How The Electric Bike Is Changing Travel - Updated For 2023.
The electric bike revolution is here, and it’s changing the way we travel.
With their innovative design, ease of use, and low environmental impact, e-bikes are becoming increasingly popular with riders of all ages and experience.
But what exactly are e-bikes? And more importantly – are they worth it?
While electric-assisted bikes were designed with the 35 and over crowd in mind, they are now just as popular with a younger generation of riders who are embracing the technology.
For decades, bikes have been seen as a necessity, not a luxury.
This is changing.
The e-bike has undergone a revolution and is currently the most popular bike on the market.
Technology has improved, making them safer, more durable, and more reliable, while new laws have been passed that make them legal to operate on roads.
So whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint, or take advantage of this new technology on bike trips – let’s look at the pros and cons so you can decide whether going e-bike is right for you.
Their appeal lies in the ability to level the playing field for cyclists of all experiences.
Electric bikes allow couples, groups, and families with different fitness and experience levels to travel together while making cycling accessible across difficult routes and long distances.
Bicycles have always been a healthy way to keep fit, save money on transportation costs, and enjoy the fresh air with the freedom to explore on your travels.
But once you cross the 20-30 mile mark, for many riders, they become quite tiring.
Electric bicycles solve this problem by giving you a little push when you need it.
The pedal assist can give riders just enough boost to try routes that would otherwise be outside their comfort zones.
And because you don’t tire as quick, you can bike for longer, which can open up opportunities for trips you might not have even considered.
Electric bikes offer more flexibility than traditional bikes when it comes to distance and terrain capability.
They can be ridden anywhere from city streets to rough trails while providing more speed and ease of use compared to regular bikes.
They provide great exercise benefits without exerting too much effort due to their powered motors - perfect if you're looking for light physical activity without exhausting yourself completely.
They also don't require expensive fuel costs or extensive maintenance, you just simply charge up your battery overnight, and you're ready for another day of riding!
As well as being affordable and convenient, using an e-bike also presents environmental advantages by reducing carbon emissions - a major plus with a climate crisis looming over us.
With all of this in mind, it's easy to see how electric bikes are worth investing in - economically and socially.
A small boost can lead to incredible possibilities.
E-bikes make it easier for travelers to venture further than ever before with less effort – essentially taking the strain out of sightseeing and commuting.
Riders can keep pace with cars on even steep hills or head off the beaten path without breaking a sweat.
For cyclists intimidated by steep hills or just want to spend less energy pushing a traditional bicycle uphill, an e-bike offers freedom like never before.
An e-bike lets you travel further with less exertion, opening endless possibilities on long-distance bike tours.
They are fast, fun, and very efficient.
Cyclists who have had to stop biking long distances or rough terrain for any reason have found a renewed opportunity by jumping on an electric bike.
But these bikes aren’t just useful for travelers looking to put in the miles on long-distance tours and week-long trips.
They’re an increasingly popular option for day trips too, simply because you get the same hands-on experience but can pack more into your trip.
E-bikes can help breathe new life into cycling as they take the fear out of long-distance travel and make those daunting hills and roads a piece of cake for cyclists of all experiences.
The allure of mountain and off-road biking is the thrill of exploring rugged terrain that is usually unreachable by car.
The chasms, cliffs, and steep hills are a challenge to any rider, but electric-powered bikes make it easy to conquer those steep elevations.
For cyclists looking to enjoy spectacular scenery on a mountain trail, regular mountain bikes are often simply unusable because they do not manage steep inclines well.
E-bikes are an excellent way to make milder slopes accessible even for those who aren’t confident in their ability to take on more extreme hills that regular mountain bikes won’t be able to handle.
If you've ever tried to cycle around a busy city, then you know it's challenging.
There are endless obstacles to worry about, like cars that often end up being parked on the street, pedestrians doing what pedestrians do, and bicycle lanes that don't seem to make any sense!
Way too often, cyclists are forced to merge back onto the sidewalk because they've run out of space or can't cycle at all with so many people walking around.
Electric bicycles allow cyclists to bypass traffic, navigate busy and congested areas, and get around popular destinations much faster.
E-bikes are like having a personal transport system that is always there for you: and one that is efficient, reliable, comfortable, and enjoyable.
