Synopsis: Swytch Technology launch a world-first.sized eBike battery, similar in size to a large smartphone, that turns any bike into an electric bike. To date, Swytch has sold almost 40,000 units of the original Swytch Kit to customers all over the world, with over 50% of sales being to international customers, primarily in the EU and USA. Swytch believes that eBikes should be lightweight, affordable, and work as a regular bike whilst having electric functionality. The new Swytch Kit is the result of world-class engineering and design to create a truly revolutionary product that brings affordable cutting-edge technology to the eBike market.
Main Digest
The new Swytch eBike conversion kit features a.sized battery (the “Power Pack”) which is similar in size to a large smartphone. The battery provides 250W of power and enough range for your daily commute, whilst weighing only 700g (1.54 pounds) and can be recharged in around 1 hour.
- A never-seen-before.sized eBike battery.
- A flight-safe battery (allowing it to be taken in carry-on luggage).
- Customers get to up-cycle their existing bike, making it electric and reducing waste.
- The cost will be around 4x lower than the price of an eBike with equivalent specifications.
(Article continues below image.)(Continued. )
Swytch is already a leader in the eBike market through the success of their existing version of the Swytch Kit which is one of the best-selling eBike products in the UK, having sold over 9,000 units in 2020, making it responsible for over 5% of the entire eBike market by volume. To date, Swytch has sold almost 40,000 units of the original Swytch Kit to customers all over the world, with over 50% of sales being to international customers, primarily in the EU and USA. Now, with the introduction of their new kit, featuring a.sized battery, Swytch anticipates that global sales volumes will grow to 50,000 units annually.
(Article continues below image.)(Continued. )
Swytch has recently raised £3.8M of equity investment, primarily from climate tech and sustainability-focused investors. Swytch’s largest investors are Green Angel Syndicate and Calyx Venture Fund, with the remainder of their funding coming from One Planet Capital, and individual members of the following: Startup Funding Club, Angels Den, Wealth Club, and Southern Angel Investors Club (SAIC), plus several other private investors. Swytch’s latest round of funding will be used primarily to invest in people and grow Swytch’s team and scale up their manufacturing and supply chain to increase production capacity to keep pace with their Rapid growth in demand.
Swytch’s CTO and Co-Founder, Dmitro Khroma Комментарии и мнения владельцев:
“Our new improved Swytch Kit is a game-changer. It is going to disrupt the eBike industry because it is so much lighter, smaller, and more affordable than anything else out there”. Whilst Swytch’s CEO and Co-Founder, Oliver Montague, Комментарии и мнения владельцев, “our job as innovators is to make environmentally friendly technology that people want to use because it is cool! That way, a global change to a more sustainable way of life will happen naturally”.
How the Swytch Kit Works
The Swytch Kit is pedal to assist, meaning that it provides power as you pedal. The pedal sensor detects when you are pedaling. The motor controller (contained inside the handlebar connector) draws power from the.sized Swytch battery and powers a 250W hub motor inside a front motor wheel.
(Article continues below image.)(Continued. )
How to fit the Swytch Kit
First, simply swap in the front motor wheel (included in the Swytch Kit and built to your specified wheel size to fit your bike). Next, attach the pedal sensor and the battery connector and then clip on your Power Pack, and that is it. your bike has been “Swytched” electric and will now give you 250W power for up to 15 km. A slightly larger battery pack weighing 1100g, and providing a 30 km range is available for those wanting to go further!
Swytch Company
Swytch was founded by Engineers Oliver Montague and Dmitro Khroma in 2017 in response to an obvious gap in the market for a sustainable city transport solution. Oliver now plays a pivotal role as head of the company as CEO, and Dmitro leads a world-class London-based engineering team as CTO. Swytch believes that transport shouldn’t cost the Earth. so they’ve made it their mission to make electric transport accessible to everybody. Since launching the first version of the Swytch Kit in 2017, Swytch has helped over 40,000 customers convert their bikes into eBike.
Swytch has grown at a break-neck pace in the last 3 years, growing sales volumes at almost 300% per year, and increasing the team from just 6 employees in 2019, to 50 and counting in 2022. With its unique hybrid working approach and emphasis on employee ownership, it’s fast becoming one of the most popular tech startups to join and has recently won the Best Place to Work award.
