How long is the service life of a rechargeable battery?

Today's lithium-ion batteries are not only much lighter compared to older models, but also impress with a long service life. To extend the life of a battery, an e-bike owner should follow a few rules. These include, first and foremost, protection from direct sunlight and high temperatures. Charging should therefore ideally take place at room temperature and the e-bike should not be left in the blazing sun. During transport, it is important to always remove the battery from the e-bike and store it safely in the car. If these points are observed, a battery will last approximately 4 to 5 years or 400 to 500 charging cycles with average use. After that, the battery slowly loses capacity and the e-bike therefore loses range. Nevertheless, batteries should be replaced a certain period of time so that the joy of your e-bike does not dry up.  

What is the charging time of a battery?

The charging time also depends on the capacity of the installed batteries. With standard chargers, a 300Wh needs about 2.5 hours for a full charge. A battery with 500WH circa 4.5 hours. However, there are also fast chargers which significantly reduce the charging time.
 

Which motor position is the best?

In the early days of the e-bike revolution, motors were often installed on the rear hub. In recent years, however, this drive technology is only installed in very inexpensive models. Nowadays, e-bikes with mid-mounted motors are the ultimate. E-bikes with a mid-motor have their center of gravity very centrally mounted and thus an optimal balance during the ride. A mid-motor also provides support directly at the bottom bracket, giving acceleration a natural feel. When changing tires, you do not have to worry about a complicated process, because the engine is not in the way.
 

What motors are available?

In our e-bikes, motors from Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano and Panasonic are installed. The Bosch motor has been available since 2014 in two versions -Performance Line and Active Line. Both versions are very powerful compared to mid-range motors from other manufacturers, and the Bosch is hard to beat on hills. Three sensors measure cadence, cadence and speed over 1000 times per second. This enables perfect interaction between the rider and the e-bike. The Japanese manufacturer Yamaha is considered a pioneer of e-bike drives. Since 1993, the mid-mounted motor from Yamaha has been on the market and is particularly widespread in Asia. The currently installed PW-X series was developed from scratch and specifically for the most demanding ePerformace. The result is a compact, quiet and very powerful motor that always remains optimally controllable. With STePS, Shimano brings an integrated drive system to the market. The Shimano Total Electric Power System. This means that the motor, battery, gearshift, control instruments and display come from one house and are perfectly matched to each other. For example, if you press the shift button, the motor assistance is briefly interrupted and the gear change is only initiated when one of the cranks moves through top dead center and little force is applied to the pedal. E-bike drives from Panasonic were among the best-selling in German-speaking countries for a long time. In the meantime, Bosch drive systems are considered the most popular and most used in this country, but thanks to innovative new developments and good quality, Panasonic drives can continue to hold their own on the electric bike market. They are characterized by their compact and lightweight design and are very quiet in operation.
 

How much power do the motors have?

E-bikes may not exceed a continuous power of 250 watts because of a legal limitation. Our motor manufacturers offer motors with a continuous power of 250 watts and a peak power of over 700 watts. 
 

What to look for when equipping an e-bike?

It all comes down to the right e-bikes equipment. Since these bicycles can be moved motor-assisted, they resemble the conventional bicycle in terms of your design only conditionally. The attachment of additional components such as motor and battery requires greater stability and robustness of the frame. That is why e-bikes are several kilograms heavier than normal bicycles. The high weight and thus greater forces want to be kept appropriately in check. Accordingly, brakes are a crucial component in principle and especially on the E-MTB. Powerful four-piston models ensure reliable deceleration. Stable tires with sufficient tread are also very important. The rolling resistance plays a subordinate role, since you can fall back on the support of the motor. Anyone who saves weight here will constantly have flat tires and lose driving stability. In addition to the right tires, appropriately stable wheels are also extremely important to guarantee durability, good handling and thus corresponding fun on the e-bike ride. Absolutely indispensable is a telescopic seatpost on an e-mountain bike. This offers significantly more safety and comfort when descending the trail.
 

Which wheel size is right for me?

Hard to deny are the noticeable advantages of larger wheels. You roll more safely through the terrain and they forgive more driving errors. Even in the e-bike segment, the large 27.5 and 29 inch wheels have made inroads in recent years and the small 26 inch wheels are no longer offered. Which wheel size is best for you depends on your body size and the intended use of the e-bike. 27.5 inches is mainly offered for smaller people and on e-bikes with a lot of suspension travel. The geometry of the frame makes it very difficult to accommodate large wheels there. Generally, the larger the wheels the higher the comfort, traction and driving stability.
 

Can I tune my e-bike?

Is your e-bike too slow for you? When the e-bike reaches the legal limit of 25km/h, the motor assistance is adjusted. It is technically possible to circumvent this limit, but that would have many negative consequences. First and foremost, the manufacturer's warranty expires and your e-bike may no longer be moved within the scope of the STVO. In addition, insurance claims are no longer valid in the event of an accident. Experts can also provide evidence of subsequent deconstruction.

Expert tip:

Don't do it!
 

Do I need a driver's license to ride an e-bike?

To answer this question, one must distinguish between e-bikes or also called pedelecs and the so-called S-pedelec. E-bikes actively support the driver up to a maximum speed of 25 km/h. According to road traffic regulations, these e-bikes are considered normal bicycles under traffic law. Therefore, no driver's license is required. The situation is completely different for the much faster S-pedelecs. These support the rider up to a speed of 45 km/h. For this reason, a class Am or B driver's license is required. It is very important to note that it is strictly forbidden to use a bicycle lane. In addition, an absolute helmet obligation and you need an insurance license plate and operating license.

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