The convenience factor of an e-bike is hard to deny: with one charge, you can often reach distances far beyond what could be achieved by cycling alone.
Without needing specialist experience, anyone can use an e-bike to scale mountains and traverse previously inaccessible terrain with ease.
You can take on all challenges at your own pace while at the end of the day, still having enough in tank to enjoy the destination you worked so hard to get to.
Most travelers have their first encounter with electric bikes on a long-distance tour.
Most who opt for an e-bike are new to biking tours, often coming on the trip with a more experienced friend or group.
And generally, after trying one, or seeing someone in their group having a great experience, most people opt for an e-bike over their regular bike on longer trips.
Even if it might feel like you're swallowing your pride on your first trip, electric bicycles are slowly changing people's approach to active travel and will soon be a viable choice for most people.
However, many people don't know that just like cars and motorcycles, there are a lot of of e-bikes out there to choose from.
As the weather warms up and the cycling season gains momentum, the warm temperatures can zap your energy on a long trip.
If you're an avid cyclist, you know that the extra effort of pedaling across certain terrains and hills can be pretty frustrating, but that is all changing now that e-bikes have been designed to make pedaling easier.
Most E-bikes are fitted with a power switch where you can change the settings from “Eco” to “Turbo mode” for when you need a little more assistance or to catch a breather when taking on steep inclines.
Most electric-powered bicycles typically use a combination of different methods to power them.
They are usually either pedal-assist or they use a throttle (where a motor kicks in to help you go faster)
When looking for an e-bike, pick the right one that works for you.
If you suffer from knee or foot issues and don’t want to focus on pedaling, you can use a throttle-only bike.
But for those who worry about getting too much assistance from the bike and not being active, you can still pedal just like a normal bike and keep the assists for the tough terrains where it is needed.
The distance an electric bike can travel is the most important consideration when using an e-bike.
There are two key factors that determine how far an electric bike can travel.
> The capacity of the battery.
> The efficiency of the bike.
It charges just like a mobile phone by connecting the battery pack to an electrical outlet and generally gets a full charge in around 3 hours.
In my experience, it takes 3-4 hours to fully charge an e-bike battery.
Typically, a battery will last for anywhere between 30 – 70 miles on a full charge, but if you manage your power well enough, it can last longer.
The type of terrain and power needed will have an effect on your battery life so it can be important to plan ahead when tackling large hills and rough roads where you need a lot of assistance.
Some bikes allow you to choose different levels of assist to prioritize speed or battery life, which can help you manage battery life on a longer trip.
Here are some approximate charging times for different types of batteries to get an idea of what you can expect on more powerful e-bikes:
> 500-watt hours (0.5 kWh) battery: 2-4 hours.
> 750-watt hours (0.75 kWh) battery: 3-6 hours.
> 1,000-watt hours (1 kWh) battery: 4-8 hours.
> 1,500-watt hours (1.5 kWh) battery: 6-12 hours.
And all-in-all, the cost to fully charge an electric bike comes in at around 5-15 cents. So, if it takes 500-watt hours (0.5 kWh) to charge the battery, and you are being charged $0.10/kWh for electricity, it would cost about 5 cents to charge the battery.
Pretty good value!
Knowing the type of trips you'll be taking ahead of time will help determine which option is best for you.
Also, it’s important to consider the terrain when considering the battery range.
Hills require more power, so your battery will drain faster or get a little more use, so make sure your bike has enough power to tackle any potential challenges!
Although, some e-bikes now allow you to choose different levels of assistance to prioritize speed or battery life, which can help you manage battery life on a longer trip.
Electric bicycles are always seeing technological advancements, particularly with how the hidden motor inside makes the entire bike run.
But does that mean that they are faster than your normal bicycle?
Not necessarily, as e-bikes are usually restricted with the top speed they can assist you with.
Currently, the assists will help you up to 32 km/h in the US and 25 km/h in most of Europe.
However, the max speed varies depending on the laws within the country you are in as well as the class of model you are using.
Many people have the misconception that e-bikes are heavy.
This is not the case. In fact, the average weight of an electric bicycle is 20 kg. The motor, battery, and frame material are the heaviest components.