In 2020 Swytch sold over 9,000 Swytch Kits to the UK market, arguably making it the best-selling eBike product in the country. based on available data for total eBike sales volumes that year (17,000. source Mintel) Swytch is over 5% of the entire UK eBike market by volume, and the company estimates this figure will have risen to over 8% once official eBike market volume statistics are released for 2021.
Swytch’s headquarters are in London, UK, but they have distribution centers in Europe, the USA, Canada, and Australia. They have opened in March 2022 their first office in New York to service the rapidly growing U.S. customer base.
Swytch Kits have been delivered to customers in over 50 countries and their customers have ridden a total of over 1.5 million miles on their Swytch Bikes, saving over 17,000 Tonnes of CO2e as a result of the embodied carbon emissions savings associated with “up-cycling” an existing bicycle, plus the emissions saved by cycling more instead of driving.
The new Swytch Kit will be available to pre-order following the official public launch next month (May 2022).
(based on 170,000 total eBike sales in the UK in 2020, source: Mintel)
Attribution/Source(s):
This quality-reviewed article relating to our Accessories and Parts section was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its likely interest to our disability community readers. Though the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article “-Sized Battery Converts Any Bike into an Electric Bike” was originally written by Swytch. Should you require further information or clarification, they can be contacted at swytchbike.com Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.
Disabled World is an independent disability community established in 2004 to provide disability news and information to people with disabilities, seniors, their family and/or carers. See our homepage for informative news, reviews, sports, stories and how-tos. You can also connect with us on and or learn more on our about us page.
Cite This Page (APA): Swytch. (2022, April 5)Sized Battery Converts Any Bike into an Electric Bike. Disabled World. Retrieved June 15, 2023 from www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/mobility/scooters/accessories/swytch-bike.php
Disabled World provides general information only. The materials presented are never meant to substitute for professional medical care by a qualified practitioner, nor should they be construed as such. Financial support is derived from advertisements or referral programs, where indicated. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.
Compare 2 Best Swytch Alternatives in UK
This article has now been updated (November 2022) to reflect the smaller battery that now comes with Swytch kits.
Thinking of buying a Swytch kit?
You’ve reviewed the Swytch bike kit, but what questions should you be asking before you buy?
What is the cost?
When you compare e-bike kits, one of the most important questions is “how much does it cost?” It shouldn’t be the most important question but consider this.how much does a Swytch kit costs? Good question. Amazon shows the Swytch kit costs £999 plus delivery. Consider the alternative smartfit ebike kit is £599 including next day delivery and it’s a comparison you can’t ignore.
How powerful is it?
Whilst most e-bike kits share the same motor, how much use you’ll get from it comes down to the battery. The battery is where a straight comparison can be made. The Swytch kit comes with a 2.7 Ah lithium battery pack. The Swytch alternative smartfit kit has a 3 x powerful 8.7Ah lithium battery pack as standard.
Is it in stock?
Are stock of the Swytch kit available in the UK? Who knows, the website says to ‘Sign up’. The alternative Easyfit eBike kit is in stock in the UK today, for delivery to you tomorrow.
5 years of research removes PAS, brake sensors and handlebar controller.
Smart Fit ebike kits have in-built intelligence
- Integrated gyroscope calculates position
- Integrated peddle assist sensors
- Automated motor sensor
- Includes anti-theft GPS tracking
- No need for PAS or brake sensor fitting
Anti-theft GPS tracking gives you piece of mind
The onboard e-bike computer is the latest must-have piece of cycling technology. It not only calculates your position and speed, but also features peddle assist sensors and an automated motor sensor, so you can get the most out of your ride. The integrated gyroscope ensures that you stay on track, while the anti-theft GPS tracking system keeps your bike safe and sound.
The integrated gyroscope ensures that you stay on track, while the anti-theft GPS tracking system keeps your bike safe and sound. Of course, you should take all the necessary security steps including using a suitable lock. An extra level of security is provided when you activate the locking function from your smartphone. This disables your motor and activates an alarm should your converted ebike be moved. Should it be necessary, your bike can be tracked when the battery is used using the inbuilt GPS tracking.
