15 questions to ask before buying an e-bike

There’s a quiet revolution taking place on UK roads. With out the good thing about the federal government subsidies, pricey charging infrastructure and promoting on which the success of electrical vehicles depends, gross sales of e-bikes are hovering.

Journey 100 metres on one and also you’ll shortly perceive why. E-bikes don’t want pricey charging infrastructure, dramatically prolong driving vary, they usually’re plenty of enjoyable to journey.

How heavy is an e-bike?

E-bikes are available all sizes and shapes. For instance, the Brompton electrical folding bike ideas the scales at 15.6kg. Against this, the Babboe Curve electrical cargo trike weighs in at 73kg. There’s no escaping the truth that e-bikes are heavier than typical bicycles. Nevertheless, electrical bikes aren’t supposed to be ridden with out help from the electrical motor, so that you’re unlikely to note the additional weight until or till you need to carry it up stairs. Otherwise you break down.

Fortunately, you may get breakdown cowl for e-bikes and trikes for under £24 per yr.

How briskly is an e-bike?

An e-bike motor will aid you attain simply over 15mph. This doesn’t imply you possibly can’t quicker – it’s simply your legs might want to work tougher. In case your e-bike motor is extra highly effective, within the eyes of the regulation it’s a motorbike (see beneath).

Which e-bikes are authorized?

UK e-bike regulation could be simpler to navigate if there was a catchy identify for road-legal electrical bicycles. As it’s, the formally recognised acronym EPAC (electrical power-assisted cycle) hardly journeys off the tongue. In easy phrases, in case your cycle has pedals and an electrical motor of not more than 250 watts that cuts out when you’re travelling at 15.5mph (25 km/h), then within the eyes of UK regulation it’s a bicycle, or to be extra exact, an EAPC (electrically assisted pedal cycle). It’s essential to keep in mind that the 250W determine refers back to the energy of the motor and never the battery.

An e-bike with a motor over 250W, or that doesn’t reduce out routinely at 15.5mph, is a motorbike. A few of these e-bikes may look indistinguishable from the EPACS described above, however their greater efficiency is often an apparent giveaway. Folks have been identified to suit official-looking 250W stickers to their over-powered e-bikes, however the police are clever to this. When there’s doubt, the e-bike could be confiscated on the roadside and despatched for testing.

How a lot are E-bike servicing prices?

Normally, e-bike motors don’t want servicing. For instance, the Bosch motors fitted to many fashions of e-bike are sealed for all times and if stored dry will do over 50,000 miles (80,000km) with out downside. You may discover the heavier weight of the bike means you undergo a number of extra consumable gadgets. Fortunately, brake pads and tyres are comparatively cheap gadgets to exchange.

How a lot does it price to recharge an e-bike?

No easy reply to this one as there are a number of elements to contemplate such your electrical energy fee, battery dimension and its age.

Take your e-bike’s battery capability (Wh) divide by 1,000 to get the kWh (kilowatt hours). Should you multiply this determine by the kWh fee you’re paying your electrical energy provider you’ll get the worth of a full cost. Assuming the battery is totally empty and also you give it a full cost.

For instance, if the speed you pay is £0.27 per kWh and your battery is rated at 500Wh, it can price a tad over 13p for a full cost.

What if my e-bike breaks down?

We launched the UK’s first Cycle Rescue service 30 years in the past and embody it with each cycle insurance coverage coverage of ours. Alternatively, we promote it as a standalone service for £24 per yr. In case your e-bike or electrical cargo bike suffers a puncture, mechanical challenge, or perhaps a flat battery, we will ship a restoration lorry to rescue you.

How lengthy does an e-bike battery final?

E-bikes use the identical sort of battery as smartphones and laptops so that you’ll know from expertise that as they age, they must be charged extra continuously. By way of how lengthy a single cost lasts, it depends upon the capability of the battery, the way it’s getting used and its situation.

Is there a hearth danger with e-bike batteries?

In response to the London Hearth Brigade: “Lots of the fires we’re seeing contain batteries which have been sourced on the web, which can not meet the right security requirements. We all know that lithium-ion batteries are inclined to failure if incorrect chargers are used, so it’s essential to all the time use the right charger for the product and purchase an official one from a good vendor.”

Solely purchase aftermarket lithium ion batteries from a good provider and all the time use the right charger to minimise the chance of the battery overheating.

How far can I journey with an e-bike?

The vary of your e-bike on a single cost will fluctuate in accordance with many elements – not least how a lot help from the motor you utilize. In different phrases, you possibly can preserve your battery and thereby prolong your vary by doing extra of the pedalling your self. Essentially the most highly effective e-bike batteries can ship as a lot as 80 miles of vary.

Do I want insurance coverage for my e-bike?

E-bikes are costly to exchange and enticing to thieves. Each ETA insurance coverage coverage contains theft & unintentional cowl, no-quibble battery theft cowl and Cycle Rescue breakdown cowl plus many different advantages. Learn a full record of every part we embody as customary.

Who can journey an e-bike within the UK?

You don’t want a licence, car tax or insurance coverage to journey an electrical bicycle, however have to be over 14 years outdated.

Will I nonetheless get train?

E-bikes mean you can select the extent of help from the motor so it’s as much as you the way a lot effort you set in. It’s not like driving a motorbike – you’ll nonetheless need to pedal.

Are e-bikes extra prone to be stolen?

Thieves goal e-bikes so it’s a good suggestion to guard your self with a great cycle insurance coverage coverage.

What occurs if I get a flat battery?

We launched the UK’s first Cycle Rescue service 30 years in the past and embody it with each cycle insurance coverage coverage of ours. Alternatively, we promote it as a standalone service for £24 per yr. In case your e-bike or electrical cargo bike suffers a puncture, mechanical challenge, or perhaps a flat battery, we will ship a restoration lorry to rescue you.

ETA Cycle Rescue safeguards towards breakdowns – together with a flat battery

Can I flip my bicycle into an e-bike?

Sure. For nearly so long as there have been bicycles, individuals have been including motorised help. For instance, the French Michaux-Perreaux steam velocipede of 1868 pre-dates the primary security bicycle by virtually twenty years.

Fashionable electrical motors and lithium ion batteries have made motorising your bicycle a lot simpler.

Many riders who need to retrofit an electrical motor go for kits made by Bafang. The kits can be found with both hub or mid-drive motors are good worth for and straightforward to suit. Nevertheless, bear in mind that many are too highly effective to adjust to UK regulation.

The moral alternative

The ETA was established in 1990 as an moral supplier of inexperienced, dependable journey providers. Over 30 years on, we proceed to supply cycle insurance coverage , breakdown cowl and mobility scooter insurance coverage whereas placing concern for the setting on the coronary heart of all we do.

The Good Procuring Information judges us to be the UK’s most moral supplier.