Lighter bikes are easier to maneuver but heavier ones tend to last longer and come with more accessories like storage racks, and headlights.
Make sure whatever model you choose fits comfortably within your budget while also providing all the features that matter most to you.
And think about your own comfort too; look for adjustable handlebars and seats and shock-absorbing forks that can provide extra cushioning over bumpy roads.
E-bikes are quite popular with travelers on long trips looking to carry heavier loads, typically for camping or when traveling with a family and needing that extra gear.
Depending on what you are packing can depend on the type of bike you need.
But when traveling with us at BikeHike we always have a support vehicle on hand to take your excess luggage and anything you don’t need on your bike journey so you never have to worry about packing too much.
E-bikes are great for exercise, as they will improve your leg muscles and your cardiovascular system.
They are more environmentally friendly, too, as they emit less CO2 than cars, and don't require the maintenance that cars require.
They are even easier to maintain than your regular bike while traveling since they have fewer moving parts.
The benefits of electric bikes are many, including the reduced pollution of fossil fuels, the resulting reduced carbon footprint, and the ability to enjoy traveling with less effort.
The short answer is yes; they are safer than regular bicycles due to how they are designed.
They utilize an in-line electric motor powered by a battery, which takes the place of traditional pedaling, and this makes them very safe to ride on the road and ultimately gives you even more control.
A study from Portland University found that 60% of owners felt safer riding an electric bike, and 42% of riders felt they had helped them avoid accidents.
Get hands-on with the advantages of an E-bike with our Croatia to Montenegro trip.
Experience the ride of a lifetime through Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro and tackle the scenic mountainous regions of the Balkans where you will use your electric pedal assists to their full potential to tackle these tough terrains, all while soaking in the magnificent views and rich heritage of each destination.
No matter where your travels may take you, an e-bike can help make life easier and more fun.
Whatever your reason for choosing an e-bike, you can always expect to get the same amount of enjoyment out of it as your traditional bike.
And with its combination of convenience, sustainability, and affordability, investing in an electric bicycle can truly be worth every penny spent!
Happy Travels,
Trish Sare
Trish Sare is the owner of BikeHike and a passionate outdoor enthusiast with over 30 years of experience as a world traveler. She's lived, traveled, and guided extensively in North, South and Central America, Europe, Oceania, Africa, and Asia. She has guided and helped to develop every one of our multi-sport holidays. In her spare time, Trish is usually outdoors either mountain biking, hiking, sea kayaking, trail running, or climbing. Trish has a passion for the world and all of the amazing cultures that inhabit it and does her best to immerse herself directly into their distinctive lifestyles.
The world of electric bike brands is growing and changing rapidly, with literally hundreds of brands offering thousands of models to choose from. In 2020, the ebike world got even crazier, with the global pandemic disrupting the ebike supply chain at the very time demand exploded.
If you are new to ebikes and would like to learn more, you can read our updated Ebike Buyer's Guide. We also have special reviews focused on electric fat tire bikes, electric folding bikes, and best budget ebikes.
But the overall shopping world for ebikes remains the same, even if people have to wait a month or two to get their new ebike.
There are some big companies with established reputations in the conventional bicycle market, who expanded into ebikes, but the majority of ebike brands are small startups.
In this article, we reveal the top 6 things you should know about ebike brands in the US before buying your next ebike - and how to avoid getting scammed.
There are very few international ebike brands, so the ones available to you will be determined by where you live. In the US, there are about 250 ebike brands currently selling bikes; in the EU, by comparison, there are nearly 500 ebike brands. But there is very little overlap.
In the US, there are the Big Three conventional bike manufacturers - Trek, Specialized and Giant - who each have their own lineup of ebikes. But unlike the conventional bike market which they dominate, the Big Three came late to ebikes, and only have a modest share of the market. The rest of the ebike market is made up of small companies, who work with Chinese factories to develop their products.
To learn more about the brands operating in the US, we have listed many of them on our Family of Brands page.
