Posted on 05 Apr 2022,

With climate change threatening the very fabric that makes earth what it is, people—who were otherwise oblivious to its ill-effects—are rather keen on adapting to the latest and the best green trends to salvage whatever’s left of our planet.

Among the many elements which form the crux of humankind’s newfound determination to save earth, e-bikes are becoming a massive contributing factor. If, you too, are one of the many looking to go the e-bike way to pave the way for a better future, but don’t know how, this page is for you.

In this back-to-basics page, we will deal with some of the most important things you need to consider when buying an e-bike. Because, let’s face it, you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice your own comfort to make the earth more comfortable. Here goes our list of things:

Check how good the battery is

While we stick to the aforementioned point, we also implore you to check an e-bike’s battery and its capabilities. This is because e-bikes run solely on batteries which often tend to limit their range(distance covered). If you are used to somewhat lengthy commute but end up running on a low-capacity battery, there’s a definite chance you will get stranded frequently.

So check an e-bike’s battery and its performance figures (range) before zeroing in on the purchase. One thing you need to keep in mind here is that these batteries need to be charged every few hours through a main socket and can easily weigh about 3 kgs on average. Primarily, there are three different types of batteries namely, lead-based batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, and lithium batteries.

Lead-based batteries are the cheapest of the three, but they are heavy and are prone to changes in different climatic conditions. Nickel-cadmium batteries are comparatively lighter, but are riddled with memory issues which can bring down overall performance if they aren’t depleted before charging. Lithium batteries, on the other hand, have offer a more consistent performance, but are a lot more expensive when compared to the other two.

These three batteries come in different models and offer varying power levels and range. A 400 amp-battery would ideally work well to assist for a few long hours’ riding.

Does it have gears?

People looking for e-bikes often expect a decent transmission system to help them gather speed when they want. To cater to this group of enthusiasts, e-bikes often come with derailleur system which help them seamlessly shift gears and experience an upsurge in their power output.

Versions designed specifically for city use tend to have these gear hub systems, which are linked to their pedals, which requires them to stop pedalling to change gears. While reducing the strain on a rider’s legs, this system also avoids problems relating to chain derailment and jumping. If you need a more consistent performance which also offers you versatility when you’re riding, look for those that come with a gear system.

Figure out the level of assistance you need

If you have been on the hunt for e-bikes, you might already know that they fall under two categories in terms of assistance they offer. In one, you can basically control the level of assistance with the help of a control module. The module is either fixed or removable and will help you get the exact help you require from the motor.

On the other hand, there is a more advanced form of assistance which offers a more proportional assistance by keeping track of the rider’s pedalling and providing the extra power to keep the vehicle moving effortlessly. This doesn’t just pave way for better responsiveness but also lowers the overall power used throughout the ride.

Where do you want the motor?

The motor is one of the most important component of an e-bike and is quite literally the driving force behind it. Earlier in the 2010s, motors were fixed along the front wheel as it turned out to be way cheaper and was also easy to install. However, as e-bike manufacturers began to look for better performance, they decided to use a pedal-based motor which made it more like riding a bicycle. There are even variants these days that have employed sensors to help measure speed, rotation, and pressure. All in all, if you want optimum performance from your e-bike choose one with it motor along the pedal.

To sum it up, e-bikes are the future of motorcycles and will help us build a more sustainable mode of transport that isn’t harmful to the environment. Although, the engineering behind them is still in its nascent stages, with more eco-friendly initiatives, e-bikes are going to scale new heights in the near future.

Original Article : https://www.bankbazaar.com/two-wheeler-insurance/guide/things-to-consider-when-buying-e-bike.html