Electric bike: what about the motor and the battery?

 Electric bike: what about the motor and the battery?
Where should the motor of an electric bicycle be placed?

electric bike motor

The motor of an electric bicycle can be placed in three different places. Indeed, it can be either on the front wheel, or on the rear wheel, or either in the center, in the crankset.

    On the front hub (front wheel)

In general, these are the least expensive electric bikes that have a motor in this area. It is the simplest technology for electric bikes because in one turn of the pedal, the motor starts up. But this engine at the front, offers less efficiency and grip on a slippery road because of the rain. It is advisable to have this type of engine for a simple route that is not hilly.

    On the rear hub (rear wheel)

It removes the feeling of having a heavy bike, as you can feel with a bike with a front engine. This position of the engine allows for a more responsive bike because it is directly connected to the transmission. Nevertheless, it is much more difficult to mount this engine at the rear because there is already the presence of the derailleur. So this type of rear engine is more suitable for people who prefer a responsive and dynamic ride.

    On the pedalboard

It is the position of the motor that provides the best performance. Indeed, the power emitted by the motor will be proportional to the power of your pedal stroke. The harder you press your pedal, the more the system will detect that you need power.

The electric assistance is therefore much smoother and the engine is even forgotten. This position of the engine is particularly suitable for people who make long journeys. But the price will be a little higher compared to a rear or front engine.

If you want to know more about this subject, see our guide on electric bicycle motors.
What about the battery?

white electric bike battery

The batteries of electric bicycles are another element that deserves consideration.

Of course, no battery lasts forever. But that doesn't mean you should omit this factor. In general, the higher the quality of the bike, the longer the battery will last.

Battery capacity is measured either in watts (watts/hour = Wh) or in amps (amps/hour = ah). In general, the capacity of an electric bicycle battery is between 7 and 10 ah.

Most e-bikes have a lithium-on battery. With this type of battery, on average, you can have 800 charge cycles before it fails. Finally, depending on the quality of the battery, the range of your fully charged electric bike is 40 km to 100 km.

Again, if you want more information on this, then we've put together a comprehensive guide to e-bike batteries.
CONCLUSION:

With a growing market, buying an electric bike is becoming more and more common. But it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of e-bikes on the market.

To buy an electric bike you must first pay attention to the style you want, the price you want to put and finally the use you want to make of it.

We sincerely hope that our selection and our buying guide have helped you better understand the world of electric bikes. Throughout your navigation, you will find buying guides according to the types of bike but also tests and opinions on a selection of the best electric bikes.

Good navigation!