Introduction
When you decide to start riding an electric bicycle, you need to know the range its battery is capable of. The range of an electric bike is the total distance its battery can travel on a single charge. This means the complete number of kilometers you can travel using electric power and pedal assist for your ride. Whether you like it or not, the battery range is one of the factors that determine your e-bike experience.
One problem with traditional bikes is that they cannot provide any propulsion when you get tired of pedalling. When you set out on an e-bike with a long-range battery, you confidently look forward to your destination. It provides assurance that you will arrive at your destination and back home, no matter how tired you get during the ride. Keep reading to learn more about the factors affecting your e-bike range and improvement tips.
How do I Know the Range of my E-bike?
The range of the e-bike battery is commonly stated by many manufacturers, and can be found listed among the e-bike specs. When you shop for an e-bike, whether online or offline, a spec you should know is the battery range. Understand that the only way to know before purchase is to check the specs (it will be listed there). In a physical store, you may probably be allowed to ride for hours and deplete the battery to confirm.
It may feel like you’re getting nowhere when you calculate the e-bike range by yourself before purchasing. You are getting nothing wrong, the truth is there is no universal way to determine the range of electric bikes. This is a task left to each manufacturer, since the batteries are installed by them. Due to this, the manufacturer’s opinion and the user’s findings are the only concrete ways to find out the accurate range of e-bikes.
Factors Affecting Range
The range of an electric bike determines how well your battery will serve you on single trips. If you want to embark on a 100km trip, a battery with a range of 80km will not be able to support using a fully electric riding option. The range of your e-bike can be affected by something as simple as deflated tires, but it is usually a sign of a weak/ageing battery.
Numerous factors could be responsible for the range you can achieve on your e-bike. The important thing is that you pay attention to it and do your best to work on it, enlisting professional help where necessary. Of all the components to watch out for, however, the battery is the most crucial to the e-bike range.
Battery Care Tips
Lithium-ion batteries are some of the best types for your e-bike. You have to take care of your battery as you pay attention to other parts of your e-bike. Some ways to care for your battery include:
Avoid Exposure to Direct Sunlight
Riding can be an exciting activity, but your battery does not need the extra heat and discomfort associated with spending long hours in the sun. Exposure to direct sunlight can cause your battery to get hot and shut down. A default setting in batteries makes them shut down when they get to a certain degree of heat. Not to worry, your battery will be back in an hour or so after spending time under shade and getting much cooler.
Charge Regularly
Most e-bike batteries have a certain number of times they can be discharged totally and then charged again to completion. The number of charge cycles a battery can undergo is what is called its battery life. If you have a good long-range battery, you should ensure to charge it regularly to prolong its life. Try charging after every ride so that you can plan adequately for the next day. It is always best to use the charger provided by the manufacturer, especially when it is a high-quality type like the one you’ll find in every Himiway e-bike.
Riding Suggestions
No matter the factor, there are ways to increase the e-bike’s range. It may entail getting your hands dirty, spending money, or seeking expert help. Here are some tips to help you get more range on long-distance rides:
Charge your Battery
When your battery is fully charged, you can be sure of getting the most range out of it. Your e-bike needs to pack enough charge, like the Himiway Zebra with its 960 Wh capacity. The capacity means it can hold a certain amount of charge, which should be enough to provide a long range. Charge after your trips, so a full battery can be available for your next ride.
Pump your Tires
Your tires need to be at the right PSI to provide quality acceleration. If you can’t travel at the right speed, you will be on the road for longer.
Ride Lighter
Instead of packing all your stuff, normalizeheading out with the essentials and a few personal things. Riding lighter, either by reducing your weight or that of your luggage, will help you travel faster. This way, you cover more ground and arrive at your destination faster.
Pedal More
When you rely on electric power for your trip, you pay for it with range. To cover more distance on your e-bike, try interspersing battery use with pedalling. Turning off electric power will help you preserve charge to reach even further.
Conclusion
Long range e-bike is a trait admired by e-bike enthusiasts and professionals because it means you can enjoy the thrill of riding much longer. The battery is the main factor affecting range, and its age, size, and capacity can be a problem or a blessing to the rider. Before you make that purchase, it may be time to consider just how much range you need from your e-bike.
The perfect e-bike is one with enough juice to meet your long-range requirements. Take the Himiway Zebra, for example, with its 48V 20Ah Samsung battery with a capacity of 960 Wh. It packs enough juice to provide up to 128km of travel. With such an e-bike, the question can change from ‘How far can an e-bike go?’ to ‘How far do you want to go?’.
