Electric bicycle pedal recharge
Electric pedal-assisted bikes, also known as E-bikes or electric bikes, offer a spectrum of benefits for different kinds of rides and riders, and aim to break down barriers that prevent us from taking longer, faster rides. Each E-bike in our lineup has a pedal assist motor that runs on a frame-integrated, rechargeable battery. One question we get all the time is: how long will my E-bike battery last on one charge? The not-so simple answer: It depends. We know, WE KNOW: that’s not that helpful, but hear us out. There are a lot of factors that affect just how far your battery will last, and once you understand them, you’ll be better at estimating how many miles you have before you need to recharge.
But, before you can get a clear picture of how to maximize your E-bike battery life, you’ll need a quick run-down of the technology that goes into making your E-bike… well… go. For everyone’s sanity, we tried to put our tech jargon into simple terms here. Read on for detailed descriptions of each model of battery and motor, and how they interact on your bike.
Liv’s Four Battery Options
Our E-bikes are built with one of three batteries that power the motor: the EnergyPak Smart, the EnergyPak Smart Compact, or the EnergyPak Side Release. Also available is the EnergyPak Plus, a small backup battery. All four rechargeable batteries detach from the frame and can be plugged in either on or off the bike, depending on how accessible your outlet is.
The strength of each battery is measured in watt hours (Wh)—a unit totally different from watts, which many cyclists use to measure their own power output at any given moment as they ride. But mainly: The higher the watt hour of your bike’s battery, the more power it can hold.
The EnergyPak Smart is the highest-capacity battery available for our E-bikes, ideal for long, intense rides where you’ll be using a large amount of pedal assistance or encountering a lot of loose gravel, snow, mud, or other unpaved terrain. The slim, streamlined battery is integrated right into the frame of the bike for a clean look and feel. It comes in three different watt hour (Wh) versions: 625, 500, and 400 (if the bike you buy comes with the 400 or 500 Wh battery, it’s compatible for an upgrade). All three Wh levels of the battery charge from dead to 80 percent in under three hours.
The EnergyPak Smart Compact is our 500 Wh electric road bike battery, which has the sleekest profile designed to help your E-bike blend in with a fleet of non-electric road bikes. Both the EnergyPak Smart and EnergyPak Smart Compact have aluminum casing to help prevent overheating, for both safety and battery-life extension purposes.
The EnergyPak Side Release comes on many of our commuter E-bikes and entry-level electric mountain bikes, shaped specifically to fit into step-through models. It’s available in 500 Wh and 400 Wh and slides into the side of the downtube, rather than removing from the bottom the previous two batteries listed. EnergyPak side release’s waterproof rating is IPX5, slightly less than the rest of Liv’s batteries (IPX6, which can withstand a bit more pressure).
If you’re taking an extra-long trip where you might need extra battery life before you reach a place you can recharge, the EnergyPak Plus, a 250 Wh backup battery, is available. It’s small, lightweight, and can be mounted directly to your downtube to add more miles to your ride. It charges relatively quickly, up to about 80 percent capacity in just two hours, so you can change up your main battery and this one in a single evening.
Liv’s Three Motor Options
Our E-bikes have a motor located near the bottom-bracket that gives you assistance in turning the pedals, also called pedal assist. The three motors were developed in cooperation with Yamaha, and includes the SyncDrive Pro, the SyncDrive Sport, and the SyncDrive Core. All three motors are equipped with multiple sensors that detect even the slightest change in your cadence, power input, and speed. This allows the motor to blend the assistance it’s giving you into your pedal stroke in the most natural way possible; it engages smoothly and gradually, increasing input to match yours. Our E-bikes are designed to emphasize and support your own power and fitness, so there is no throttle you can push to make it go. You have to pedal—but how hard you pedal is up to you.
Our top-end E-bike come with the SyncDrive Pro. It’s the most powerful motor with the fastest engagement, meaning it feels the most touchy of the three, so it’s great for intense bursts of power to get through tricky uphill sections or steep punchy climbs on a mountain bike. The highly sensitive motor engages even if you’re pedaling super lightly and quickly (up to 170 rpm).
