E bike Batteries come in a variety of sizes and companies love to make grand claims around how far you can ride per charge but as with most things, reality is not quite that simple. For example I present two scenarios:
Scenario 1: A rider weighing 120lbs is riding a 60lb urban-style E Bike with a 600wh battery in the summer. The day is warm with calm winds and they are riding a relatively (for our area) flat route with only a few stops. Their bike has a Bosch Performance line motor and they are using AUTO mode. In this scenario, the Bosch range estimator says that they will be able to go 100km with a full battery.
Scenario 2: A rider weighing 200lbs is riding a 55lb E Mountain Bike with a 800wh battery in the winter. The day is cold and damp with soft trail conditions and the planned route includes steep hills and lots of stop and go riding. Their bike has a Bosch CX motor and they are using EMTB mode. In this scenario, the Bosch range estimator says that they will be able to ride around 25km.
Now these are two very different scenarios but I think that they highlight how big of a disparity there can be between the range you can get with different use cases. This is why it can be difficult to come up with a "number" for how far you can go per charge as there are a number of factors that affect this.
Battery capacity: usually referred to in Watt Hours or wh, The higher the battery capacity, the further you can go per charge.
Motor power: The higher the motor power, the faster it will drain the battery if working at capacity. A 500w motor will drain a 500wh battery in one hour of continuous use.
Rider weight: A heavier rider needs more force to move, especially on hills.
Road/Trail Surface: Fresh, smooth asphalt or cement will have very low rolling resistance compared to soft dirt or sand. This will dramatically change how hard your E Bike motor needs to work.
Outside Temperature: Lithium Ion batteries commonly found on E Bikes are affected by the ambient temperature both while charging and in use. They don't work as efficiently while very hot or very cold.
Wind and riding position: Aerodynamics can effect range greatly. An upright seated position will grant you less battery range than a more stretched out position due to wind resistance. Riding in windy weather will also reduce your range.
Frequency of stops: Stopping and then accelerating from a stop will drain your battery more quickly than riding at a consistent speed, similar to how your car gets better fuel economy on the highway than in town.
Tire type and pressure: A tire with a smoother tread and more supple casing will roll more efficiently than a knobbier, stiffer tire. Making sure that your tires have the correct amount of air pressure in them will also make a big difference to your range. Running too high of tire pressure can also make your bike roll less efficiently as the tire will not conform to the road surface as well and can bounce off of small obstacles and imperfections in the road or trail.
Assist mode: Most E Bikes have various different assist modes that offer different levels of E assist. Which mode you are in can drastically change how far you can go per charge.
If you are having a hard time deciding what size battery is right for you and your needs, please come by the shop or call us and we can help you make an informed choice.
Check out the Bosch range Calculator here: https://www.bosch-ebike.com/ca/service/range-calculator