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How an Electric Bike Works?

Electric bicycles give a new, technology-infused spin to cycling as a past time and form of exercise. With the rise of eco-friendly Canadians comes a seeming revival of cycling as a form of short distance transport. But while many people are well versed with traditional bikes, they may not know as much about e-bikes. Here’s a primer to help you learn about electric bikes, their benefits and how they work.

 

1. Benefits of An Electric Bicycle

You Cycle More

Many people look down on e-bikes when it comes to their health benefits. They feel that using an e-bike is almost a form of cheating as you don’t go it as manually as with a regular bicycle.

Electric bikes help users get into the habit of cycling more over time. When you are using a regular bike, you need to do a lot of groundwork to make the habit successful. Let’s say for example that you want to start cycling to work every day as a way of keeping healthy.

If you choose to use a traditional bike you need to factor in showering and changing when you get to your destination. While this may not be a barrier to a slew of riders, it is a significant turn off for many more.

An electric bicycle will help you cover more distance with less sweating which leads to an overall increase in your biking. Instead of light/short car trips, you can hop on your e-bike and not worry about working up a sweat that will need a shower. The more you adopt cycling, the more you receive the health benefits it delivers.

Less Strenuous Rides

If you are a new cycling enthusiast riding uphill can be daunting. Electric bikes help you for this segment with relative ease making the experience friendlier for you. The more assistance you can get in these tough cycling spots the more eager you can be to cycle which increases your overall exercise levels.

 

It Is Eco-Friendly

As a non-fossil fuel form of motorized transport, an e-bike helps reduce carbon emissions that deplete our Ozone layer and raise greenhouse gases.

 

2. Regular Bikes Vs Electric Bikes

An electric bike features several parts in common with regular bikes. These can include handlebars, front and back wheels, and seats, etc. While the similarities exist there are specific differences that set e-bikes apart from normal bikes.

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Motors

Electric bikes use motors to generate the electric current necessary to propel it. Normal bikes do not feature any motor (except a dynamo to power the headlamp where applicable). There are two types of motors used on e-bikes:

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Full-power motor

Electric bikes that feature full-power motors are large in size. They use power all the time and are especially suitable for people who love cycling but loath manual pedaling. These e-bikes spot a powerful hub motor coupled with big batteries to store more electricity for always-on power.

Power-assist motor

E-bikes with power-assist do not use electricity all the time. Instead, they are designed to deliver power when you get tired or feel it’s necessary if you’re going uphill for example. They are easier to pedal unlike full-power ones, and as a result, they can cover longer distances. Full-power e-bikes typically have a range of 10-20 miles while power-assist ones will cover 50-90 miles.

You can position the motor on an e-bike in three different ways to achieve different outcomes. A central motor can be located on the bike’s frame if you want your e-bike to feel like a traditional one. The low center of gravity is what delivers such a ride feel.

Another location for the motor on an e-bike is the front wheel. The central front location delivers a front-wheel steering effect similar to that of a front wheel drive car.

The last position you can consider for an e-bike’s motor is the rear wheel. A rear motor interface with the gears and other parts around it to deliver a feel of better traction control to the rider. As a result, you experience a better grip when riding it.

 

The Battery

The battery is a critical part of an e-bike as it stores the power you need whenever you switch from pedaling mode to power mode. As a result, they are a key determinant of the range an electric bike can cover.

The best type of battery for an e-bike is one that gives you the power you need without weighing you down. If you use a heavy battery (like a lead acid one used in cars for example), you will find that most of your stored power goes to bearing its weight while in motion.

Lithium-ion batteries are the most ideal for an e-bike. Although they are a bit expensive, they deliver the lightweight aspect you need to use your power optimally and maximize on your range. You can place it on the low side of the frame to provide balance or on the luggage rack as well.

A handy battery tip is to carry an extra one as you cycle to extend your total range. Since they recharge in five to six hours, it does not become burdensome to keep an extra one handy for more juice.

 

The Sensor

The other distinguishing part of an e-bike is the sensor which connects with the motor to deliver the power generated by the bike. There are two types of e-bike sensors that vary your riding experience.

The speed sensor

This sensor connects with the motor automatically anytime you start pedaling to deliver always-on power. It detects the e–bike’s movement and begins to help power it. You can tell when it is on or off with every ride.

 

The torque sensor

This type of sensor matches your level of pedaling and movement. On open roads, it can detect the extra effort in pedaling and deliver more power. In slow traffic, it can detect the reduced pace and push just enough power to help you cruise along.

 

Electric-Bike Maintenance

Electric-bike maintenance is similar in certain ways to normal bikes, but in other respects, it differs. Oil the gears and replace any that look worn-out. Ensure that the brakes are fully functional and that the brake pads haven’t worn out or gotten stuck.

Clean and apply fresh grease on the connecting leads to avoid any water damage. Also, you must assess the battery’s charging capacity to avoid keeping one that has lost its charge cycle.

 

Conclusion

An electric bike can be just as much fun to ride as a traditional one. When thinking of acquiring one decide on whether you want it to always be powered or if you prefer complementing electric power with manual pedaling. Understand the nuances of electric–bike maintenance to ensure it gives you maximum value for money via a long lifespan.

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