How far can you travel on an E-Bike? is a common question about E-Bikes. I have outlined below various factors that determine this.
This is probably the most asked question about e-bikes and there is no one specific answer to it. Only a conditional response can be given. That is that it could be between as far as 60 – 70 miles or as low as 20 – 30 miles. It depends on a variety of factors.
Test Run
For example, I did a test run on the NCN 7 cycle track between Glasgow and the top of Loch Lomond. This is all flat. I used the lowest level of assistance (the ECO mode on my Bosch system) all the way there and back. I ended up cycling 70 miles that day and there was still a small amount of charge left in the battery.
(N.B. : This is an exceptional distance for me to cycle in one day. I normally only cycle between 30 – 40 miles in a day trip and I normally cycle most of the miles without assistance from the electric motor.)
Influencing Factors
Of course the test run was on a level route and only using the lowest level of assistance. The low level of assistance selected and the fact that there were no hills meant that the demand on the battery was significantly reduced. Also, I am not a heavy person, weighing in at about 11 stones. So this minimised the demand on the battery. Also, the battery I have on my e-bike has a high capacity and this significantly affects the distance you can travel.
The above are some of the factors that determine the distance that can be travelled on one charge of the battery. I’ve expanded a bit on each of these factors below.
Battery capacity
The most important variable to look at in terms of electric bike range is battery capacity.
Battery capacity can be likened to the size of a car’s fuel tank. The larger the tank the further the distance the car can travel, all other things being equal. Similarly, generally on an e-bike the larger the capacity of the battery the further the distance you can travel.
Battery capacity on an e-bike is usually measured in Watt-hrs (written as Wh). Watt-hrs = amp-hrs x volts. The higher the Wh normally the further you can cycle on your e-bike.
Personally, I’m not too interested in the technicalities or meaning of Watt-hrs, amp-hrs or volts, etc. All I wanted to know when I was buying my e-bike was what is the capacity of the battery in Wh. Thus I could choose a bike that was likely to offer a longer distance of travel. Anyone interested in the technicalities can find lots of info on the internet.
Different e-bikes come with different specifications, with one of the main differences in specification being the battery capacity. For example, I’ve seen ads for compact e-bikes (smaller wheels, etc.) with a battery capacity of around 200Wh. They only give a stated range of 20 miles.
If you want to get up to the higher range of 60 – 70 miles in specific conditions you would need a battery with a capacity of 400Wh or 500Wh.
I have a Bosch 500Wh battery on my e-bike. (See Anatomy of My E-Bike). It has served me well over the last few years. As explained above, this battery has managed 70 miles on one charge. So it has confirmed that a larger capacity battery can enable longer distances to be cycled under certain circumstances.
The level of assistance selected
Some people will ride about all the time using the lowest level of assistance around parks or on level cycle tracks. With the occasional use of higher levels of assistance when there are any inclines on the path. Or there is a strong headwind. Or there are time constraints. (All benefits of e-bike cycling).
People e-bike cycling in this way will achieve distances at the upper end of the scale. Whereas people who use the higher levels of assistance regularly will achieve distances at the lower end of the scale.
As mentioned above, I try to get as much exercise as possible. So my own riding method currently is to try to cycle as far as possible without using any assistance from the electric motor. I do this where the roads and paths are level and on hills that are not too steep. On steep hills I cycle as far up the hill as I can manage on my own. (Diminishing by the month / year ! ). I then use assistance from the electric motor to get me up and over the top part of the hill..
Thus, after a day trip of 30-odd miles or so the battery level is still quite high. In fact, the battery level indicator on my e-bike is still normally showing four levels out of five. So I’ve only used less than 20% of the battery’s capacity. Consequently, when I put the battery on charge it takes less than an hour to recharge fully.
So the distance anyone can travel on an e-bike will be partly determined by the level of assistance each person requires or selects. Each person is different. Everyone should select the level of assistance that is best for them to maximise their fun and enjoyment, i.e. Ride Your Own Ride!
Hills
Obviously more assistance will be required from the electric motor to get up hills. The steeper the hills the greater the amount of assistance that will be required. This, of course, will impact on the distance you can travel on your e-bike.
Fitness & Health
Fitness and health issues will also determine how much assistance is required to cycle up hills. This is where e-bikes come into their own – by providing assistance to overcome these issues. Nevertheless, the more assistance required the shorter the distance you can cycle on your e-bike.
