What is an Electric Bike and How Does it Work?

An electric bike is for all intents and purposes a normalthe bicycles that people already own are superior
everyday bicycle that has been equipped with anmachines to many of those that have been designed
electric motor to assist in its propulsion. These motorsas electric bikes. If you choose your kit carefully you
are, limited by Federal Law, to 750 watts of powerwill get a more powerful motor, better battery, and
and 20 miles per hour top speed.many other features that you cannot find on a factory
Most electric bikes are built to meet that specificationbuilt bike and your converted bike will often weigh less.
but some do exceed them. Electric bicycles can beA good kit should have the motor pre built into a wheel
built from kits for around $500 to $800 dollars or(a front wheel kit is much easier to install), dual brake
purchased new for between $400 to $3500 dollars.motor cutoff, a twist or thumb throttle, a motor
As with any product and especially a vehicle, youcontroller, wiring harness, and a battery mounting rack
usually get what you pay for. Electric bicycles arewith a lock mechanism.
powered by a rechargeable battery(s), and theA really good kit will also have wiring diagrams,
average range is around 20 miles. The range can varymounting hardware, wire ties and complete instructions.
greatly depending on the weight of the bike and rider,Very expensive factory built electric bicycles tend to
wheel size, style of riding and terrain. They come in alook more like motorcycles, are very heavy and hard
wide variety of styles and sizes from small electricto pedal but go no faster or farther than an
folding bikes with 16 and 20-inch wheels forinexpensive bike or kit built bike. They do look cool
commuters and apartment dwellers to 28 inch andthough! Also, you will want to purchase your kit from
700c sizes. Electric bicycles require no licenses orsomeone who will be able to help you through the
insurance to operate but many states do have ageinstallation process in the remote case that you have a
limitations.question or problem. If you are going to convert your
The most common type of motor used in electricexisting bicycle, be sure that it is good operating
bikes is a hub motor. These can be used on either thecondition and if you are going to build a bike from a kit
front or rear wheels and do not require chains, belts orof 500 watts or more, use a bike with a steel front
gears. Essentially the motor is the hub of the wheelfork. Very powerful front wheel motors can pull free
and contains two concentric rings of opposingfrom or damage aluminum and suspension forks. You
electromagnets. When power from the battery isdo not require a lot of gearing in an electric bicycle
applied to the motor the opposing magnetic forceunless you are going to use it as a mountain bike. For
causes the wheel to spin. This type of motor is almoststreet bikes, six or seven gears are more than
completely silent and requires no maintenance. Thesufficient. If you choose to buy a factory built bike, find
higher the wattage of the motor, the more power itone you able to completely control, feel comfortable
provides. One caveat however. There is no standardriding and that has all of the options you are looking for.
for measuring wattage. Many marketers of theseWith an electric bike you can pedal independently of
products use their peak output numbers as opposedthe motor, pedal with the motor for extended range
to the operating output numbers. A motor rated atand exercise or use power alone. They are almost
1000 watts peak may be a 500-watt motor in itssilent, require no fuel and tune ups, give off no
standard operating output. Be sure to find out which.emissions and can very often be ridden where other
Only standard operating output is truly comparable.motorized vehicles are prohibited. You can take an
Batteries are also very important in regards to theseelectric bike anywhere a regular bike is allowed
products. The most common battery sealed lead acidincluding on many subway and bus systems, bike trails,
(SLA) is the least expensive and provides the highestand bicycle lanes. Electric bicycles can be stored
amp hours (ah). However, SLA batteries weigh threeindoors, something that cannot be done with liquid
times what a lithium battery does and last less than afueled vehicles.
third as long. A Lithium LiFePO4 battery is the mostAnyone that can ride a bicycle can ride an electric bike
expensive battery and has low ah, but is by far theand anyone with basic tool skills can install an electric
lightest weight and longest lasting. You would have tobike conversion kit. For those who have difficulties with
purchase, install, and dispose of 12 12volt SLA batteriestwo wheeled bicycles, there are adult electric tricycles
before you come close to the life span of one 48 voltand conversion kits for adult tricycles as well. These
LiFePO4 battery. Nickel cadmium and other batteriesoperate the same way and can help provide excellent
fall somewhere in between. A lightweight lithiumtransportation options for the elderly and handicapped.
battery usually slides out of the battery rack for easyElectric bicycles are genuine green transportation.
recharge indoors rather than having to locate an outletThey can provide very real alternatives to the
in which to plug the whole bike. Lithium batteries are byautomobile for short range use and help relieve traffic
far the most ecologically friendly of all the batteriescongestion, air pollution, dependence on imported fossil
available.fuels and give you a little exercise while going about
The electric bikes built from kits are quite often youryour daily life. It won't solve all of our problems but it's a
best bet in terms of price and performance. Most ofgood start.