The SyncDrive Sport motor comes on most of our mid-priced bikes, and offers a less-punchy engagement than the Pro. Since it’s more conservative with its power, it tends to use less battery over time than the high-powered Pro as well.
The SyncDrive Core is the lightest-duty motor that comes on many of our E-commuter, and entry-level E-mountain bikes. It offers the smoothest engagement with the most gradual increase of assistance, so it is the most battery-conserving option of the three. And—bonus—it’s also the quietest.
Best Options for Charging your Electric Bikes
Nowadays e-bikes are the most popular and usable equipment worldwide. They are faster, more reliable, and cheaper than electric cars; since every e-bike needs to be charged, a charger is an essential element in an electric bike; the e-bike is unable to function without a power source. As there is so much diversity in charger types for e-bikes, deciding what charger would be better for bike batteries to charge an electric can be difficult. There are some concerns about how to charge an electric bike, where to charge electric bike. or charging electric bike from a car battery. For instance, what watt hours, amp hours, battery voltage, or even battery range can be good for the battery life? Is lithium battery actually a rechargeable battery for electric bikes? This article can answer all the questions you may have.
Ways to Charge an Ebike
Standard Outlet
One of the options for ebike charging that can help the batteries charge is a standard outlet such as a wall outlet. A portable ebike charger can be used nearly everywhere, from a garage to an office, and could have a place for an electric bike charger for all battery ranges. It can be a good gesture to ask about using a public area outlet from the business. These outlets can also charge all battery voltages from 48V battery to 120V. It can be good in the charging cycle of all electric devices, such as electric cars or electric bikes.
Solar Panel
Renewable energy, such as solar energy, can be a good choice for ebike charging cycles. Besides, this energy is versatile, cheaper, and even Eco-friendly. If you have access to the sunlight, all you need to do is to connect a 100 to 200-watt hour solar panel for charging e bike battery with inverter. To have efficiently transferred energy, ensure your e bike has a compatible connector or a generator to charge.
Generator
If you don’t know how to charge an electric bike yet, charging e bike battery with a generator can be a solution. A bike with a generator is an easy-to-use device. It is an element to connect an electric bike’s battery to a generator just by plugging one end of the charging cable into the generator. The more power output the generator has, the better the battery life is for an ebike charge. A portable charger for an electric bike or generator with the right wattage or amp hour will guarantee an uninterrupted and smooth adventure with the ebike!
Car Charger
An interesting fact about ebikes is that they can use a 120V battery charger. When charging, you can use this feature to plug your battery into a compatible receiver like charging electric bike from a car battery. If your car has a 120V power source battery outlet, set the ebike battery charger into it and turn the ignition on. Remember that a 48V battery can’t be helpful for the electric bike charging cycle. Then, for some hours, plug the bike batteries into the socket. It is going to happen by attaching an inverter to the car battery and charging e bike battery with inverter. Then, connect the inverter device to a power source. Plug the power source into the b attery by the cables. Other options for charging are to use a power bank for ebike, ebike USB charger, a portable generator, a wall outlet, or a solar charger.
When to Charge your Ebike Battery?
A brand-new e-bike may need up to 12 hours of charging time to make sure the bike battery is fully charged and functions normally. After that, it’s better to use ebike battery charging cycles between 20% and 80%.
As most electric bikes have light indicators, you will understand whether your electric bicycle needs to be charged or not. The light indicator turns red when the battery is getting low and the bike runs out of power source; then, ebike charging is an option. When the light is green, it means that ebike charging is done and the battery is fully charged.
So once the red light shows up, all you need to do is to connect the charger to the battery. Ensure to turn off your battery before connecting it to a power supply. Within a few hours, the light will be green; you will understand the ebike battery charger is fully done.