Anti-theft tracking scenario
Carl had been grabbing his breakfast on a crowded street in London. He was balancing his coffee on top of a garbage can and chatting with some friends when he realised his bike was gone – vanished.
“What happened to my bike?”
powerful than Swytch?
Focus on features that matter. Don’t believe the hype.
- powerful 8.7 Ah lithium battery
- World’s most proven motor supplier
- 250W Bafang front motor
- 45 km typical range
- Telephone, video and email support
Easier to install than Swytch?
arrives complete with your tyre pre-installed
Swytch kit lacking a tyre? That’s one job you shouldn’t need to worry about.
- Pre-fitted tyre saves you hassle
- Quality Kendra tyre
- Included within RRP price
Buy Smartfit eBike Kit Today
Product Review: Swytch e-bike conversion kit gets big upgrade
NOTE, 12/16/22: We are aware of multiple allegations from customers who have not received units after paying for them and many folks say the company is not replying to emails or giving refunds when customers ask for them. We recommend that no one purchases a Swytch kit until they publicly address these concerns and/or begin shipping product more promptly. Sorry for any issues our post might have caused. — Jonathan Maus, editor and publisher, maus.jonathan@gmail.com. UPDATE, 1/19: Swytch has responded to many readers’ concerns in a thread posted on 12/16/22.
Of all the reviews I’ve shared here on BikePortland, none have sparked as big of a response as the Swytch electric bike conversion kit. At the time I said emphatically that the Swytch kit, paired with a Brilliant Bikes three-speed belt drive cruiser, was my favorite e-bike riding experience. I continue to stand by that, but at the time I also wondered if most people wouldn’t be better served just purchasing an off-the-shelf system.
I learned a lot from this community in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев from that first post. So with that in mind, I wanted to share the latest update from Swytch.
What it offers
As before, the motor sits in the front hub and when ordering from Swytch you have the opportunity to choose what size wheel you need. All the wheels are 36 spoke count, double-walled construction with a solid axle and they are available in either a black or silver finish. The 250-watt motor with a top speed of 20 mph is also unchanged.
The solid axle will work for either quick-release bikes or bikes designed for a bolt-on solid axle. It will not work for a thru-axle bike but that’s a limitation of hub motors in general and not specific to the Swytch kit. One of the biggest points of discussion in the first article was the potential for movement in the dropouts and the optional torque arm. The torque arm is an optional accessory designed to spread the load for lightweight carbon forks. There is a torque washer included in every kit that slots into the fork drop-out. None of these specs for the wheel or battery have changed at all since the last version of the Swytch kit.
The cadence sensor is also unchanged. Like many of the less expensive e-bikes on the market, the Swytch kit only cares that you are pedaling, and not how hard. I’ll talk about this a little more below but this isn’t a bad thing, it’s just different. The cadence sensor is what makes this work. The Swytch cadence sensor uses a magnet ring with a series of plastic bristles.
On the frame side there’s a sensor that registers the magnets passing by. The sensor is able to rock and just needs to be zip-tied to the frame so that it’s close to the magnet ring and always in the same place as the ring rotates. This is the hardest part of the system to install and it is still incredibly easy. Just check the clearance first and you won’t waste time installing and removing the ring.
The last piece is the battery and controller. This piece is what makes the Swytch system special, and it has been completely redesigned for the 2022 version of the kit. Previously, the battery and control scheme consisted of a handlebar mounted unit that looked like a front bag. Some units had a light on the front and they weighed about 2 kg. All the controls sat at the top of the pack and there were a series of lights to let you know battery life and power level.
With the 2022 Swytch kit update, that whole system is gone. Instead of the fabric outer with integrated controls, there is now a battery that weighs about half as much. It’s available in two versions that will either take you about 9-20 miles on one charge. You can get either version in a wide range of colors. The size is roughly 22.5 x 9.5 x 3.8 cm and there are no more controls built in. Instead of buttons on the battery pack, you can now access the modes, battery level, and current speed via a small display.
The battery is still removable, but that system has changed as well. The last generation mounted in the center of the bars with rubber spacers and an anti-rotation strap. The new unit uses metal spacers, lacks the strap, and mounting the battery involves sitting it on a small shelf then pressing the top down. The upper part of the mount connects the power as it clamps down. To remove it, just pull up.