Today there are many places you can go to buy an electric bike. But unlike other products,where you choose to buy your ebike will determinewhat kind of ebike you might be getting. It’s good to know this before you even start shopping. The main “sales channels” for electric bikes in the US are:
Brick & mortar ebike specialty shops that only sell ebikes
Brick & mortar conventional bike shops that also stock a few ebikes
Brick & mortar branded ebike stores
Online stores that specialize in and only sell ebikes
Online general stores that sporting goods, including some ebikes
Online branded stores that only sell one brand of ebikes
Online 3rd Party Platforms (Amazon, eBay, Walmart)
Online direct Chinese imports (Aliexpress)
The choices can be daunting, so let's first start by saying that if you can shop in a brick & mortar store, you should at least start there. It's always best to test-ride a bike before you buy, to make sure it feels good and fits right. Even test ride a conventional bike of an ebike is not available, since this will still give you good information about the comfort and fit of different styles of bikes (fat tire, cruiser, step-through, mountain, folding, cross-country). Once you know the kind of ebike you want then shopping becomes your next challenge.
One of the problems with physical (brick & mortar) stores is that they are typically located in bigger cities, which are inaccessible to many people. And when you do find bike shops to go to, you might discover that their selection of ebikes to choose from is quite limited. One reason for this is that the bike shops are required to purchase inventory upfront, and it can be expensive to stock more than a few models.
But there is another more sinister reason for this. A famous marketing study revealed that when customers are faced with too many choices, they become overwhelmed and just leave without buying anything. Prior to this study, the common marketing theory was that more choices are better for customers. People like more options, so providing more should lead to more sales.
Customers can be attracted to a large number of choices, but when it comes time to make a purchase, too many options can make decision making difficult and lead to fewer sales. So you will see that Costco only sells two models from the brand GenZ (a step-over version and a step-thru version), and stores like Pedego offering 6 or so models, but all from the same manufacturer.
If you shop at a brand store such as Pedego or Rad, there is a good chance that you will find an ebike that will meet your needs. These companies are successful because they have a lot of happy customers. But there is a tradeoff. It's like when you walk into an Apple Store. You are entering the Apple ecosystem, and you are buying into a culture as well as their own line of products. This is true for Pedego and Rad as well - there are people who love their products and services, and people who don’t.
In the online world, by contrast, there is a seemingly unlimited number of ebikes and brands to choose from. But when you look more closely, there are only a few places online where these ebikes are sold, including major general store retailers like Amazon, specialty online retailers like Really Good Ebikes (RGE), and crowded-funded sites like Kickstarter.
In the case of Amazon or eBay, these giant online retailers carry ebikes in most of the popular styles, but from generic Chinese brands. Their products tend to be budget ebikes often selling for under $1,000. At Really Good Ebikes (RGE) we know that the price for a high-quality ebike is typically $1,000 or more, so there is a higher risk at this price point of getting an ebike which could fail in less than a year. Moreover, if there is a problem with the battery or controller - the two weakest links on every ebike - who ya gonna call? Have you ever tried calling Amazon or eBay about a warranty issue with a product? Good luck with that. At RGE, we provide dedicated warranty support, so if you ever have a problem, you come to us first, and we will work with the manufacturer directly to ensure your satisfaction.
Another platform that people use to buy ebikes online is Aliexpress, which is the Chinese version of Amazon. You can find a wide range of styles, and the prices can be very attractive. But you need to know that when you buy from this source, or similar ones based in China, you should expect long shipping timeframes, and limited to no customer service. Of course we would highly recommend against buying direct from China, since you have no idea what you will get, and no recourse if things go bad.
It should come as little surprise that Really Good eBikes is a fan of online ebike shopping. We are one of about 75 retailers who only sell online, maintaining neither storefront or warehouse. But unlike many of these fly-by-night websites, RGE is the real deal. We know our products, we have great relationships with the brands we sell, and we offer the highest level of customer service in the industry, including chat and phone contact 7 days a week.
Another popular source for ebikes online are crowdfunding sites. Indiegogo and Kickstarter are the two most well-known crowdfunding sites on the internet. Crowdfunding allows startup entrepreneurs to raise money for a venture by collecting small contributions from many backers, as opposed to large investments from a select few.
In a way, the term "crowdfunding" is a misnomer, because so many of the companies that are using platforms like these are not actually doing it to get funding. They are really using it as part of their marketing strategy, to go direct-to-consumers to sell their products.