Additionally, there are some reasons that you need to consider when using an electric bike charger:
- You want to ride an e-bike the very same or the next day
- The electric bike gets less than 30-35 of battery capacity
- The day before riding a long distance, you need it to be fully charged
- You haven’t used it for a long time
- As long as the electric bike’s battery remains in a risk-free area
- In some fashion e-bike models, the light on the batteries will blink while it is 100% charged.
Notice the ebike charging cycle; there is no need to be done after or before every single ride.
How Much Time does It Take to Charge an Electric Bicycle?
For charging an e-bike, it will take 3 to 6 hours to recharge based on a lithium-ion battery being fully used up. Charging batteries that have a partial charge will take less time than others. If you don’t want to wait till the last hours of charging and for the process of charging an electric while it is called top-off the cells to be completed, don’t you worry it’s not going to be a problem. Some batteries charge in 2 to 3 hours until it is 90%.
Because of the variety of the battery range and capacity, it usually takes 500 to 800-watt hours to charge a battery.
How Long Does an Electric Bike Charge Last?
After the ebike battery charger is done, you can ride your electric bike around 100 to 120 km on the standard electric bicycle. You can charge a single electric bike battery up to 500 times without losing capacity. But remember to use an ebike battery charger regularly for ebike charging and battery life.
How do Ebike Chargers Work?
Because ebike charger batteries are diverse based on the producer and the battery voltage they use, the amp hour watt hours for charging time or power source would be different for each electric bike. Also, there should be some guidelines you need to know and follow; they will help you with the battery charging cycle.
Here is one of the ways that you can use in order to ebike charging:
- Bring out the battery pack from the electric bicycle
- Turn off the battery switch
- Connect the battery pack to the charger
- Plug the electric bike’s battery into the outlet
- Turn the plug on in order to start the ebike battery charger
You may be charging e bike battery with inverter, charging e bike battery with a generator, using a solar charger for ebike charging, or ebike USB charger in a way you don’t have any access to an outlet wall.
Last Words
You might be concerned about your electric bicycle, how to charge an electric bike, or where to charge electric bike. Would a portable charger or generator to charge an electric bike be helpful? Could a power bank for ebike, ebike USB charger or a bike with a generator be better? Does solar charger, car battery, or wall outlet help the function of battery life and charging cycle? There is no need to be worried as long as you read the guidelines about your ebike battery charger. So, enjoy your ride and have fun! Also, for more information check the ebike while camping out.
Do E-Bike Battery Charge Downhill? Yes! Here is How
Riding an ebike is full of joy but when it comes to charging, it needs electricity and we pay for charging our electric bikes with electricity, inverter, or solar panels.
With emerging technologies, we have a passion for including innovation in every product we use, same goes with our bikes. Especially when we are talking about e-bikes. So Is it possible to charge ebikes through work power energy?
Means, Do electric bikes charge downhill or while applying brakes?
In general, The majority of electric bikes are not charged while riding downhill or braking. However, there are some brands that claim that their ebikes getting charged downhill.
But charging an ebike downhill has certain flaws which we will discuss in the article ahead.
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Do Electric Bikes Charge Downhill? Explained
Riders often fancy the idea of charging an ebike downhill from the power produced by riding it. But that’s not the real truth.
Actually, The majority of ebikes don’t charge while riding downhill or applying brakes as the ebike battery is very powerful and needs electric power using a charger to get charged.
However, there are very few e-bike manufacturers that do claim that their ebikes charge downhill. It is possible but the actual question is if it’s worth i.e., How long would that battery last and for what distance?
Well, This system will only work if your e-bike has a regenerative braking system, the kinetic energy produced while peddling is reused to charge your battery instead of it being wasted.
But one of the major flaws with this design is its sustainability.
Basically, the energy you input to cycle downhill could get you next to nothing amount of battery power. For example, if you ride 5 to 6 miles downhill, the energy produced to charge the battery could get you another half a mile.
Apart from this, another flaw is that the technology used to save energy from getting wasted while you brake i.e. regenerative braking could not be installed just on regular e-bikes.
So, if you have a multi-gear e-bike or just a non-electric bike then you won’t be able to preserve your kinetic energy for use. Hence, Ebikes don’t charge while riding downhill.