If you wanted to upgrade your previous kit, all the connections are exactly the same. The cadence sensor and the wheel motor run up the frame and connect with a color-coded connection with only one possible orientation. The last kit had unused plugs and this one does too. The display fills one of them and there’s an optional throttle, either twist or thumb-activated, that will take up another. You could add a light to take up another of the plugs or a brake sensor if you are using the throttle.
How to purchase
After my previous review, I received a lot of confused messages about how to buy the kit. The company will tell you there’s more demand than supply and they are intentionally rewarding customers who are willing to wait by giving discounts. You had to sign up for the list and you could preorder at a discounted price.
Either way, the current situation for the 2022 Swytch eBike conversion kit is that it’s sold out. Existing waitlist customers will receive their pre-orders first and there is still room to pre-order for December delivery at a 50% discount. A third batch is also offered for a Jan/Feb 2023 delivery at a 60% discount. Unlike before, the whole system is now up on the website and pretty simple but Swytch is hoping that sometime in the first quarter of 2023 there will be enough supply to change over to a standard ordering process.
Right now the smaller battery complete kit is 1199 or you can pre-order at 499. The larger battery kit is 1599 and the preoder price is 649. If you already have an existing kit, you can also upgrade only the battery and control system for 799/324.
What’s it like to use?
Nothing has changed in terms of how it rides, and that’s a very good thing! And now it’s even smaller and lighter. The low weight and ability to use a small bike is a big deal for accessibility.
It’s really easy cruise along at a nice clip without doing much work. Given that the Swytch kit is cadence based, you’ll just need to keep in mind that it will feel less like you are a bionic rider and more like the bike is doing the work for you. A mid-drive, torque-based system, can almost feel transparent. It’s like you are riding a bike and happen to be incredibly strong but depending on your needs that’s not always best. A cadence based system is great for transportation replacement.
Verdict
Much of this section isn’t all that different either. Since the last review I put together one of the many Bafang based kits you can find on Amazon. As expected, it’s not nearly as slick as the Swytch. The end result looks like a science experiment. The Swytch kit is a more polished experience and also a better ride (depending on what bike you pair it with if course).
The challenge is that even though it works well, and the kit is now even more polished with the update, it’s still a kit. Given how of e-bikes are coming down, it’s not even that much of a discount — maybe even none if you pay full price! — and you end up with a bike that isn’t nearly as integrated. But what you get with the Swytch is the ability to install it on almost any bike. I personally haven’t put it on anything other than a pretty standard bike but there’s a lot of people who use them for things like trikes, kids bikes, cargo bikes, or just as a way to get a lightweight e-bike. If that’s what you need, Swytch makes a fantastic option.
Paired with the right bike, there isn’t a better electric bike in this price range
Cyclingnews Verdict
Paired with the right bike the Swytch is one of the best city bike electric bikes on the market. The pricing puts it in the company of bargain basement electric bikes but if you have a good bike already, the Swytch kit is a better experience. It looks good and the ride experience is perfect.
Cons
You can trust Cyclingnews
Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.
Electric bikes of all types and price points are flooding the market. Everywhere you look there’s a new model and a new brand. If you’ve got the cash to spend there are some really amazing options out there. Start looking at the bargain basement models though and sometimes you run into not-great bikes paired with not-great electric systems. Even being optimistic, it’s common to find decent electric systems paired with not great bikes.
Even under the best of situations getting an electric bike means getting a whole new bike. If you’ve bought any bike before, then you know it can be a long process, including finding the right bike, then trying to find it in stock, in your size, and arrange a test ride to see if you like it.
If you already have a bike, then the best electric bike conversion kits offer another solution, and Swytch is among the best at taking the bike you know and love and electrifying it.
You have a bike you love and you know it fits you. You’ve already gone through the process of getting everything just the way you like it. With just a little bit of time, you can have one of the best electric bikes on the market and it’s already the bike you love.
Design and aesthetics
Half the experience, at least, of a fully converted electric bike is the actual bike. If this conversion kit is the path you want to go down, then make sure you have a bike you like and that it’s in good condition. The old rusty bike in the shed that doesn’t fit you probably isn’t the best prospect for a conversion. It’s also important to understand what type of bike makes sense.
