Introduction to Electric Bikes

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Electric bikes are fantastic. Cannondale e-bikes are easy to live with, easy to ride further and faster, and they can make your life better all round. But, which one to buy? Where does the battery go? How far can you ride one? All these questions and much more are answered below in our easy guide to e-bikes. Enjoy.

What's an electric bike for?

This is just like riding a bicycle, only even better – with an electric bike you have a battery-powered motor to assist you along the way. You can ride further, you can travel faster, you can enjoy your journeys more – simply set the motor to enhance your pedal-power, and it’ll help you with every pedal of every ride.

Built-in power to take on your new favorite hill

Where can I ride my electric bike?

Whether you want to commute through the city, enjoy your new favorite byways or tackle the great outdoors, the e-bike is the perfect solution for all rides. Our e-bikes come with the latest technology made for pure enjoyment.

Why is an electric bike better?

If you’re getting back into riding bicycles, if you want to take the longer route home, if you want to ditch the car and pedal instead, or if you want to carry more, climb more and just ride more, then let the e-bike take you there. It’s so easy.

You can ride to improve your fitness, you can ride further and carry more gear, you can leave the car at home and help save the environment – on an e-bike you can do so much more and really feel the benefits. What's not to like?

Go where you need to go.  Be where you want to be.  

How do I charge an electric bike battery?

Charging is easy, simply plug and play. Our e-bikes come with everything you need for standard home and office charging. The right bike is matched with the right battery: the size of the battery will determine how far you can go on a single charge, and also how much power the motor has on tap to help you when you need it. Removable batteries are fully integrated into the bike’s frame, and the battery capacity is measured in Watt-Hour (or Wh).

How do I get going on an electric bike?

Jump on board, it’s easy. Just press play, that’s easy too. Select the power mode, pedal away, and our motors will help propel you along. All the ride information you’ll need is displayed right there on the control panel in front. It’s all so, so easy. You’ll wonder why you haven’t done this before.

Expand your horizons: up to 160 km or 100 miles on a single charge

How far can I go on an electric bike?

Just how far and how fast you can go depends on many factors, such as how much you're pedalling in the highest power mode, how hilly your ride is and how fast you're going. Just like driving a car, if your foot is hard on the accelerator all the time, naturally you'll use up more fuel.

Likewise, the harder you use the electric motor on an e-bike, the more battery power it uses. Fear not, the range on our e-bikes is impressive, re-charging is simple, and some models offer additional battery packs that easily attach right to your bike.

EVERY CANNONDALE ELECTRIC BIKE IS DESIGNED TO BE THE BEST IN ITS CLASS.  

We’ve integrated our best bicycle designs with the finest motors and extended-range battery systems to create e-bikes that are perfectly suited for you and the kind of riding you want to do. Whatever that is, wherever you want to ride, we’ve got you covered.

We work closely with the world's leading motor makers to choose the right e-bike motor for the right type of bike – look for Bosch, Shimano or Mahle – featuring either hub-drive or mid-drive. Not only does riding an electric bike feel natural, you also feel energized.

More questions? We have answers.

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BASIC OVERVIEW

An electric bicycle is, first and foremost, a bicycle. It uses the same designs, geometries, and components as any other bicycle, but also includes an added electric motor. This is fueled by a rechargeable battery, which gives riders an extra boost of power and ultimately provides a smoother, more convenient, and less strenuous cycling experience. By eliminating many of the obstacles that keep people from cycling—obstacles such as headwinds, steep hills, and bike commutes that leave riders tired, messy, and sweaty—electric bikes help make the freedom, exhilaration, and satisfaction of cycling available and accessible to a wide range of potential cyclists.

The idea of creating an electric bike has intrigued cyclists since the late 1800s, when several American inventors experimented with the possibility of combining the potential power of electric motors with the simple mechanics of the bicycle. It wasn’t until the technological advancements of the 20th and 21st centuries, however, that this idea finally became a viable reality. With lightweight motors, high efficiency rechargeable batteries, smoothly shifting drivetrains, and huge advances in bicycle components, today’s electric bikes provide a way for cyclists of all ages, fitness levels, and physical needs to enjoy the benefits of cycling, whether it’s a leisure ride, a workout, or part of a daily commute.For many, electric bikes are an attractive alternative to both conventional bicycles and traditional automobiles, providing an environmentally friendly, fun, efficient, and convenient way to travel.

THE GROWING POPULARITY OF ELECTRIC BIKES

Electric bicycles are becoming increasingly popular throughout the world, as more and more people look for efficient, affordable, and eco-friendly modes of transportation. In recent years, electric bike use has skyrocketed in Asia, most notably in China, which has established itself as the world leader in electric bike use. There are now an estimated 200 million electric bikes in China, with millions more added every year.1

The explosive expansion of electric bikes in China has helped spur similar growth in other parts of the world. In Europe—the second largest market for electric bikes—electric bicycle use has been steadily on the rise. In 2006, there were approximately 98,000 electric bikes sold throughout Europe. A decade later, this number had risen to almost 1.7 million in annual sales.2

Electric bikes are also gaining increasing popularity in the United States, where ebike sales rose sharply from about 70,000 in 2011 to over 263,000 in 20173, and the growth is likely to continue accelerating.

The dramatic improvements in electric bicycle technologies and capabilities, as well as the rapid growth in the popularity of electric bicycles in recent years, have all made the prospects of owning and riding an electric bike particularly exciting. Whether they’re used by people looking for a low impact way to get back into shape, older cyclists seeking a more accessible way to enjoy leisurely bike rides, urban professionals attempting to simplify their daily commutes, environmentally conscious travelers hoping to decrease their emissions footprints, or anyone in between, it seems increasingly likely that “electric-assisted bicycles will change how people think about bikes.”4