Why don’t electric bikes charge while going downhill?
Even though the regenerative braking system works quite well but you cannot say that it helps to charge your e-bike’s battery, rather it is a great solution for regaining lost energy.
For the rest part, even the e-bikes that do have this feature are not performance efficient as a whole. So, this system needs more development.
Another reason why electric bikes do not charge while going downhill is that the energy produced fluctuates depending on the slope of the hill.
Are There Such Ebikes Available in the Market That Charge Downhill?
Even though the concept of your ebike self-charging while peddling did not seem quite promising, there is nothing wrong with wishing to hit the extra mile on your long rides without having to make a charging stop.
If you are very keen on saving up your work energy then you must go for a dynamo hub. It is basically an additional device that you can install in the hub of your bike to convert the energy generated by wheels while you pedal into electrical energy.
This electrical energy you can use for multiple purposes, from battery charging to charging the bike’s accessory lights and even your phones using a USB!
However, it is evident that installing a dynamo hub onto your e-bike will result in your bike getting speed dragged because of the obviously added weight. Read more.
Method 2: Carrying another battery
This by far is the most reliable and convenient way to charge your e-bike while going downhill. When you are on long touring rides, having a permanent solution for recharging your bike’s battery is not strange.
Hence, having a set of battery packs attached to your bike seems not only sensible but also a long-term solution that has low maintenance.
Method 3: Solar panels
Yes, you read right. When it comes to any kind of charging, solar panels are the most effective ones. All you need to do is attach it to your electric bike and just get going. Their lightweight makes them comparatively more convenient, which does not affect your speed.
These were the major and some of the effective alternative ways that you can apply in order to convert your kinetic energy to recharge your e-bike’s battery on the go!
FAQs: Do Electric Bikes Charge Downhill?
Does the regenerative braking system have any negative effect on your e-bike?
Generally, no, the regenerative braking system does not harm your e-bike’s components. However, it may damage the brakes if it is installed too close and interfere with them while riding.
Is the idea of charging your e-bike downhill actually effective or just a gimmick?
This feature legitimately increases the capacity of battery power by a minimum of 15%. However, there are few brands in the market that do make fake promises just as a sales gimmick.
Can you install a regenerative braking system in any kind of e-bike?
No, you cannot. the regenerative braking system works only on a specifically geared e-bike. A non-electric bike cannot support this feature.
Does this feature harm your e-bike’s battery life?
No, it does not have any impact on your e-bike’s battery, instead, it makes the battery more effective and increases the shelf life.
Conclusion: Do Ebikes Charge While Riding Downhill?
An ebike can go a long way on a single charge, and you can double your range by carrying an extra battery.
The bike will slow down and become more difficult to ride if you try charging ebike on the go (using a regenerative braking system).
I guarantee you that if this technology was really successful, every ebike brand would feature it on all their bikes and it would be the first item listed on the sales page!
There’s no doubt that riding an ebike is more fun and easier than riding a normal bike. If you’ve never ridden an ebike before, make sure it’s fully charged before you get out for a ride; know how long its range is.
I hope your query about charging an ebike downhill has been solved. If you have any, as us in the comment section below.
I wish you a safe and fun ride on the road. Stay tuned!
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Bittoo Gupta
I am the founder and editor of The Bike Fetcher, a passionate E-Biker. My passion for E-bikes led me to build this blog site where I share electric bike news updates, my e-biking experience, e-biking tips, e-bike battery tips and help people to get the best e-bike. Feel free to contact me on my social accounts or through the contact form.
How Do Electric Bikes Work?
If you are interested in taking a biking trip but not sure you have the strength or endurance for a longer ride, e-bikes might be for you. In the past few years, electric bikes have become very popular among trail riders and commuters alike, and it is easy to see why. They have the power to assist riders on harder sections of a bike route while still leaving room for riders to get in a quality cardio workout. But how do electric bikes work? Let’s get into it.