In this model, a prototype of a new concept ebike will be developed by a startup company, and they will seek funding to get it into production. They will also use their campaign to generate social media interest, in the hope of going viral with their concept ebike. If they meet their funding goal, then they usually go to a factory in China and place an initial order, which may or may not fulfill all of the crowdfunded orders they received.
There have been many ebike models which got their start with crowdfunding, but far far fewer who delivered on their promise. Many crowdfunding campaigns for ebikes fail to reach their financial goals, and even when they do meet their goals, they could take months to deliver your new ebike. Moreover, these startups might never become a sustainable company that can honor warranties and provide long-term customer service.
But should you dare to buy your next ebike from a crowdfunding platform? If you are not in a hurry to get your bike, then it might be worth investing in a crowdsourced ebike that you can pre-pay for at a low price. But do your homework. While these types of ebikes may be the most innovative, they are also some of the most risky from a personal investment perspective. Not all startups are the same, and you should study the founders’ plan and make sure they are going to be around to provide customer service and warranty support.
The average ebike we sell retails for about $1,300. We have some nice budget brands for just under $1,000, and we have some top-of-the-line fat tire electric mountain bikes for over $5,000. But the price of something and its quality are two separate things, especially when it comes to ebikes.
People often think that expensive products have a better quality than lower cost products. Sometimes it’s true but I can guarantee that’s not the case every time. Companies make huge profits with “luxury” products because we are a bit dumb and buy these products. For example, in perfume or handbag industry the products they make are quite cheap to manufacture but when these products are transported to stores the price tag on them rises vastly. Especially if your purse is manufactured by a famous brand. Another good example is the “Apple people” who buy those expensive phones and laptops no matter what. Someone could ask, is that worth it?
The price of ebikes is affected by a number of factors, including the cost that the brands pay for manufacturing, ocean transit, warehousing, and business administration. Other factors include the profit expectations of the owners/investors, the cost of marketing, and how well their business is run, or how efficient they are at what they do.
All of these cost considerations flow down to the retailer, so if we offer one 500W fat tire electric bike with high-quality components for $1,500, and a comparable ebike for $2,000, the difference in the price may have little to do with the quality of one bike components and build quality over the other.
Likewise, when shopping for ebikes, you should be aware of the warranty you will be getting with the bike, and if the company has a track record that suggests they'll be around if and when something should go wrong with the battery or controller.
Most electric bikes on the market today are manufactured in China, shipped to the US on container ships, then stored in warehouses until their dealers place orders. In August 2018, the US imposed tariffs on imported ebikes, the cost of which the brands pass on the customers in the form of customs surcharges.
It should be noted that some of the best manufacturing occurs in China, with highly technical products ranging from iPhones to Microscopes built there. The best ebike companies will go to China several times to meet with the factory representatives, and be involved in the design, engineering and testing their bikes, from start to finish.
In the case of lower quality (cheap) ebikes, the brands may simply place an order on a website like Alibaba, import the bikes, and resell them in the US (often on Amazon or a “burner” website for a profit.
There are a few US companies like Prodecotech, which will have the parts manufactured abroad, but assembly takes place in the US; and there are still fewer companies which build ebikes from scratch in the US.
So it is very important that when research ebikes, you should look closely at the About Us page of the manufacturer or brand, to see who they are, how long they have been in business, and if they have been recognized for producing high quality electric bikes.
Dealers work as intermediaries between ebike brands and the consumer. To create an online ebike store is relatively easy, and there are now over 40 online ebike dealers in this crowded space.
To make sure you are working with a good dealer, you should make sure that the company is legitimate, and not some fly-by-night outfit. How do you do this? Read their About Us page, their Shipping & Returns Policies, and other pages which discuss how they run their business. Give them a call or start a chat with them. Ask questions.
The best dealers will have a chat application running, so that you can ask questions while you are on their site. They should also have a toll-free phone number for you to call, and an email address where you can write.
In the case of Really Good Ebikes, we like to think of ourselves as advocates for our customers. That's what our customers appreciate most. So if there ever arises a warranty issue, we are there for our customers. We work closely with our family of brands to make sure the customer is kept whole, and that all legitimate complaints are addressed in a timely fashion.