Nothing absolutely says that you can’t use a Swytch kit on a top-of-the-line road bike or mountain bike but that’s not the design. The power pack in the Swytch kit looks like a handlebar basket and the design is definitely aimed towards a city bike or cruiser. Start with a good quality city bike in good repair, and your experience converting it will be off to a good start.
There are four pieces to the kit. The motor itself is in the front wheel hub. Each kit is custom-built into the wheel when you order it. That means whatever wheel you need, Swytch can handle. Disc brakes, rim brakes, quick release, solid axle, and whatever size you need is all available. There is also the option of upgrading to a matte black finish on the wheel. In my case, I used a silver wheel with a solid axle and the replacement from Swytch is an exact match.
The actual motor weighs 1.5kg and is a little bigger than the palm of my hand. It’s a bright shiny center of the wheel and it fills out the space between the spokes. This particular bike has a three speed internally geared rear hub and the Swytch hub in the front is a bit bigger but has a similar look. In a rear hub it would be hard to tell the difference between internal gearing and the motor. That is, until you see the cable coming out the side. Through the nut that holds the wheel to the fork there is a thick cable with a protective spring wound around it where it bends. The cable coming from the hub motor connects it to the next piece of the kit.
The piece that connects to the motor is the power pack. This piece contains the battery, the controller, and the user interface. The options for the power pack are either a Pro version or an Eco version but they have more similarities than differences. The only difference visually is the addition of a 400-lumen light. Internally the batteries carry more energy in the Pro model, 50km vs 35km for ECO, but are dimensionally the same.
Anyone not knowing what it is would think the power pack was a small handlebar bag. It’s a black canvas material with the Swytch logo on the front panel and four hits of reflective material. The logo on the Pro model lights up. The size of the power pack puts it a little shorter than my phone, about the same width, and about a 1/3 longer. The official dimensions are 20x14x8cm but understand that it’s small. The rear has a small fabric handle and the interface with the rest of the system. At the top of the pack there are two places to attach straps and the controls for the system.
The power pack attaches to the quick connect handlebar bracket, which might not sound all that interesting but it’s well designed. If this piece was badly designed the whole system would be annoying to use. Instead, there’s a lot of thought here. The battery weighs 1.5kg and the ability to easily remove it from the front of the bike makes it a lot easier to own an electric bike. Remove it for storage and transport or even if you have to carry the bike up some stairs. The unit attaches to the bike with two mounts that sandwich the stem. Between them is a soft stabilizer that goes under the stem to prevent rotation. It all works very well.
The last piece that makes the kit work is a PAS unit. It’s a universal system with a variety of options for mounting. There’s a series of magnets that need to move with the crank arm as well as a sensor that needs to attach to the frame, and the space between these two pieces needs to be minimal. This unit is the least attractive part of the kit but there’s not much you can do about it.
If you have enough space the most elegant option is to have only the ring of magnets connected to the crank at the bottom bracket. If there’s not enough space there then there is an articulated arm that attaches to the inside of the crank arm with zip ties. In my case I was able to use that option and get it all lined up the way it needed to be.
Ride experience
In this case we have to back up a little and discuss the setup first. The whole process took me about an hour. If I was to do it again I could probably do it in 30 minutes and possibly even less. I started by swapping the wheel and this turned out to be the first significant time suck, as my tyre is directional and the first time I mounted it backwards. After taking it off and remounting it again I realized that Swytch asks that the cable coming out of the wheel be on the left side. That means I had the tyre mounted correctly the first time and now needed to swap it again.
I’m relaying this little mishap because it’s a good example of what takes time in the install. The directions of the actual kit are well written and the steps are easy, you spend far more time figuring out the best way to mount components, or route the cables, than you do anything else.
After I had the wheel swapped, I moved on to the other pieces. The handlebar bracket takes no more than five minutes to install and the power pack attaches with no tools. The PAS system was another time suck that mostly involved trying one mounting option then the next. I had been sure that the spacing between the crank arm and the frame was perfect for mounting without attaching to the crank arm, but I was wrong and it takes a while to get everything placed just in the right spot.
