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How to calculate the range of an electric bike battery?

An ebike range calculator is a tool designed to calculate ebikes range. It estimates the distance an e-bike can travel based on factors such as battery wattage (AH) and voltage to calculate range however there are other factors that cant be included in this calculation like motor power, rider weight, terrain, and other conditions, including amperage and the impact of wind conditions like headwind, crosswind, and tailwind

The ebike range calculation you need is battery voltage x ampere hours divided by 20, you will need to get the battery capacity and watt hours, get this information from the stickers on the battery itself.

For example, a 48-volt battery that is 10 ah

48v battery x 10ah = 480 watts/20 = 20 miles range roughly, considering factors such as headwind, crosswind, and tailwind.

Another example is a 15-ah capacity of 48v battery.

48v battery x15ah = 720 watts/20 = 36 miles roughly, again taking the amperage and any headwind, crosswind, or tailwind into account.

Another common one is a 48v battery. 13ah capacity of battery.

48vx13ah = 624 watts/20 = 31.2 miles

There is a more detailed explanation further down the page and If you are new to electric bikes and scooters, you will see that there are many battery options when buying these. You will often see figures like 13ah and 7.8ah. Ah means ampere-hours, which is basically battery power or energy capacity. Amperage is a crucial factor, especially when dealing with headwind, crosswind, or tailwind situations.

The question most people have about batteries is how much range my e-bike has.

You can use this simple calculation for calculating e-bike range. You only need to know the voltage of the battery, the ah, and account for factors like amperage and different wind conditions such as headwind, crosswind, and tailwind.

Let’s say you have a battery that is 48v and has 13ah, which is a pretty standard size these days. You multiply these numbers to get the total watt capacity of the battery. 20 is the number of watts an average person burns per mile. Consider the additional energy used when encountering headwind, crosswind, or tailwind while riding.

Its voltage x ampere-hours divided by 20

48v x 13ah = 624 watts (wh), now each mile you ride burns 20 watts of power. Roughly so, including the effect of headwind, crosswind, or tailwind.

624 divided by 20 = 31.2 miles range roughly, taking into account the amperage and different wind conditions.

[Rest of the text remains unchanged]In fact, sometimes it’s half of what the manufacturer suggested, taking into account your riding style and other factors, is what you get in reality.

Some bikes have an ebike distance calculator, or sometimes an Eco tour setting, which considers the grade of the terrain and the riders’ pedalling style. This can often help you extend your range. Calculating range is one of those annoying things you will never have enough of.

Close-up of an electric bike with dual batteries on a scenic mountain track, highlighting battery capacity and range

What Affects the Range of Your E-Bike?

Assuming you are asking about the average range of an electric bike, it really depends on a number of factors. These include:

  • The capacity of the battery – the efficiency of the motor.
  • Big hills and elevation are the most fun but use the most battery power consumption.
  • the rider’s weight
  • If you are using the throttle or using pedal assist.
  • Bike weight, if you have a heavy steel frame bike it will use more power than if you have a modern carbon fibre bike or aluminium.
  • The weather conditions.
  • Tire pressure, low tire pressure creates more resistance to the surface so uses more power.

However, you can expect an electric bike to have a range of anywhere from 20 to 100 miles on a single charge, depending on factors like the riders’ pedalling habits and riding style.

You can also do a basic range calculation on how long your ebike battery will last per ride. For example, you have a 624-watt battery and you have a 250-watt bike, so if you were using the maximum setting on the bike, you can say

624 watts battery divided by 250 motor watts = 2.4 hours

Again, this is a rough estimate and you will not ride at max for a full journey, but it gives you an idea.

I have mostly had hub drives, but it does seem that mid-drive bikes are more efficient. Some of the top manufacturers like Bosch have very efficient motors, which use your cadence and other factors to improve your battery range. Some claim to get 100 miles from 15-amp-hour batteries, which is impressive.

You will always want more range. This is called range anxiety, no matter the battery size you choose. As a general rule, the minimum for a large bike should be around 10.4ah or any smaller, and if you live in a hilly area it’s going to be poor.

