Criteria when choosing an electric bicycle

The electric bikes are here to stay. It is increasingly common to see this type of bicycle both in cities and outside of them.

Electric bicycles can be a very interesting solution in urban mobility. These bicycles can be used perfectly as an alternative means of transport to that of motor vehicles.

So, we are facing one of the solutions to pollution in large cities. In addition there are more and more cities that are restricting private traffic, and in a few years there are forecasts that the restrictions are total and the only way we have to move around the center of the cities will be by public transport or alternative transport such as the bicycles.

When these types of bicycles broke into the market, being a novel technology, the prices were quite high. But luckily this situation has changed remarkably.

Currently there are many brands that manufacture electric bicycles, and this great offer has made the prices quite reasonable. Obviously we will find high-end electric bicycles that will have high prices, but if we look for good deals we can find electric bicycles with very competitive prices, which can be around 600 euros.

[piopialo vcboxed = "1"] Before buying an electric bicycle we will have to be very clear about the use we are going to give it, autonomy and also the budget. [/ piopialo]

Before you see what criteria should be taken into account when choosing a bicycle of this type, let's define what exactly is an electric bicycle.

What is an electric bicycle

Actually electric bicycles are bicycles assisted by an electric motor. The word assisted has great importance, since it means that the engine will help us in pedaling. But if there is no pedaling the engine does not work.

So for assistance to work, you have to give pedals, otherwise it would be electric motorcycles.

In addition to being a bicycle is not required or registration, or insurance and we can travel in the same places as with a normal bicycle.

In Europe the law states that this type of bicycle must have a maximum power of 250 W, and with assistance can not exceed 25 km / h. If that speed is exceeded, the engine stops working and you will have to move the bicycle only with your legs.

Now, given the definition, let's see the criteria when choosing a bicycle of this type.

Why I am going to use the bicycle

This is the first question that we will have to ask ourselves, and that we should ask for the purchase of any product, not just a bicycle.

The choice of a bicycle to use it for a city as a vehicle is not going to be the same, if we want it to practice a discipline such as enduro.

Each bicycle will have certain characteristics, so we will have to choose one that suits the real use we are going to give it.

Autonomy

Another of the key points that we will have to study before deciding on an electric bicycle will be its autonomy.

But if we are clear about the previous point it will not cost us anything to know what autonomy we need. There are bicycles of this type that have a range of 30 or 40 kilometers, and there are some that can reach 90 or 100 km.

However it is a very relative topic, because the vast majority of these bicycles have different levels of assistance. If we take the assistance at the maximum level the battery will be exhausted before we take it to a lower level.

In addition, the route we are going to carry out also has an influence. If the route or the route has a lot of unevenness, the battery will be exhausted beforehand, since in the climbs the electric motor will have to work more.

Budget

The other concept that we have to take into account when choosing an electric bicycle is the money that we have for your purchase. We can find electric bicycles from 500 or 600 euros to bicycles exceeding 5,000 euros.