After plenty of trial and error, the PAS components were all mounted and it was time for cable management. There’s no right or wrong here but I wanted things to be as clean as possible while also not being too tight. It would be great if there was a way to tuck extra wires and extra connectors into the Power Pack but I did eventually find a solution that I was happy with, and any exposed wiring looks minimal and is well secured.
With everything installed it was time to go for a ride.
The controls for operating the system are on top of the power pack. They are easy to reach while riding and simple to use. Long press a button to turn things on then use the up and down to adjust the assist level. If you go all the way down it does go to zero.
Right away I felt like the combination of the Brilliant Bikes Carmen and the Swytch was what I am always looking for in an e-bike. The Carmen is a cruiser with a step-through frame, belt drive, and an internally geared three-speed rear hub. It’s easy to get on and casual to ride. The Swytch perfectly complements it with the way it delivers power.
A lot of inexpensive American electric bikes deliver power in a somewhat aggressive way. It’s rarely subtle and the fact that class 3 bikes don’t stop accelerating until 28mph doesn’t help. Those same bikes are often heavy.
With the Carmen/Swytch combo, it rides like I imagine it should. It never feels heavy and the power comes on gently. Imagine riding your unpowered bike slightly downhill and that gives you an idea. You always feel in control but it’s also easy.
Swytch has a lot of text about how they use advanced algorithms for power delivery. That is perhaps why acceleration is so pleasant but once at speed, it feels like it’s a simple cadence system. If I shift the Brilliant bike into its easiest gear I can gently rotate the cranks, with no resistance, and cruise along a flat road at 20mph.
I have never experienced any issues with inconsistent power delivery. When I pedal, power is there and when I stop so does the assistance. My setup does not include the brake sensors and I never felt like I needed them. I also don’t have the throttle accessory. For those in the US where the throttle is available, you might consider adding it. There are times, passing a bus in traffic for example, when it’s nice to have a throttle to get you up to speed without effort.
Verdict
Imagine to yourself what an electric bike should be. If what you are thinking about involves something super lightweight, or an electric gravel bike, or a high-end electric road bike, then there are probably better options out there. If you are thinking about folding e-bike, a cruiser, or an easy city commuter then the Swytch kit makes sense. There are four models, a Universal or Brompton in Eco or Pro, available to cover this range of bikes. Pricing is depending on location but also, don’t expect to pay full price. The full list price of Universal Eco £999/€950/999, Universal Pro £1250/€1200/1249, Brompton Eco £1250/€1200/1249, and Brompton Pro £1500/€1500/1499 is typically discounted by half if you are willing to put in a pre-order and wait. That makes the Swytch very price competitive and it’s easily the best electric bike on the market in its price range. Just make sure you have the right bike to pair it with.
The kit is an easy install. You can expect to spend far more time getting the details just right than you’ll spend figuring out how to set anything up. As long as you have a great bike and the right expectations the final result is exceptional. There is no need to be afraid because of a lack of mechanical skill. It’s harder to put together flat-packed furniture than it is to assemble the Swytch kit.
What really makes the kit shine is the gentle power delivery. It never feels grabby or aggressively fast. It’s there to help you without making itself known. For a lot of people, this is what they imagine an electric bike should be.
The 6 Best E-Bike Conversion Kits of 2023
Heidi Wachter was a senior editor at Experience Life magazine for 10 years. She has written for publications like Experience Life, Shondaland, and betterpet.
E-bikes are easier on the environment than cars. They’re also easier to pedal than a standard person-powered two-wheeler. You get as much exercise riding an E-bike as you do a traditional bike. Thanks to improved technology and more people interested in alternative transit methods, E-bikes are also becoming more available—and more affordable.
But no electric bike is as cheap as the bike you already own. If you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint, live in a small space, or practicing minimalism, repurposing what you already have can be a win-win-win decision. So, if you love your current ride but want to add some juice for getting uphill or for powering your cargo bike when you’re carrying a heavy load, you can, thanks to electric bike converter kits. To electrify your bike, you need a battery, sensors, controls, and a motorized wheel or a drive unit.
Here are the best options for upgrading your bike with an e-bike conversion kit.