Enjoyment
Some people may be capable, through a lot of effort and sweat, of cycling up hills on their own. But they decide that e-bike cycling is about enjoyment so they just crank up the assistance level on the electric motor. Although a certain level of pedal power is still required, they arrive at the top of the hill relatively fresh and relaxed.
My Approach
As outlined above, I currently try to cycle up steep hills as far as I can on my own pedal power. When I first got my e-bike a few years ago I could cycle up two thirds of most steep hills. I then only used the lowest level of assistance for the final third.
As the years have progressed I’ve found that I can now normally only get about half-way up most steep hills before having to use the lowest level of assistance. On some hills I now have to use the second level of assistance. Very occasionally I use the third level of assistance for a short distance to get me up the second half of the hill and over the top.
This is another example of the benefits and flexibility of e-bike cycling. I have been able to adjust the level of assistance I use to suit my changing circumstances.
Terrain
I am an e-bike cycle tourist and I do most of my cycling outside my home city of Glasgow. Normally I take my bike in my car for day trips. I usually cycle in the hills and glens to the north of Glasgow. Or in the open countryside around Glasgow or central Scotland. Here there are many hills, some of which can be very steep. This can result in a big demand on the battery. Thus it can reduce the distance that can be travelled on an e-bike.
Type of Cycling
However, not everyone will be cycle tourists. Some will be recreational cyclists and be happy to cycle through their local park or on level cycle paths along canals. So hills will be less of a problem for them and they will be able to travel further on their e-bikes.
Others may use an e-bike as a convenient way of carrying out errands such as going to the shops. If you live at the top of a hill and the shops are at the bottom, or vice versa, then using an e-bike can be a godsend. Similarly, if you live some distance from the shops
Some people may use an e-bike to commute to work. If the route includes one or more hills then the electric motor can be used to smooth the hills. This ensures that you arrive at work fresh and not dripping in sweat.
So the amount of hills you have to climb will affect the demand on your battery. This in turn will impact on the distance you can travel on your e-bike.
The weight of the rider & the bike
Obviously the greater the total weight to be driven by the electric motor the bigger the demand on the battery that powers the motor, and vice versa.
Thus if an individual is two or three stones lighter than the average then the demand on the battery will be less. All other things being equal, therefore, they should be able to travel a bit further on one charge of the battery than an individual with average weight. The opposite would of course apply for an individual who is two to three stones heavier than average.
It’s interesting that bike manufacturers battle to shave a pound or two off the weight of a bike, Yet most individuals could afford to lose several pounds or even more off their own weight. This could make a significant difference to range. In fact, e-bike cycling can help you lose weight!
The weight of the e-bike is also an important factor in determining the range that can be achieved. My e-bike, including the sturdy luggage rack that is fitted to the bike, weighs in at a whopping 26 kg! That is without my saddlebag that I always take with me. The saddlebag has fittings to allow it to slide and click onto the rack. So it is quite heavy even when empty. Being an extremely practical and cautious person, the bag is always full of things that I might need so it is even heavier. When this is fitted to the rack it brings the total weight of the bike to an amazing 28 kg!
No doubt mine is an exceptional case. There are e-bikes now that are a bit lighter and most people won’t use a luggage rack and saddlebag loaded the way I do. Nevertheless, e-bikes are generally much heavier than unassisted bikes. This does have an effect on the demand placed on the battery and consequently the distance that can be travelled on an e-bike.
Other factors that affect range
There are several other factors that affect electric bike range and that make it different from person to person and under different circumstances. These include:
- how fast you go (1/3 faster = 1/2 the range)
- how hard you are pedalling
- the number of times you stop and start (hill starts in particular will drain the battery)
- wind conditions
- temperature (you will get about 15% more range from a battery on a warm sunny day than you would in winter)
- tyre pressure (as with regular bikes, soft tyres = less efficiency = less distance for power expended)
- how old your battery is (batteries lose power over time)
- size of bike motor (big motors are fun, but obviously they drain more battery power).
Conclusion
As you can see from the above there are many factors that determine how far you can travel on an electric bike. There is no one answer to the question “How far can you travel on an e-bike?”.
As far as I can see battery capacity is the most important variable. If range is important to you and you can afford it, you should consider spending as much as you can to get a good quality battery with as many watt-hrs as possible.
If you do not intend to cycle long distances on your e-bike then you probably could get an e-bike with a lower capacity battery. However, remember that, as with all bikes, you usually get what you pay for. So, if the bike is very cheap the performance and range are likely to reflect that.