How to choose an electric bicycle
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If you want to buy a Tesla, but only have enough for a two-wheeler, an electric bicycle is the way out. In some aspects it is much better than a car or a regular bicycle. Of course, there are minuses too, you can’t ride on such a vehicle in winter, but otherwise there are much more pluses. To make the right choice, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic rules and nuances of selecting an electric bicycle.
Which electric bicycle is better to buy in Ukraine
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Electric bicycles are many, they are very different from each other in appearance, design, power and price. There are both lightweight recreational models that fold and are easily carried, and heavy high-speed bikes, differing from a moped or light motorcycle only by the presence of an electric motor and pedals.
- Size and weight. A normal bike weighs up to 15 kilograms, but with electric bikes it — only the minimum bar. Heavy models can weigh up to 50 kilograms. Naturally, the more bulky and larger «pedal-electric horse» — the more difficult it is to move it, if you need to overcome a difficult area. For apartment storage choose a compact folding model, and for the garage should prefer a full-size bike. Also, the low weight facilitates movement only on pedal traction.
- Power. The motor of an electric bike is capable of developing power from a hundred watts to several kilowatts. At the lowest wattage, the motor is more of an auxiliary propulsion system that reduces the strain on your legs. For comparison, about 100 watts develops an average untrained person, the athlete is able to briefly produce about 1 kW, and the master of sports in the long term — about 300-500 watts.
- Speed. The lighter the bike — the lighter it can generally be faster, but everything also depends on the drivetrain. Fortunately, in Ukraine, the license is needed only for two-wheeled electric transport with a motor from 3 kW, and the speed of bicycles in the traffic rules is not directly regulated. You can easily buy a bicycle in Ukraine and ride without a license and registration, even if its motor develops 2 kW (which is comparable to the engine of a scooter), and the speed reaches 80 km/h, while in some countries there are limits of 250 W and 25 km/h. But remember that speed — is synonymous with risk, so buying a speed bike is recommended only for experienced riders.
- Battery. Take into account the autonomy of the bike to avoid frequent charging (from this the battery wears out) and get great mileage. If the mileage on a single charge is not specified — correlate the capacity of the battery and the power of the engine. A 250 watt motor will be able to run on a 250 watt battery for one hour, a 500 watt battery — two hours. If the speed is 50 km/h — the range will be 50 and 100 km respectively.
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Which electric bike is optimal for the city
The answer to the question depends on your needs. For fast riding mostly on the motor, on flat roads, a full-size version with a 150-300 W motor with a large battery is optimal. For measured rides on flat paths, with alternating motor and pedal traction, choose a compact lightweight model. There is no need for a heavy battery in such cases. Massive bikes with a high-powered engine, wide wheels, and suspension are ideal for extreme recreation enthusiasts, people who live in areas with terrible roads, and those who want to ride a bike like this to go fishing, for example.