are putting in and match that to the motor&#;s power output.

The idea is that the motor won&#;t completely take over; instead, you should get consistent power delivery that won&#;t send the bike lurching forward.

Electric bikes help you tackle tricky terrain. - Steve Behr / Our Media

Power comes from the battery, which might be mounted on the outside of the frame or hidden within it.

Many batteries can be removed for charging, although others need to be charged on the bike. If that&#;s the case, you need to have somewhere to park the bike near a power socket.

There will be a controller for the motor, usually mounted on the handlebar or integrated within the frame, that enables you to decide how much assistance you want, and to keep an eye on the battery level. Some will include a screen with navigation and other functions too.

Electric bike motors are held either in the middle of the bike, as shown here, or in one of the wheel hubs. - Steve Behr / Our Media

Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Specialized, Mahle, FSA and Fazua all make popular ebike motors. Specifications can vary significantly and the type of motor found on a bike will depend on its price and the type of riding its intended for.

For example, an electric road bike is more likely to favour a lightweight system with smooth power delivery, whereas a motor on a high-spec electric mountain bike is likely to offer more torque for off-road capability.

How do you regulate motor power?

You can usually alter the level of assistance with a frame-mounted button, as pictured here, or a controller on the handlebar. - Russell Burton / Our Media

An electric bike will usually have between three and five levels of assistance, selected via its controller.

These can give you anything from a gentle push to lots of power for tackling steep off-road climbs, depending on the specifications of the bike&#;s motor.

Some will also have a &#;boost&#; button, which you can use to increase the power output for short bursts of additional power.

Many electric bikes have a walk-assist mode to help you push the bike. - Steve Sayers / Our Media

Many bikes also offer a walk-assist mode, to make it easier to push when you're off the bike.

You can change between assistance levels as you ride and there's usually the option to switch the motor off completely and ride under pedal power alone.

Many ebike motors are designed to be drag-free when switched off, but there is still the additional weight to overcome.

How much do ebikes weigh?

At first glance, it can be hard to spot the motor and battery on some ebikes. - Moots

Electric bikes are heavier than non-assisted bikes and there&#;s a wide variation in the weight of ebike motors and batteries.

The lightest systems come in at less than 4kg and are typically found on electric road bikes, but most systems weigh around 6 to 8kg &#; and sometimes more.

The additional mounting points and frame reinforcement required on an electric bike can add some extra weight, too.

The weight of your system will depend partly on budget, but also the intended use of the bike.

Electric bike motors are becoming lighter and more compact. - Andy Lloyd / Our Media

Bikes that require lots of power, for example an electric cargo bike or e-MTB, are more likely to have a heavier motor and battery package. The exceptions are lightweight electric mountain bikes, which downsize the motor to reduce weight.

An electric road bike requires less assistance and will prioritise lighter weight.

The latest e-road bikes are near-indistinguishable from non-motorised bikes, thanks to the sleek, integrated design of the motor and battery.

Want more information on Road Electric Bikes? Feel free to contact us.

Some of the latest electric bikes resemble racing road bikes. - Russell Burton / Immediate Media

The extra weight associated with electric bikes is worth bearing in mind if you need to lift or carry your machine anywhere.

If that's the case, consider how much extra weight you can comfortably handle.

However, for day-to-day riding, the benefits of having a motor should trump any extra weight, particularly when it comes to climbing&#; unless you run out of battery.

How do you ride an electric bike?

Riding an electric bike is as intuitive as riding a non-assisted bike. - Dave Mackison / SRAM

Riding an electric bike is pretty much like riding a non-motorised bike of the same type.

You switch on the motor, select the assistance level you want using the controller, and then pedal. The motor will make initial acceleration much easier and then help you keep up to speed, particularly when you need to climb a hill.

However, because of the extra weight from the motor and battery, an electric bike may handle a bit more sluggishly than a non-assisted bike.

It may also have wider tyres to carry the extra weight and provide more grip, and it will usually have disc brakes because there&#;s more mass to slow down and stop.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of riding an electric bike?

Pedalling lots of stuff is way easier with a motor's assistance. - Russell Burton / Our Media

The benefits of riding an electric bike overlap with the general benefits of cycling. You still have to press on the pedals and get exercise. Therefore, you can get fit on an electric bike (or even fitter than on an unassisted bike).

