Which battery is best for an electric bike?
In the market you can find a wide variety of electric bikes, with different tech specs, power and battery. If you are wondering which battery is the best, we can give you some information to understand how to choose.
Normally, battery power and capacity are related to the bike shape and components, in fact some battery packs are fitted inside the frame, and some others are external but they have a specific hanging point. So, first of all you can't simply buy a random battery, but you must find one that is built to fit in the desired ebike.
Some batteries have a smaller capacity to fit in a thin space, or to keep the total weight low, on the other hand we can find very large battery packs that offer a long range capacity.
Consider that if you buy a modern ebike it will equip a good battery with a large capacity, and according to your needs it can be enough for you, so you will definitely not need to buy a spare battery. And if you will need, we suggest asking first to the bike producer, to be sure you're buying the correct battery pack.
In Fact, you have to consider the size, the voltage and the capacity. Anyways, we can say that you will not need to change your battery pack to get some more performance, you can achieve that goal with some simple attention.
But first, how long does a battery last?
How many miles with a charge?
The manufacturer often estimates the total autonomy that can be reached with the electric bike, declaring a maximum value of miles that can be traveled with active assistance. Keep in mind that these are results obtained with standard evaluation parameters that you will hardly be able to match. As is the case with the fuel consumption of cars, the result of estimates with favorable conditions and "created in the laboratory".
So for safety never refer to the absolute values in miles declared by the manufacturer. This means that if the bike is declared capable of doing 80 miles, don't expect to necessarily have an efficiency of 80 miles. As already mentioned, it depends on your weight, the difference in height, the terrain, the pressure, the level of assistance, the use of the gearbox and the ambient temperature.
If you use the full electric mode with the throttle the range will be decreased by around half capacity or less, if compared to pedal assisted mode.
The maximum range declared refers in fact to the exclusive use of the first level of assistance, with optimal ambient temperatures and a smooth rolling terrain with an average weight cyclist. Consequently, the autonomy must be reasonably estimated based on your distances and type of use. To get an approximate but likely value, you can easily reduce the total by about 20 or more miles depending on the difficulty of the route.
The more complicated the situation, the lower the autonomy. Drastic example of a demanding use on the dirt road, uphill with a sandy bottom .. in this case the autonomy will certainly be halved.
Ebike battery: the total capacity
As mentioned at the beginning, the ebike batteries have a total capacity that varies according to the model. The total capacity of a battery is expressed in Watt hours, with an abbreviation which, when abbreviated, is Wh. In the technical data sheets you will find for example the words: "500 Wh battery", i.e. a 500 Watt hour battery capacity.
With the same engine, type of bike and cyclist, obviously a battery with more Wh will have a longer life. However, keep in mind that lighter, more compact bikes often perform as well as heavier bikes with larger batteries. This is because the manufacturer tries to balance weight and capacity based on the type of bike.
So, is it always better to have more battery capacity? Even if it seems strange we can say no, this need depends above all on the type of use you make of the electric bike and on what possibilities you have to make a recharge.
For example, if you use the bike in the city for short daily distances of a few miles, it will be useless to invest in a super large battery. Both because you take short stretches and you can use the bike for several days without having to recharge it, and because you will easily have an electric socket available for recharging once you return home.
If, on the other hand, you practice cycle tourism for example and travel long distances, crossing towns and cities, then it is certainly better to have a long-lasting battery, which can guarantee you adequate autonomy.
How to get the best out from the battery
To get the best out of your battery while optimizing performance and autonomy, you'll need to keep in mind all the different variables we've talked about. We can also make a summary by adding some advice.
It certainly starts from choosing the ideal and correct ebike for your needs. If you choose the right bike you will avoid having an undersized or oversized battery for your needs.
Once you've found the pedal assist bike that's right for you, make sure you're using it in the correct environment. Remember to use gear shifting correctly to help the engine and reduce battery consumption.
Assistance must be progressive according to your needs, use the most advanced assistance modes only when it is really needed.
Check the tire pressure regularly before every ride or at least once a week, flat tyres consume a lot of energy. If it's a city bike, use high pressure to reduce energy consumption. For combined terrains, on the other hand, use medium pressure if you alternate asphalt and dirt, and lower pressure if you go only on dirt.
During the winter season, remember to charge and store the battery indoors in a warm temperature.
If you follow these tips you will surely get the best out of your e-bikes.
We present you the brand new Meebike Gallop that is equipped with a long range battery that's capable of giving you a great autonomy for your daily commuting.