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Batteries
As the power source for your electric bike, the type of battery you choose is important and there are various things to consider before you make your choice.
Electric bikes are increasingly being sold with lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries as these are light, compact and have the capacity for more power in a smaller space than other battery types.
Common alternatives are NiMH batteries and the lead-acid battery you typically find in cars. Lead-acid batteries in particular are not so popular now – they are cheap but are also simply too heavy, slow to charge and have a relatively short lifespan.
A battery's power is reflected in Watt hours. The bigger the number, the greater the potential power boost and likely range of the battery.
Most manufacturers will specify the typical distance you can get out of a bike's battery. However, although battery performance is important in determining this distance, there are many other factors involved. For example:
- the faster you go and the more you draw on help from the motor, the shorter the range
- surrounding conditions such as winds, hills and slow surfaces drain the battery faster
- weight: the more the bike has to pull or carry, the shorter the range
- bike condition: dirty components and flat tyres limit how far you can go
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