Electric bikes are becoming more and more popular around the world and as a result I have received many questions about whether an e-bike is practical or not. Of course, if you’ve never ridden one, that’s a fair question, but you’ll quickly realize just how much e-bikes have to offer once you step up.
Take everything that makes a regular bike fun and practical, and then make it better. You get that from an e-bike. Electric bikes are super comfortable and still offer a lot of movement with greater driving flexibility at the same time. It’s also worth noting that some are very fast while others are energy efficient. Also, an e-bike can potentially replace a car for certain commutes, saving you money.
An e-bike can quickly become more expensive than a typical 21-speed bike. But at the same time, we see excellent options for as little as $600 on the roads and trails. So if you’re wondering how practical an e-bike is, here are a few thoughts.
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How do e-bikes work?
An electric bike is not a scooter, although some function similarly. Most e-bikes on the market are very similar to a bicycle, but with some notable additions. Take a regular bike, add electrical components including a motor, hub assembly, battery, better brakes and controls, and combine them with the design. This is essentially an e-bike.
Electric bikes use a motor to help move the pedals or wheel, making them easier to ride and less tiring. Some have the motor in the petal assembly, while other brands mount it in the rear tire. Depending on the e-bike, the motor supports you when you pedal, but certain models can drive forward independently without pedaling and are equipped with a throttle.
The type of bike you can get depends on where you live, and in the US there are three main classes of e-bikes to consider.
- Class 1: Pedal assisted bike while the user pedals at a speed in excess of 20 MPH.
- 2nd grade: These e-bikes may have pedals, but they can also use just the motor to go up to 20 MPH.
- Class 3: The most popular (and fastest style) provides motorized assistance while the rider is pedaling, reaching speeds in excess of 28 MPH.
And while these are the main e-bike classes available in the US, many brands offer packages that go far beyond those speeds and limits for off-road use. The possibilities are endless.
Practicality & more flexibility
Whether you want to ride on tarmac, back roads, gravel, or dirt, there’s an e-bike to buy. As a result, e-bikes are extremely powerful and can handle any terrain like a normal bicycle. As you can tell from the different grade levels mentioned earlier, there is certainly a bike that is useful and practical for your everyday needs.
What sets e-bikes apart, however, is their flexibility. With an e-bike you can go further than before, faster and probably have more fun doing it. This is especially true for people who are out of shape, are elderly, or have health problems. Plus, it brings all the practicality of a bike to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to ride.
Even if you’re in shape, an e-bike offers more flexibility for the rider to ride different trails, longer trails, or not have to worry as much about tiring the adventure. You’ll have to keep an eye on battery life, but most can go at least 20 miles on a charge, so that’s not too much of an issue.
Another thing I want to mention is exercise and the misconception that e-bikes do all the heavy lifting meaning you won’t get much exercise while riding. Many people buy a bike for cardio and exercise but never consider an e-bike.
Some e-bikes make riding easier, but almost all allow users to control how much the bike helps. That means you can dial back, pedal and get your heart rate up while still enjoying the benefits and longer range of an e-bike.
Additionally, recent studies suggest that e-bike riders exercise as much, or possibly more, than if they had a regular bike. Why? Because many e-bike owners use it more often than a conventional bike and go on longer tours. This leads to more activity and movement. Of course, your mileage may vary with this study, but it’s an interesting thought.
In any case, an e-bike gives more people the opportunity to ride a bike and offers owners greater flexibility or drivability.
Can an e-bike replace a car?
If you don’t like gas prices, ride a bike. While this comment is technically a joke, depending on the situation and needs of the user, an e-bike can certainly be a viable replacement for a vehicle. For example, if you live in a city or have a short commute to work, an e-bike can save you money on maintenance, parking, and gas.
Natural gas is expensive. The average price of electricity in the United States is $0.10 per kWh. Typical e-bikes on the market achieve around 15-20 wh/mile. To make this more understandable, you can drive about 5 miles for a penny, or 20 miles for less than a penny. Try this in your gas guzzler or electric car.
But we understand. Not everyone wants to grapple with the outdoor elements while navigating to work, let alone breaking a sweat from a few miles. Select e-bikes don’t require you to pedal, making them a more practical solution over a vehicle or regular bike.
If you need to get to work quickly or need to make a quick trip to the corner shop, there are several inexpensive electric bikes with a throttle grip perfect for quick and easy transport. That way it’s more like a moped or scooter but still has pedals for those times when you want to increase the range and enjoy some exercise and wind in your hair.
Keep in mind that they’re slightly heavier than a regular bike, so lugging one up the steps of an apartment or into an office building isn’t ideal. On the other hand, there are foldable portable e-bikes for that.
Better than a normal bike?
So is an e-bike better than a regular bike and are they practical? This last section is quite subjective as everyone has different wants and needs. And for those die-hard road warriors out there (like Cameron driving at the top of Cannondale), don’t be offended. I own a Trek Fuel EX8 mountain bike and a commuter e-bike and I love them both equally.
When you consider that an e-bike can do almost everything a regular bike can and then a whole lot more, it becomes pretty easy to see why so many people fall in love with them.
Yes. Electric bikes are very convenient and have a lot to offer for both new and experienced riders. There are several good reasons to own an e-bike and hopefully some of the above will convince you to try one.
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