Most UK electric bicycles use pedal assist, which means there is a sensor on the pedals, when you rotate each pedal this sensor tells the motor to assist you, pedal assist is more economical than using a throttle, as this will use the bike at full speed

Pedal assist has different modes for different levels of assistance, the lowest setting using the least battery power, the highest setting using the most, so be aware of this, each will give you an increase of speed and draw more power, and the top setting will if you are in the UK run the bike at top speed 15.6 mph, but draw more energy.

The motor size will also affect the range, however, in my experience, there is not that much difference but if you use a 250-watt motor it’s going to use less power than a 750-watt motor

What is the average ebike range?

The average range for an electric bike is between 20- 35 miles.

If you have a new electric bicycle, you may well be surprised how poor your range is on your bike, as often the range advertised is totally unrealistic. In fact, sometimes it’s half of what the manufacturer suggested, is what you get in reality.

Some bikes have an ebike distance calculator, or sometimes an Eco tour setting. This can often help you extend your range. Calculating range is one of those annoying things you will never have enough of.

Assuming you are asking about the average range of an electric bike, it really depends on a number of factors. These include: 

Calculating how long hours the battery would last if I were to run it constantly 

You can also do a basic range calculation on how long your ebike battery will last per ride. For example, you have a 624-watt battery and you have a 250-watt bike, so if you were using the maximum setting on the bike you can say

624 watts battery divided by 250 motor watts = 2.4 hours

Again, this is a rough estimate and you will not ride at max for a full journey, but it gives you an idea.

The problem with battery sizes is:

You will always want more range. This is called range anxiety, no matter the battery size you choose. As a general rule, the minimum for a large bike should be around 10.4ah or any smaller and if you live in a hilly area it’s going to be poor.

If you have a small bike, then try to go for around 7.8ah, any lower, and again it’s not going to be much good for any kind of reasonable distance.

Scooters can go a bit lower, maybe down to 6ah, but scooters are not designed for hills in mind, so they usually get a decent range only on flat areas, plus you might have to do some work on the hills on your own.

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Other FAQ questions

Does battery capacity affect e-bikes range?

Yes, battery capacity does indeed affect e-bike range. The larger the battery capacity, the longer the range an ebike can achieve. This is because a higher-capacity battery can store more energy, allowing the motor to draw power for a longer period of time. Additionally, a larger battery capacity means that the motor can operate at a lower power output, which results in increased efficiency and extended range. Therefore, when considering an e-bike, it is important to choose one with a battery capacity that aligns with your desired range requirements.

What is the future of ebike batteries

The future is going to be quite exciting as bikes with regenerative braking, like Formula 1 cars, are coming to market. This means when you pull the brake lever it charges the battery for you.

Can’t I just use my display instead of using a range calculator?

Of course, it is better to get your electric bike range by using the bike on a flat area, and riding from full battery to empty, and making a note of speed, distance in miles or kilometres. You will be able to see the distance covered on your ebike display screen, but this could take hours to get the calculations, time which most people don’t have.

What are the benefits of using an e-bike range calculator?

It’s just a quick way to estimate the range of an ebike, maybe you are a rider considering your first ebike and wish to know the average range. There are some calculators you can now fill out online to help you do this.

 How does range affect ebike battery life?

The range of an e-bike battery life is determined by a number of factors, including the type of battery, its capacity, the number of charge cycles, the temperature, and how the battery is used.
The type of battery used in an ebike can affect the range of the battery life. For example, lithium-ion batteries typically have a longer range than lead-acid batteries.

Owner at Reight Good Bikes | Website | + posts

I'm the passionate mind behind this online web shop. As an avid cyclist, I have a particular fondness for electric bikes and scooters, believing they offer a unique sense of freedom and joy. Not only do I enjoy riding them, but I also take pride in reviewing and sharing my insights about these fantastic machines. Additionally, as someone who suffers from dry eyes, I'm committed to stocking products that genuinely enhance and improve people's lives. Dive into my shop, and you'll find a curated selection of e-bikes, scooters, and other life-enhancing products that I stand by.

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