what2ask

Home | Full A-Z list | Feedback | About Us

Electric bikes - what to ask before you buy

With the advantages of using a bicycle becoming more and more obvious these days, the electric bike is coming into its own. Here are some ideas about what to ask before you buy your electric bike.

Click on a question below for more information.

1. Defintion: Is it an electric bike?
2. Cost: How much does the electric bike cost?
3. Power: How powerful is the electric bike motor?
4. Weight: How much does the electric bike weigh?
5. Load: What load can the electric bike take?
6. Battery: What about the battery on the electric bike?
7. Recharging: Does the battery on an electric bike recharge as I ride?
8. Range: What range does the electric bike's battery provide?
9. Assembly: Do I have to assemble the electric bike?
10. Service: Can I get spare parts/service for the electric bike?
11. Speed: How fast can the electric bike go?
12. Wet weather: Can I ride an electric bike in wet weather?
13. Registration: Do I have to register an electric bike?
14. Road rules: Do I have to obey road rules when riding an electric bike?
15. Petrol motor: What about a petrol motor on a pushbike?

1. Is it an electric bike?

• Confirm that it is a power assisted electric bicycle, designed mainly for 'human power'. If it isn't, it's likely you won't be permitted to ride it on public roads or in public places. Have a look at your state's road and traffic authority web site to determine where you can ride it and under what conditions.
• Pushbikes with petrol motors attached are treated differently! They may not be legal for footpath or road use.
• Note that the shape of the bike is also a factor in whether it has to be registered for road use - if it looks like your everday pedal bicycle, it may be exempt from registration, but if it looks like a motor scooter with pedals, it is likely to require registration for use on the road or in a public area.
• If the bike must be registered for use on the road, you must be licensed to ride it on public roads or public areas.

2. How much does the electric bike cost?

Compare costs online and retail. Because these items are heavy, delivery costs may be significant.

3. How powerful is the electric bike motor?

If you want to ride your electric bike on the footpath and not have to register it, make sure it has no more than a 200w motor. Commonly the electric motor is part of the rear wheel hub but other options are available.

The best kind of motor is the 'brushless' motor, which requires practically no maintenance and runs more efficiently and evenly than the 'brush' motors.

4. How much does the electric bike weigh?

Due to the weight of the battery, the bike will be much heavier than an equivalent non-electric bike. Make sure you can easily manoevre it and that that you can push it uphill.

5. What load can the electric bike take?

Check out it's maximum load (are you too heavy for it?). For example, if it has a maximum load of 80 kilos and you weigh 90, the motor is likely to be straining and may fail early.

6. What about the battery on the electric bike?

The battery is rechargeable and generally weighs a fair bit and remember you have to carry that weight with you when you ride.

7. Does the battery on an electric bike recharge as I ride?

No. It would require much more power than you can generate in the normal course of your riding to recharge the battery. You recharge the battery using a purpose made charger plugged into a household power outlet.

8. What range does the electric bike's battery provide?

Ask about how far you can ride on a single battery charge. If you're riding uphill a lot, you may get less than 10kms from a charge, but on the flat you could easily get 60 kms. The electric bike works best on the flat.  If you ride up a hill of any significance, the motor may strain under the load, in which case you'll need to pedal harder - you won't be able to cruise up the hill as if you're in a car, but the power will help a bit. Remember that the electric motor is just an assistant - most of the riding will be human powered.

9. Do I have to assemble the electric bike?

Unless you have a good mechanical knowledge, make sure the bike is assembled when you get it. If you put it together incorrectly, it could be a serious safety risk.

10. Can I get spare parts/service for the electric bike?

Make sure you can get after sale service and parts, especially the 'electric' bits which may be unique to the bike you are buying and therefore harder to get than the common parts like tyres and brake pads.

11. How fast can the electric bike go?

Find out how fast the electric bicycle will go. The maximum speed on the flat, using the battery alone, is probably around 25kph, much less up hills. However if you can pedal faster, your bike will go faster...

12. Can I ride an electric bike in wet weather?

Generally an electric bike is only water resistant, so while being caught in the rain is no big deal, never ride it in a deluge or in water deep enough to wet the battery or motor. It's a real safety risk and likely to damage the bike.

Always be aware of the increased threat to safety of any kind of cycling in poor weather, with the associated poor visibility and slippery roads.

13. Do I have to register an electric bike?

Find out the latest rules for your area from your local motor registry. Whether your electric bicycle has to be registered will depend on:

• its power and
• its maximum speed and
• its shape and
• whether it has functioning pedals as part of the mechanism to move the bike - if the pedals don't work, it doesn't qualify as 'power assisted'.

For example, in NSW, motor assisted bikes have to meet national design and safety standards and have to be registered for use on the road unless they're specifically exempt. The vehicle has to be designed for use as a bicycle with the electric motor providing supplementary assistance only.

In Queensland, a motorised bicycle is a bicycle to which an electric motor is attached. The motor must not be capable of generating more than 200 watts of power. It is illegal to ride a bicycle on roads or road-related areas (such as paths) if the bicycle has an internal combustion engine (for example, a petrol or diesel motor) attached. See the Queensland government's rules for motorised bicycles.

14. Do I have to obey road rules when riding an electric bike?

Yes, riders have to observe the same road rules as riders of bicycles without motors and must wear a helmet.

Note: If the bike must be registered for use on the road, you must be licensed to ride it on public roads or public areas.

15. What about a petrol motor on a pushbike?

It is likely that a pushbike with a petrol motor attached will not be permitted on footpaths, because it is too powerful (they are deemed to have more than 200 watts), while it can't be registered for use on public roads because of its design. If you're considering a petrol assisted motor, make sure you check with the regulatory authorities before you buy.

©   2008-2009 what2ask.com.au | Disclaimer | Feedback