A beginner’s guide to electric bikes (e-bikes)
E-bikes are by no means a new bit of tech, but they can be a very handy addition to your touring setup.
Australia is full of beautiful places to explore, but one of the downsides is how far it takes to get anywhere. Whether it’s hours (or days) of driving to get to your bucket list holiday destination, or an extra 15-minute drive to get to the shops from your campground or caravan park, sometimes the last thing we want to do is get back in the car again.
This is when it’s handy to have an alternate mode of transport. Electric bicycles (e-bikes) offer another way to travel, and they have the added benefit of getting a bit of exercise in while you’re at it.
E-bikes are a great option for all types of travellers, and come in all shapes, sizes and styles to suit your needs. From the widely popular compact urban e-bikes known as ‘commuters’ such those by Aussie company IGNITE Electric Rides which are well-suited to bike paths and trips to the shops to pick up some necessities, through to rugged mountain bikes for those who enjoy the adventurous side of life.
What is an e-bike?
For those who haven’t yet delved into the world of e-bikes, an e-bike looks a lot like your standard bicycle but it features a battery powered engine which provides pedal-assisted riding. This means that when the rider pushes down on the pedal, the bike’s electric motor helps push you forward. This is particularly helpful when riding long distances, going uphill and if you’re carrying any cargo or shopping, as it removes some of the strain off the rider and makes e-bikes accessible to a wider range of ages and abilities.
There is an ongoing myth that e-bikes offer less exercise due to this aided pedalling, and while it does make the overall experience a bit easier, studies have shown that e-bike riders tend to cover longer distances. And after all, while the ‘e’ in e-bike does stand for electric, you still need to put the effort in — if you don’t pedal, the bike won’t go.
Depending on the variety or class of e-bike, there are different maximum speeds that riders will be able to reach. Smaller and lighter models tend to cap at around 25–32km/h, while others have a top speed of 45–50km/h. Although always be sure to check speed limits when on roads and bike paths, as even if your bike is capable of going faster you must still abide by the road rules.
There are a lot of variables that impact how far you'll be able to ride with a fully charged battery. These factors include the size of the battery, weight of the rider, the terrain, wind conditions, bike settings and how old the bike is. There are websites to help you calculate it depending on many of these variables, but typically you should expect to reach approximately 50km.
Charging e-bikes
E-bikes are designed to be easy to use and can be charged at home, in public places or on the road by plugging into a power outlet using the supplied charger. The time frame will depend on the e-bike battery capacity, charger amperage output and the power source you’re drawing from, but in general a full recharge will take between three to five hours. Please note, it’s wise not to run your battery completely flat as this will impact the battery life, and remember to charge them again every three months if you’re not using the e-bike regularly.
E-bikes such as the Commuter by IGNITE Electric Rides have batteries that can easily be removed from the bike and charged via your tow vehicle or caravan’s inverter while driving and can also be used as a separate power bank when you don’t need it on the bike.
There are also some e-bikes, known as hybrid bikes or hybrid pedal-electric bikes, that are designed so that the battery is recharged while you ride, using the pedalling momentum to generate power.
There are e-bike charging stations available around Australia, and they’re becoming increasingly more common. If you’re going on an extended bike ride, it’s best to map your route and calculate how far you can travel depending on your bike’s battery and consider how you will recharge. Depending on your route and how many charging stations are available, you may not have to sit in one spot to reach full charge but instead factor in multiple shorter stops to recharge in intervals.
There are various free apps to help you plan your route so that you’ll pass by an e-bike charging station or look into adding a mobile charger or portable solar panels into your biking setup.
Further considerations
While there are many benefits to owning an e-bike, there are a few factors to consider before adding it to your wish list.
Due to the battery and reinforced design, e-bikes are more expensive than a standard bike, and range from $1000 to $5000 or more, depending on the style and features. And this does not factor in the additional costs to recharge the bike or general maintenance.
Another important consideration is weight. While a traditional bike weighs around 15kg, an average e-bike can weigh between 20–30kg due to the motor, battery and reinforced e-bike frame. While this might not impact you while riding from one location to another, if your bike rack is up high lifting the bike up and down might be a challenge or impossible. It's also a good idea to check how much your bike rack is weighted to carry, and consider how this extra weight will impact the weight distribution across your tow vehicle and RV.
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