How to calculate ebike range

Hello, everyone. In this article, we will discuss how to calculate the range of an e-bike. That’s a very tricky question because it depends upon several factors. Not only does one have to calculate battery power, but one must also consider the e-bike manufacturer specifications of the particular individual model. Sometimes, e-bike manufacturers will guarantee any range, but in the terms & conditions section, you will see that to justify their range, they will mention that e-bikes must be running on specific conditions. But what are those conditions? Let’s talk about them in this article.

First, let’s figure out the list of factors that will affect your e-bike range:

• Rider weight & driving style:

• • The rider’s flow of riding style can give or take away a lot of range. A rider who is using the correct power mode with the correct cadence, using his correct gears with respect to the riding speed, and using the flow of the trail will be getting more range from the e-bike battery. And, if the rider suddenly stops and starts on the trails, using the incorrect cadence, power mode, and gears to commute on the trails will drastically decrease the overall e-bike range.
  • If the rider’s weight is high and he/she carries an extra load, for example, if he/ she carries an accessories backpack while riding, this will increase the e-bike’s weight. Thus, the power motor has to generate additional power, and additional power will decrease the overall backup of the battery, reducing the total range.

• Power Mode options available on e-bike:

Our e-bike has got some power-riding modes. Power modes affect your battery differently, affecting speed and overall riding range. There are commonly three types of power modes, which I will explain in the below following points:

• • Power mode-off: Yes, I was delighted to know that new e-bike models had such modes because, in previous models, there was no such kind of “Power mode-off” selection mode. In this mode, if the rider is quite anxious about his own health and wants to burn out his legs by only pedaling congratulations, this mode is specifically designed for them. By activating this mode, the e-bike controller will turn off the power motor, and therefore, it will act like a typical standard bicycle. And, of course, the rider will be getting maximum mileage in this mode.

• • Trail Mode: This mode is programmed for riding on bike trails. It provides a good balance between the battery and the power you get while riding your e-bike, thus providing you with better mileage. I will always recommend riding your e-bike on bike trails so that you get a better balance and good battery backup. These trails are specially designed for riding e-bikes.

• • Turbo Mode: This mode is much more effective only when going to great heights, and your power motors require extreme power from the battery. However, please do remember that extreme power means that your e-bike will need more energy supply from the battery to give you optimum performance. Thus, in this mode, you will get a lower range than all other modes.
• Tire type: The tire choice could result in massive battery energy savings. In my experience, I have calculated that in a 15-minute ride, I get almost 10 percent more range if I commute with a soft compound aggressive tire over a profile harder compound tire.

If we talk about tire pressure, harder tires will help you provide maximum range, but you would have to compromise on comfort. On the other hand, soft tires will provide you with good comfort and high traction, but they will give you less range.

Additionally, you can read here the estimated range you can get on a single charge.

Oh gosh, but how to calculate the range:

To get a rough idea about the range of an e-bike, I do simple math. Now, let’s start with the standard and most commonly used 500-watt hour e-bike battery. I know that it’s a bit smaller, but believe me, you will find this on many e-bikes. So, now let me divide my calculation into two parts: one for Throttle-only e-bikes and the other for Pedal-Assist e-bikes.

Now, let’s dive into Throttle Assist range calculation:

I was curious to know if I only rely upon Throttle Assist Mode, what total range will my e-bike equipped with a 500-watt hour battery give me?

My average running speed on my e-bike is 25 miles per hour, so I divided my total battery capacity by my average speed when I ride in throttle-only mode. Let me explain it to you pragmatically:

500 Wh ÷ 25 miles/ hr

= 20 miles or 32 km approx range

So, by following this method I can get a rough idea in my mind that on full charge, I will be getting 32 km of range approx if I use only throttle drive mode.

My next method is Pedal Assist range calculation:

This method is also the same, and I will take my same 500-watt-hour battery and divide it by 15 miles per hour. If you ask me why I ride 15 miles per hour, the answer is pretty simple because that is my average speed if I ride with pedal assist mode only.

Now, let’s see the calculation practically:

500 Wh ÷15 miles/hr

= 33.3 miles or 53.5 km approx range

Conclusion:

• You can see that if we talk about the maximum range, the Pedal Assist mode is the clear-cut winner.
• I live in an area where I have to deal with hills, so if you live in a flattish area, then you can break my throttle only record and get up to 22 miles of range.
• The above range calculation method can only be used to take out the rough estimate of the total range an e-bike can give.
• Please try removing unnecessary kits installed in your e-bike if you want to increase the range.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Carrying heavier loads with you takes a lot of power, thus decreasing the overall range, so be careful.
• If you are a heavier rider, you can increase the power of your battery to get a decent range.
• Proper maintenance of the e-bike battery is very important to get maximum range, so please regularly maintain your battery.
• You never know how much you’ll ride your e-bike on a single charge, so I always suggest investing in larger battery packs.

I hope this article helped you solve your e-bike range queries. If not, please comment, and I will try to help you fix or solve your issue. Thank you so much for your valuable time and trust. Please remember ebikeleague and come back for any difficulty you face with your electric bike.

WITH LOVE,

KEEP THRIVING YOUR E-BIKE