The Mechanics of an Electric Bike
E-bikes differ from standard bicycles in two important ways: the battery and the motor. Powered by the batteries, electric bike motors provide pedal assistance, meaning that they work with you to deliver increased power and speed with your pedaling. They differ in this way from, say, a motorcycle, which is powered solely by the throttle and does not require an input of physical exertion.
The Battery
Strapped to the down tube of a bicycle’s frame, the battery is the main reason e-bikes are much heavier than traditional bicycles. They are generally easy to tell apart from other bikes because of this battery bank. The battery may also include a power button and an LED screen to show the battery’s charge. The battery is responsible for generating power for the bike, and its capacity will limit how fast you can accelerate and how long you can ride.
Conveniently, electric bike batteries can be recharged with standard electric outlets, and most e-bike batteries last between thirty and seventy miles on a single charge. Unless you are a marathon cyclist, this will be enough capacity to get you through a day’s ride. Keep in mind that most e-bikes do not recharge the battery as you pedal or coast down a hill.
The Motor
The e-bike motor is usually attached either to the back wheel’s cassette, encased in a hub, or to the chain ring where the pedal cranks are attached. The motor converts stored energy from the battery to kinetic energy and helps you turn the pedals via the crank rings.
With an e-bike’s pedal assistance, you do not exert as much energy per cycle as with a standard bicycle. This difference can be felt most in the initial acceleration and on inclined ascents. Therefore, it makes e-bikes great for people with long commutes or tough trails. Beginners who are training their legs and lungs for harder rides also benefit enormously from e-bikes.
The Speed Sensor
One other important feature of an e-bike that you may not see is the speed sensor. Electric bikes are designed with a maximum speed to protect the user. This means that the motor will kick on, assist up to this speed, and then stop. Once you are there, you can coast at this speed and maintain it with pedal assistance, but you will not be able to achieve a higher speed unless you are going down a hill. The specific speed limit depends on the bike’s manufacturer and your state laws. But most e-bikes are limited to somewhere between twenty and thirty miles per hour.
The Benefits of an Electric Bike
Now that you know how e-bikes work by providing pedal assistance, you can better gauge if an electric bike is a good fit for your cycling interests. Even though it is counterintuitive, e-bikes can actually give you a better workout because you can ride more miles, climb steeper hills, and get over harder obstacles.
However, electric bikes are more expensive and heavier than traditional bikes, but you may find the pros outweigh the cons. There are many more factors to consider, which we already dive into in a different article. Be sure to check it out if you are asking yourself, are e-bikes worth it?
The Best Uses of an Electric Bike
Another essential consideration for cycling with an e-bike is whether you might want to ride without assistance. While it is possible to use an electric bike like a traditional bike (with the motor assistance turned off), it is not the most feasible option. Since e-bikes are bulkier and heavier due to the extra features, your ride will suffer if you try to use an e-bike without the pedal assist.
So when should you use an e-bike? There are tons of great reasons that people are turning to electric bicycles for daily use. One is commuting to work, where e-bikes give riders the opportunity to traverse longer distances in less time. A second is mountain biking. What’s more, biking in Colorado Springs is an especially good cause for trying out an electric bike.
Biking in Colorado Springs
There are tons of beautiful and scenic trails in and near Colorado Springs. While many are accessible for hikers, longer trails are also available to cater to Colorado’s active mountain biking community. If you have ever wanted to try mountain biking, an electric bike is a great first step.
Electric bikes provide pedal assistance so first-timers can enjoy longer trails without running out of energy. They also offer more stability since they are heavier and have a lower center of gravity than standard mountain bikes. This combination makes e-bikes ideal for beginner mountain bikers looking to explore Colorado Springs.
If this sounds like something you want to try, there are two ways you can hit the trails and enjoy a great day trip. First, e-bike rentals give you the space to experience an electric bike for yourself. You can explore nearby trails at your own pace and difficulty. Or you can ride through town and see if commuting with an e-bike is a good fit for you.