Because you can ride further and for longer on an ebike, you can raise your training volume. This is key to improving cycling endurance. You can also ride faster at a given level of effort, so you can keep up with fitter mates on a group ride.

Electric bikes often incorporate a power meter to record your input as well as the motor's. If you're following a training plan, you can use this feature to stay within certain training zones, for example on climbs.

When you want to take it easier (for example, to prevent yourself breaking into a sweat on the way into the office), or need extra help up steep hills or to carry something heavy, you can increase the motor's assistance.

Removable batteries allow you to charge up off the bike. - Steve Behr / Our Media

There are few downsides of riding an electric bike, provided you have sufficient budget, and space to store one. Look out for a bike with a removable battery if you don't have a power source within reach of your bike storage.

As we touched on earlier, ebikes are generally heavier than non-motorised bikes. Bear this in mind if you have to carry your bike upstairs at home or at work.

Weight can also affect handling, but the geometry and ride characteristics of modern electric bikes are much improved.

What range will an electric bike have?

The motor type and battery capacity, plus your riding style and the terrain, will influence the range.

Batteries on electric bikes can give you a range of anything from 20 to 100 miles or more on a full charge, depending on their capacity (measured in watt-hours and abbreviated to Wh). Batteries are expensive, so an ebike with a longer range will, in general, cost more.

You&#;ll usually get a battery-level indicator, while some control systems will give you an estimated range as you ride or regulate the power output to enable you to achieve your planned ride distance.

Some ebikes give you the option to plug in a second battery, which might fit in a bottle cage, to increase range. You can also lower the assistance level during a ride to help conserve the battery and extend the bike's range.

Some batteries can be taken off the bike to charge. - Warren Rossiter / Our Media

While many brands will offer an estimated range for a particular model of bike, and it is possible to gauge a bike&#;s theoretical range based on its motor power and battery capacity, ultimately it depends on the level of assistance you&#;re using and the terrain.

Fully recharging the battery from the mains can take anything from around three hours up to nine hours, or longer depending on the model, charger and battery capacity.

What types of electric bike are there?

Electric bikes come in all shapes and sizes. - Steve Sayer / Our Media

We&#;ve got a separate guide to electric bike types since manufacturers have electrified all manner of bikes.

Whichever electric bike you choose, we suggest you read our guides to electric bike insurance and electric bike maintenance to look after what's likely to be a sizeable investment.

In short, if you want a helping hand on your ride, you can find an electric bike to suit your needs.

Can you convert a bike into an ebike?

Cytronex is among a few brands making ebike conversion kits. - Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Yes, you can convert a bike into an ebike. There are an increasing number of electric bike conversion kits available, which enable you to add a motor to a non-assisted bike.

These kits are often a more affordable way to electrify your riding, compared to buying a whole new electric bike.

Electric bike conversion kits will include a motor as well as a battery to power it. They will also have controls to adjust the power output on the motor. The controls often mount to the handlebar of your bike.

The Swytch Go kit can electrify can bike. - Stan Portus / Our Media

Conversion kits tend to come with sensors to detect speed and the level of power input required to ensure the motor matches your needs.

One of the most popular ebike conversion kits in the UK is the Swytch kit, which uses a hub-mounted motor.

Other kits use &#;mid-drive&#; motors but some of these kits are compatible only with specific bottom bracket standards.

How to travel with an ebike

Certain airlines restrict the size of the battery and motor you can fly. - Steve Behr / Our Media

Travelling with an electric bike involves a little more thought than with an unassisted bike.

In the UK and Europe, ebikes are allowed on most trains but time and weight restrictions may apply. For example, some rail networks do not permit electric bikes on peak trains or electric cargo bikes at any time.

If in doubt, ask the train operator and book in advance.

Some ebikes will be too heavy for car racks.

To transport your electric bike by car, you may need a dedicated bike rack. Heavier electric bikes may exceed the weight limit.

Before flying with your electric bike, you'll also have to check with the airline.

Some ban ebikes outright, while others allow them as long as you remove the battery. It's common for carriers to place restrictions on the size of the battery you can fly with.

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