To buy the electric bike that's right for you, you need to know how they're made and the main features
Electric bikes are not a passing fad, but an established reality. They are increasingly present in our cities, in many municipalities you can rent them through bike sharing services and there are also bonuses that allow you to save on the purchase. Electric bikes offer an excellent alternative to public transport and the car, especially if you move around the city for short distances.
In a historical period in which pollution caused by transport has reached alarming levels, electric bikes are a solution for sustainable mobility: they do not produce pollutants and also allow you to better live your city. Compared to muscle bikes, e-bikes have some different features, starting with the motor, the battery and the electric system that helps in pedaling. In order to choose an electric bike, there are some features to take into consideration: many people think that the power of the motor is fundamental, but in reality it is not so. Here's how to choose the pedal-assisted electric bike to buy.
Electric bike and pedal-assisted bike: the differences
First of all, it is necessary to clarify. Electric bike and pedal assisted bike (also called e-bike) are not the same means. An electric bike is a vehicle that uses only the power of the engine to move, without any effort on the part of the person. The pedal assisted bike, however, as you can guess from the name needs the impulse of the person to move. The motor is activated only after you have made force on the pedals and the faster you go, the less it will contribute. Il codice della strada prevede che il motore si spenga automaticamente dopo aver superato i venticinque chilometri orari.
Le caratteristiche che deve avere una e-bike
Quali sono le caratteristiche più importanti che deve avere una bici elettrica a pedalata assistita? In primis bisogna pensare che siamo sempre e comunque di fronte a una bici e la qualità dei materiali fa la differenza. Il fatto che sia presente un motore e una batteria non ci deve far dimenticare dell’importanza di un buon telaio e del comfort mentre si è in sella (la bici deve essere della taglia giusta).
Superato il test del comfort, bisogna tenere in considerazione:
- la trasmissione
- il motore e dove è posizionato
- la batteria
- i freni
- le gomme
- il preso.
Il motore in una e-bike
Il motore è una componente fondamentale in una bici elettrica, ma la buona notizia è che sono tutti molto simili. They only change depending on the type of e-bike: road, mountain-bike, walking. As a rule, the motor of a pedal-assisted electric bicycle is 250 watts and delivers power until it reaches 25km/h. The motor can be positioned in different areas of the bike: front, center or back. Depending on how it is positioned, the riding style changes. The best solution is to buy an e-bike with a central motor.
Battery
As with all electronic devices, the battery makes a difference in e-bikes, especially for the range. But you should not focus too much on this component. The reason is quite clear: the battery range is influenced by too many external factors. The route taken (uphill, downhill), the force the person exerts on the pedals, the wind, the body weight, the road surface. Declaring that the electric bike has a range of 70 or 150 kilometers is giving random numbers. The important thing is that it is of good quality and that it has an acceptable recharge time, between 4 and 6 hours.
The weight of the electric bike
The electric bike cannot have the same weight as a normal bike. Too many extra components are present. For this reason it is necessary to choose with care the e-bike with the best frame and with a slightly lower weight, otherwise the effort to "make it go" is really remarkable. And the advantages of having an electric bike soon turn into disadvantages.