Since you're here, chances are you’ve already heard a thing or two about how great eBikes are. But what exactly is an eBike and what makes it different from the bikes you might already have in your garage?

The Anatomy of an eBike 

Regular bike + electric drive system = motor, battery, ride display/control, maybe throttle & a ton of FUN

The Frame: The basic anatomy of an eBike is simple: they have the classic bike silhouette you know and love (wheels, gears, handlebars, brakes, you know the deal), but is modernized by an electric motor and a rechargeable battery. 

The Motor: Although an eBike has a motor, it’s different from other motorized vehicles (like electric scooters) in that the motor is meant to augment your own pedaling power, not completely replace it. 

Three Classes of eBikes: Most ebikes on the market today, are designed to provide power only up to 20mph (Class-1 and Class-2 ebikes.) This generally keeps ebikers aligned with intermediate or advanced traditional cyclists who generally rides at speads of 15-25mph. 

Less common ebikes are designed to provide power up to 28mph (Class-3 ebikes.) Still there are others that can reach 65mph or greater, but those tend to be regulated more closely to that of motorcycles.

Potential Power of an eBike Motor: Just like other motorized vehicles, ebike motors vary in potential power. Since the motor is electric, it's power is measured in Watts (W). Most class-1 or class-2 ebike motors (designed to max at 20mph) range from 250 - 750 Watts. Class-3 and unclassified ebikes that achieve much faster speeds may have motors reaching up to 1200 Watts. 

Today, most ebikes are equipped with either a mid-drive motor or a hub-drive motor. Both work great, but sometimes have a little different feel when you ride.

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Mid-drive Motors are located on the bike frame right between the two pedal crank arms. As you pedal the ebike, the motor boosts the power sent to the back wheel through the chain. 

Hub-drive Motors are located on the hub of the back wheel. As you pedal the ebike, the motor boosts the power by to the back wheel directly. 

The Battery: Both mid-drive and hub-drive motors are powered by a rechargeable battery -- generally attached to the bike frame.  Modern ebike batteries are made of lithium-ion which are the lightest and most effective type of battery pack on the market today – though no doubt, we'll see some substantial innovation in battery design in the coming years! Lithium-ion batteries also last much longer through multiple charges over the years. In fact, most electric cars today, including Tesla,  use lithium-ion batteries, so you know they're the highest quality  – as of this writing, that is.

Power of eBike Battery is measured in Volts (V). The higher the voltage, the more readily your motor can power your ride. Typical ebike batteries on the market today are either 24V, 36V or 48V. 

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Range of eBike Battery is measured in AmpHours (Ah). The higher your battery's amp-hours, the higher your battery's energy capacity can delivery per hour. Most ebike batteries today range from 8-20 Ah. 

The eBike Controls: Just like a car gears, gas-pedal and dashboard, eBikes have their own control and display features. 

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eBike Modes/Levels  can be thought of as a new set of gears while many ebikes also have mechanical gears just as traditional bikes do. Depending on the manufacturer, the modes tend to be measured by numbers (Level 1-4 or sometimes up to 5) or Bosch motors, for example, use descriptive terms (Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo.) Either way, they measure how much boost your ebike battery and motor will provide to your own power pedaling the bike. Generally, ebikes have a button pad mounted to your left side handle bar that makes it easy for you to adjust your level or mode. Sometimes the buttons are attached to the display which serves as your dashboard containing information such as your current speed, mileage (odometer), and battery power left. 

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How far can an electric bike go? And for how long?

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As they say, your mileage may vary! Many factors come into play beyond the specs of your motor and battery. As a general rule of thumb, however, you can count on a range between 25 - 100 miles based on the specs of most ebike motors and batteries on the market today. But other factors such as the terrain you're riding (flat, uphill, downhill, paved road, dirt trail, etc.) and other conditions such as headwinds, tailwinds or the weight and weight distribution of the load you may be carrying -- in addition to your own weight. 

Rule of Thumb Riding Around Albuquerque on an eBike, expect 25-45 miles on a single battery charge.
On a Class-1 or Class-2 ebike with a 10-14Ah battery, 500-750W and 36-48V motor,  you can generally expect to ride for 25-45 miles on a single battery charge. But there's also ways to optimize your battery performance such that you could expect up to 60miles on the same bike with a single charge. 

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The 3-Class eBike System

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The level of help you get from the motor is up to you! Depending on the type of eBike, the motor is controlled either by a throttle on the handlebars or engaged automatically as you pedal. According to PeopleForBikes, eBikes can be sorted into three categories based on top speed and which type of motor controls it uses:

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• Class 1: use only pedal assist and have a top speed of 20 mph.

• Class 2: use both pedal assist and a handlebar throttle to engage the motor. Like Class 1 bikes, they also have a top speed of 20 mph.

• Class 3: slightly faster with a top speed of 28 mph but they use only pedal assist motor engagement.

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