The second way to get on an electric bike is with guided e-bike tours. Join a professional guide on a tour around the Garden of the Gods Park, a stunning National Natural Landmark everyone should see. This gorgeous park has views of Pikes Peak, and the five-mile ride is perfectly suited for beginner cyclists. If you are looking to try out an electric bike, these are great opportunities to enjoy the beauty that Colorado Springs offers and better understand how e-bikes work.
E-Bike Riding Range
We hear this question a lot! And, honestly, it’s one of the most important factors in deciding which e-bike to purchase. Finding an e-bike’s exact range is complicated and difficult to distill down to one single number. It can be difficult to compare bike models, but you can absolutely expect a longer, farther riding range from a battery with higher volts and amp hours.
All Juiced Bikes are equipped with the industry-leading 52V battery, while most other e-bikes in the 1,000. 3,000 price range are only equipped with a 48V battery (in some cases, just a 36V battery).
When looking for a long range e-bike. finding its exact riding range depends on many factors including.
how much energy you have on-board vs. how much energy you need to go one mile.
This is all great. But HOW FAR CAN I GO!? For example, through our range test. we found that riding with light pedaling us a range of 50 miles going at a speed of 10 mph with the standard 52V battery. Here are the results:
How We Conducted The Electric Bike Range Test:
All testing was first performed using throttle-only while riding. Then we repeated the same test with pedal assist. Other testing parameters:
- Controls: Payload of the rider: About 190 pounds, this includes some gear.
- Tire Pressure: We use the stock tires at 60 psi. Higher pressure will result in more range but a harder ride, lower pressure will result in a lower range but a softer ride.
- Bumps: The road surface is more or less normal with a few bumps. Bumps are basically small walls that crash into the wheels and slow the bike down.
- Hill Grade: The surface is more or less level, but the test circuit does go up and down somewhat.
- Wind: It is difficult to find an area with absolutely no wind. The test circuit does have a little bit of wind, but it tends to blow in only one direction.
- Temperature: Warm temperatures of around 80 degrees or more. Cold weather will reduce the range.
Factors That Affect Range
There are several different characteristics of electric bikes that affect how many miles you get per charge. Like miles per gallon in a car, the range is there for a reason — there’s no guaranteed number of miles or the number of hours you can ride per charge.
These are some traits that will affect the range of your bike:
- Battery size: A bigger battery gives you more power and takes you farther with every charge. Juiced Bikes use 52V batteries in all of our e-bikes.
- Battery age: As batteries get older, they won’t hold a charge as well as when they were brand-new. With this in mind, you may want to replace your electric bike’s battery if you find that it isn’t getting very good mileage anymore.
- Pedal capability:Different classes of electric bikes have different pedaling capacities. If you have a model where you can pedal, like with a pedal-assist bike, you can combine your own power with the power coming from the electric bike battery to save juice while you’re out. If you’re relying solely on power from the battery, it might run out quicker.
These are a few more traits of your bike that can affect the range. Like with a car, there is no specific answer on how many miles or the amount of time you can ride with one charge. While you’re out, it’s important to keep track of your time or miles spent so you don’t run out of juice at the wrong time.
Riding Range of a Juiced Bike
Juiced electric bikes have a riding range between 40-100 miles depending on a variety of factors including battery size, average speed, terrain, rider weight, and more. With a smaller 48V or 36V battery, typical range will only be 15-35 miles per charge. That’s a considerable difference. Juiced Bikes customers often describe the ‘range confidence’ they feel when riding a Juiced e-bike, free from worrying about their battery dying during a ride.
Bigger batteries give higher ranges not only because of the charge but from the speed. As we mentioned before, bigger batteries are more powerful. With that power, you could ride up to 30 miles per hour. Even if two batteries’ charges last around the same length of time, the bike with higher speeds will have a higher e-bike mileage.
At Juiced Bikes, we saw the average riding range for e-bikes with smaller batteries and knew they could be dramatically improved. We successfully re-engineered the electric bike battery with most of our batteries providing riding ranges nearly double that of similarly priced e-bikes.
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