Best Overall
BAFANG BBS02B 48V 500W Ebike Conversion Kit
Since 2003, Bafang has been a leader in manufacturing e-mobility components and complete e-drive systems. Its products offer outstanding performance and reliability, and the BBS02B conversion kit is no exception, making it our top overall choice.
This mid-drive motor kit is versatile and compatible with road, commuter, and mountain bicycles. All you need is a bike with a 68-73 millimeter bottom bracket and the battery of your choice. Installation is relatively easy, and the battery is included. Once the kit is installed, you’ll be ready to tackle any hill.
Although several different conversion kits are available online from Bafang, those with more than 750 watts of power will be considered motorcycles in the United States.
Price at time of publish: 466
Best Budget
BAFANG E-bike Front Hub Motor 48V 500W Bafang Brushless Gear 20/26/27.5/700C inch Electric Bicycle Conversion Kits
This front-wheel E-bike conversion kit is easy to set up and easy on your wallet. Electrify your bike in one hour by following the installation video and manual. Don’t forget to choose the correct wheel size!
After setup is complete, ride around the town with pedal assist or switch to E-bike mode for longer trips. Commuters, long-distance trekkers, and mountain bikers can cruise up to 24 miles per hour. The battery is not included.
Price at time of publish: 579
Best for Commuting
Swytch Universal eBike Conversion Kit
Daily riders will love this easy-to-install, lightweight e-bike conversion kit. It is compatible with most mountain, road, hybrid, and step-through bikes, and disc brakes.
It’s as easy to install as swapping out your front tire. The controller and battery are combined into a 34.2-Volt power pack, which is included in the kit and mounts to the handlebars. That makes it easy to remove and keeps thieves at bay, but our tester did miss having the use of a handle bar basket. The battery pack is fitted with indicator lights that tell you how much juice remains and what assist mode you’re in. Once the system is set up correctly, you’ll be able to top out at 15-25 mph.
“In general, I love it. It makes my ride easier without feeling like I’m riding a giant bulky e-bike. It’s got a phenomenal amount of power for such a little machine and seems like it has a good battery life too.” ~ Treehugger Tester
Best Premium
Ebikeling Waterproof Ebike Conversion Kit 36V 500W 700C Geared Electric Bike Kit
Do you want to go farther or faster? You can do both with this setup from Ebikeling, with its 500-watt motor. Ebikeling makes it easy to buy different compatible batteries and other accessories in an a-la-cart way. There are seven different batteries that come in different shapes (bottle, triangle, rectangular), so that you can pick the one that suits your bike and needs best.
The double-walled rim and motor are ready to install right out of the box—just swap them out for your original bike tire. An LCD screen is included to help you stay within your town’s speed limit. You can choose between a front or rear mount, as well as a thumb or half-twist throttle.
Price at time of publish: 390
Most Powerful
AW 26″x1.75″ Rear Wheel 48V 1000W Electric Bicycle Motor Kit
Thanks to a 48-volt, 1000-watt battery, the AW wheel E-bike conversion kit satisfies anyone with the need for speed. A thumb throttle makes speed control simple. This kit is available as either a front wheel or back wheel conversion option. It fits any 26-inch bike frame with a 3.9 inch front dropout spacing (for a front wheel conversion) or 5.3 inch rear dropout spacing (for a back wheel conversion). The rear wheel kit weighs 24.7 pounds, the front wheel kit weighs 23.5 pounds.
The aluminum frame offers durability and stability, which is essential when you’re rolling at top speeds of 28 miles per hour. Hand brakes turn the motor off automatically to both improve safety and conserve battery power.
Price at time of publish: 300
Easiest to Install
Rubbee X Conversion Kit
If you want the fastest conversion possible, and even the option to take a motor off your bike quickly, the Rubbee X makes it a snap. The Rubbee X gives you a boost by resting against the rear tire, and has a special release that lets you remove the motor without un-mounting the entire system. You control the power just by pedaling, as a wireless cadence sensor that gets mounted to the pedal crank sends information to the motor, which shifts automatically without any additional user interface.
This conversion kit has some other nice features. It has tail lights on the back of the motor, to give you some additional visibility when riding at night. The base model comes with one battery, which weight 6.1 pounds, gives you 250 watts of power and has a top speed of 16 mph. Upgraded models have two or three additional batteries, each offering more speed and power, but also adding more weight. It’s compatible with any frame type, and with tires that are between 0.5 and 2.5 inches in width and between 16 and 29 inches in diameter.
