​Electric bikes (ebikes) bikes are becoming more popular and people are enjoying them for getting around and with good reason.  They are a clean, efficient means of mobility for commuting, recreation, and fitness and are safe when used as they were designed.   But, unfortunately, along with increased usage there has been a corresponding increase in incidents due to the battery.  There have been more and more reports of ebike battery fires.  If you own an ebike, or are considering purchasing one, it is a good idea to be aware of best battery safety practices to ensure maximum safety, utility and life of your new ebike and it’s battery.

There is a lot of innovation in the electric bike (ebike) space right now.  Significant investments are being made by companies in diverse industries as well as individual inventors around the world to improve ebike designs.  While two-wheel transportation has evolved steadily over the past 100 years, the pace of innovation has sped up exponentially as a result of the addition of a motor and battery to a bike.  The electrical components on an ebike and the refinement of these creates new opportunities for features not possible before.  Following is some of the  technology we’ve noticed available in leading edge ebikes today and might be common in the future plus social trends indicating acceptance of ebikes. 

Even though it is fun and practical to ride an ebike for recreation and transportation, no one likes to ride in the rain.  Sometimes you have no choice.  You might be out riding and a shower rolls in or a mist turns into something more, catching you off guard.  Or you find you just need to get somewhere and your ebike is the best choice, weather be damned, so you just roll out.  You can ride an ebike in the rain, but there are some steps you can take before, during, and after your ride to make a ride in the rain safe and enjoyable.

It may seem like ebikes are everywhere nowadays, and if you’ve started to learn about them, you’ve found lots of new jargon.  Some words used to describe ebikes are just common terms used in a new way, such as amp and volt and others are entirely new such as Pedelec.  While there are differences between how ebikes are designed and the components they use, they all have many things in common and it helps to understand the terminology common to most ebikes.  Below is a list of ebike terminology you might find useful as you go about your journey to understand this new transportation mode.  

One of the benefits of an ebike is that you can travel faster with less effort than on a non-assisted bike.  This is a benefit in the colder months because you can get to where you want to go faster and with less exposure to the elements.  This is a reason those who commute on an ebike are extending their trips into the winter months with some hardy souls cycling all winter.  While most of the recommendations for winter riding are the same for assisted and non-assisted bikes, there are some areas unique to an ebike.

While not all ebikes have gears, most do and if your ebike has them you should know how to use them.  By shifting gears we’re talking about the gears in the bicycle drivetrain, not shifting the assist level of the electric motor.  On a non-assisted bike if you need to ride up a hill, you would shift the lever or grip on the handlebar to a lower gear in the wheel to take advantage of the bike drive train to spin faster with less effort.  But on an ebike, you can just switch to a higher assist level and have the motor power you up the hill.  So why do ebikes even have gears if you do not need them for different terrain?  When should you use them?

Riding an electric bike, or ebike, is a different experience from riding a non-assisted bike.  Riding any bike provides a sense of freedom, allows you to enjoy time in the great outdoors, be active and get exercise, and you have a sense of certainty in getting to appointments.  An ebike provides all these benefits, plus it allows you to get where you want to go with less effort, you’ll be less sweaty, take a chance on going longer distances knowing you will be able to get back home with no problem, carry a heavy load, and ride with a faster friend.  But if you are new to riding an ebike, you should be aware of the differences so you are as safe and confident as possible starting with your very first ebike ride.

If you have an electric bike you know it is more expensive than a non-electric bike so if you want to leave it unattended at any time, you will need a good locking system.  While most of the techniques for bicycle security carry over, there are some factors unique to an ebike such protecting the battery, display, integrated lights, wiring harnesses and the  wheel that might contain the motor that you should take into consideration to assure your bike is still there and operational when you return to where you left it.

If you’re shopping for your first ebike, you’ve probably discovered that prices vary a lot.  There are many different styles of bikes where a boost can be applied, such as hybrid, road, mountain, cruiser, tricycle, recumbent, fat tire, folding, cargo, and the style you choose will have an impact on price.  But even within a given style, there is a wide difference in prices. If you have a fixed budget, it is what it is, but if you have some flexibility in how much you are able to spend, how much you should invest and what are you giving up by going with a cheaper ebike?