Electric bikes: how to buy well and get the battery right
Motor, battery and range
In an electric bike, the two most expensive things are the battery and the motor. They set the price, so name both in your request.
Motor power is given in watts (250, 500, 1000 W) and system voltage in volts (36, 48 V). Battery capacity is given in amp-hours or watt-hours: the more, the longer the range. The real range depends on weight, terrain, wind and the assist mode, so treat a claimed “60 km” as a guide. Rules on speed and power for use on public roads apply, so before buying a more powerful model, find out how you are allowed to use it.
A ready-made bike or a conversion kit
A ready-made e-bike has a matched frame, motor, controller and display. A kit lets you turn an ordinary bicycle into one: a hub motor or mid-drive motor, battery, controller, throttle or pedal sensor. It is often cheaper but must be matched to the wheel size (for example, 26 inch), the fork and brake type, and needs careful fitting.
What to put in your request
- What exactly — a ready-made e-bike or a kit;
- Motor power and voltage, for example 1000 W, 48 V;
- Battery — capacity and the range you want;
- Wheel diameter;
- Model or brand, for example Bafang, if you know it;
- Condition — new or used;
- Budget and city.
Example: “I need a new conversion kit for a bike with 26-inch wheels: 1000 W hub motor, 48 V, battery from 20 Ah, with a display. Ang Mo Kio, courier delivery, budget up to $910.”
What to check in offers
Ask which cells the battery is built from, whether it has overcharge protection, and what warranty covers the battery. For a used one, ask for the number of charge cycles and ask to see the real range. Find out about service too: whether spare parts can be ordered, and whether the motor and controller can be sent for repair.
For a kit, the controller must match the motor in voltage and current, and the frame and fork must bear the extra weight of the motor and battery. A hub motor must also match the dropout width of the fork or rear triangle. See whether the price includes a charger, display, sensors and cables, because kits differ a lot in what they contain.
How BlaBlaPrice helps here
Describe what you need on the home page, and sellers of electric vehicles and bike shops will answer with offers in the chat. They see where they stand and compete for the request, so terms often improve. Contacts are hidden, and the service is free for the buyer. More on How it works.
Also compare ordinary bicycles, and for extra gear see cycling protection.