There are a few things to keep in mind before you buy. First, the product ships from the European Union, so there may be an additional import tax. Second, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of room on your seat post to connect the motor.
Price at time of publish: 612
Whenever you’re buying a newer technology, sticking with a known brand makes sense. That makes Bafang’s E-bike conversion kits a sound choice—in terms of quality and price. If speed is what you’re after, the kits from Ebikeling.
What to Consider When Shopping for an E-Bike Conversion Kit
Battery
Is the battery included? You’ll need something to power and charge your e-bike conversion kit. Many kits include a battery. Cheaper kits may not, though, which means you’ll need to source a compatible battery separately.
Power
You’ll also want to think about your power needs. The higher the motor wattage, the more power you’ll get. A 250-watt motor is typically plenty of power to make the daily commute less sweaty. If you want to take your converted bike out on tougher mountain trails, you’ll want more power.
Keep in mind that according to U.S. federal regulations, e-bikes with more than 750 watts of power are considered motor vehicles and require a motorcycle license.
Local Laws
You’ll want to check your state and local laws as some cities and towns have banned e-bikes from bicycle paths, so if that’s where you want to ride, you’ll want to make sure your town allows your upgraded bike to cruise around on them.
E-bikes come in three classes:
- Class 1 E-bikes that assist you while you pedal and top out about 20 mph.
- Class 2 E-bikes have a throttle that assists you regardless of whether you pedal and have a top speed of 20 mph.
- Class 3 E-bikes assist you while you pedal and top out about 28 mph.
Drive Type and Installation
There are several kinds of e-bike conversion kits, and the ease of set-up and installation varies.
- Friction Drive Conversion is a simple strategy. A roller pushes against the tire on the wheel. When the roller turns, the wheel turns. It’s a reasonably easy system to set up but sometimes isn’t the most effective.
- Mid-Drive Conversion is the technology that the best e-bikes tend to use. A weight sits at a low point on the bike frame, and the power is applied to the crank. These can be more expensive, but the technology is typically better. There’s no standardization, however, which can make figuring out exactly what you need to make your bike work a little more challenging. Adding the parts is also a bit more complex than friction drive conversion.
- Electric Bike Wheel Conversion swaps out a non-electrified front or rear wheel with an electrified one. The process is simple depending on where and how the battery mounts—such as on a rear rack. Once installed, weight distribution can feel natural. However, powering the front wheel may impact your bike’s handling.
The difficulty of installation depends of the type of conversion kit, as well as your comfort with the tools required. But generally speaking, converting your bike is a DIY project. Many manufacturers offer how-to videos that show what’s involved, so you can see ahead of time what you’ll need to do.
You’ll need a bike tool, crank arm tool, adjustable wrenches, and a screwdriver along with your electric bike conversion kit. These demos can show you how to install your e-bike conversion kit.
A visit to your local bike shop mechanic is a helpful step in the decision-making process. They can help you determine if your bike is a good candidate for electric technology. Your old bike may not be able to be converted because adding a motor can increase torque. You’ll want to make sure your bike’s drivetrain can handle it. The extra weight from adding an electric motor also impacts your brakes, so you’ll want to make sure they are effective for stopping at a higher speed. E-bikes tend to have disk brakes for this reason. If your current bike is in disrepair, has old parts, or needs other improvements, it may be more cost-effective to sell your trusty old ten speed and buy an e-bike. Also, consider that a quality electric bike conversion kit can be nearly the cost of an electric bike. Do some comparison shopping between the price of a conversion kit and a fully-loaded e-bike before you decide which way you want to roll. Our picks for the best e-bikes may help guide your decision.
Why Trust Treehugger?
Treehugger has reported on dozens of e-bikes and e-bike conversion options over the past decade. To make this list, we deeply researched the market by reading other third-party reviews, user Комментарии и мнения владельцев, and enthusiasts blogs. We also considered the product’s value and the manufacturer’s reputation.
Author Heidi Wachter has been writing about travel and adventure for over a decade. When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find her riding one of her six bicycles—even in the winter.