If you like to do outdoor activities, cycling is always a good alternative. If you also want to go to work by this means of transport, but without it implying that you arrive sweaty, the electric bicycle (ebike) is a good option to combine exercise and transport. Today, buying an ebike is easy. You can easily find the best models on the Internet. For information, this electric bike manufacturer provides various kinds of electric bikes with premium quality.
The legislation of the electric bike
So far, the electric bicycle will be affected by the same rules as the rest of the bikes. That is, in the city the use of a helmet is not mandatory. They will not be able to circulate on the sidewalks, unless they are specially indicated for it, and they have to circulate on the road like other vehicles.
You do not need a license to drive, as would be the case with a moped. But you do need to know the highway code, know the road signs and respect them. The bicycle must have a white front light and a red rear light whenever it is traveling in low light conditions or at night.
It is not mandatory to have insurance, although it is recommended at least to have theft insurance since the acquisition cost is high. It is also recommended to have Civil Liability insurance, since, in the event of an accident, if we do not have this insurance, we will have to take care of the damage caused to a vehicle or a pedestrian, as the case may be.
And now that we are clear about some concepts of electric bicycles, it is time to choose a model. And here it will not be very different from what we must take into account on any other bike.
It is interesting to ask yourself some questions:
- What use are we going to give it regularly? Urban, mountain, road or mixed, cargo …
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Where are we going to keep it?
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Do we need it to be foldable?
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And to charge the batteries?
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What range of bikes can I afford? As in everything we have low, medium or high range. If you are looking for a cheaper solution, purchasing one of these wholesale electric bikes is recommended.
Types of electric bicycle batteries and autonomy
As in any electric vehicle, batteries play a very important role when choosing. To begin with, we would have to see if we are looking for a bicycle with removable batteries or that are integrated into the frame. The main advantage of the former is that we can take them with us if we park the bike on the street and recharge them at work or at home in a more comfortable way than having to take the bike home.
If we prefer that they be integrated into the frame, aesthetically they are more concealed. It would be the option most similar to a conventional bicycle, regardless of the type chosen, be it a folding, urban or mountain. We will practically not notice the difference, beyond a greater weight and the assistance selector that we want to apply.
When choosing, it is essential to look at the recharging cycles that the battery allows and how easy it is to replace it in the future. Especially if we plan to do many kilometers with this vehicle, as would be the case of commuting to work, the more recharge cycles the endurance is better.
Finally, autonomy will be linked to its energy storage capacity. The most efficient batteries are usually lithium ion batteries, while the cheapest are usually lead, also heavier. The greater the storage capacity, the more autonomy they allow, although it must be borne in mind that lithium batteries are more efficient.
The autonomy that we achieve will also depend on the weight of the cyclist and the terrain to be covered. Someone who weighs 90 kilos and has to climb hills will not achieve the same performance as a cyclist who weighs 75 and performs a flat course. The same can be said about the bike. The normal thing is that they allow routes between 50 and 60 kilometers with pedaling assistance without problems. It will also vary with the amount of help it gives us, since the electric bike allows us to regulate how much we want the electric motor to push.
Where is the motor located
When choosing a model it is interesting to consider where the engine is located. There are usually two trends, in the axle or in the wheel. It is a question of efficiency and sensations. With the motor on the axle, the usual pedaling of a bicycle feels more. It is the most suitable when we talk about doing sports with the bike, for the MTB or even on the road. In addition, by having a torque movement sensor, on the axis itself when pushing the pedal, the electric motor comes into operation and the bike literally goes off, although it depends on the manufacturer and how it regulates the power delivery.
We hope this post was helpful!
