Electric bikes for Commuting
Electric bikes employ the tried-and-tested design of a regular bike with an electric motor. The motor doesn’t replace pedalling. It simply facilitates pedalling, adding greater speed and power as compared to a normal bike.
E-bikes are ideal for commuting as they boost speed without making you sweaty. This means that you can commute in your work clothes at a good speed, without having to worry about sweaty clothes. The electric bike best is ones that facilitate riding on hills too. The electric motor assists pedalling in lower gears as well has hard pedalling, making it easier to climb steep hills.
Another major advantage of e-bikes is that it utilises the same design that traditional bikes have, meaning you can handle it easily without having to learn to ride an e-bike separately.
Essential Features of Commuting E-Bikes
- Location of the Motor
Some bikes have the motor inside the chainring in the front, lending a natural feel as the power is added to the drivetrain directly when you pedal. Other bikes have the motor on the front or rear wheel in a hub, providing power by wheel spinning. This isn’t liked by all.
- Wattage
The power of the electric motors found on e-bikes can range between 200-1,000 watts. For your daily commute to and from work, a motor with 200-400 watts power will be viable. However, if you are planning to take your bike uphill, a powerful motor with 600 watts or more power will assist you in keeping up. Bikes that feature around 1,000 watts power have been designed for off-road biking and are greatly similar to mountain bikes.
- Battery and Charging
The battery life isn’t an issue with e-bikes as modern bike batteries easily last for 20 miles on a single charge. Batteries of higher capacity last up to 60 miles per charge. The terrain and your riding style will greatly affect battery life. You can turn off the motor on a downhill journey and while riding on flat roads. Riding with maximum electric assist will drain the battery faster.
The charging time of the battery is also something that you should consider. Good-quality batteries can charge fully within a few hours only. Also check that the bikes have a lithium-ion battery that lasts for 500-1,000 charges, requiring fewer expenses.
- Pedal Assistance and Gears
An electric boost for pedalling doesn’t eliminate the need for gears for uphill rides. It is always suggested to look for e-bikes that have two gears on the chainring in the front and 7-10 gears on the rear hub at least. Also, most bikes offer multiple levels of pedal assistance. If you have multiple terrains in your commute, it is beneficial to combine additional gears and multiple pedal assistance levels for greater assistance.