Busting Myths About eBikes

Since eBikes are in the early phases of adoption by society in the United States, there’s a lot of confusion around what they are, what they do, and how they’re different from traditional bikes. We’re here to bust some myths about eBikes and make sure you have the correct information to make an informed decision on which type of bike to get. 

Myth #1: You don’t have to pedal.

Fact: You still need to pedal. It isn’t like riding Lyft scooters. eBikes offer assistance pedaling instead of you doing all the work. When you push the pedals on an eBike, a motor activates and gives you a boost. This feature allows you to speed up hills, navigate various terrains, and ride further without exhausting yourself. You ride an eBike just like a regular bike by using gears and braking but, you have the option to use the levels of pedal assist or throttle to give you an extra boost. What does this mean? You ride more often, you ride further and you explore more!

Myth #2: You don’t get exercise when riding an eBike.

Fact: With the assisted pedaling feature, you are able to ride longer, which means you are burning more calories. Since you are still exercising while riding an eBike, you can lose weight. The average calories burned is about 500 per hour. Of course, it all depends on your current health, terrain, and speed.

Myth #3: eBike batteries don’t last very long.

Fact: With relaxed pedaling, you can expect anywhere from 35-100 miles on a single charge for most eBikes. The range is impacted by battery type, terrain, wind and level of assist used. Double check what kind of battery your eBike has to get a more accurate estimate. Taking care of your battery can also extend its life. Read more about taking care of your eBike battery to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

Myth #4: eBikes are for people who can’t ride traditional bikes.

Fact: While it’s true that eBikes are a great replacement for elderly people or people who have injuries that prevent them from riding traditional bikes, there are models of eBikes for everyone in the family! eBikes are ridden to work, to run errands, as a form of exercise, or simply to replace a traditional bike. With ample trails around Highlands Ranch, you can get almost anywhere in under a few miles. Here is how you can pick an eBike based on your personal needs.

Myth #5: eBikes use too much energy to charge.

Fact: You can make charging your e-bike battery a 100% eco-friendly transportation option by using solar power. According to Cynergy eBikes, “Depending on the capacity of the battery, it will usually take 500-800 watt hours (0.4 - 0.8 kilowatt hours) to charge the battery. Assuming a rate of $0.10/kWh, it will cost you 5-8 cents for a charge that will last you 20-80+ miles.” Unlike other modes of transportation, e-bikes also don’t produce any carbon emissions or exhaust while in use, therefore not contributing to air pollution. eBikes are an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation.

Myth #6: eBikes are more expensive than traditional bikes.

Fact: The vast majority of quality eBikes are priced between $1,900-$3,700. Bikes in this category are engineered as eBikes and are designed by reputable eBike manufacturers who have a lot invested in building their brand. To compare, you can expect to spend anywhere between $200-$5,000 on traditional bikes. As you can see, eBikes aren’t always more expensive than traditional bikes, which is a common misconception. 

Did we clear up some of your confusion about eBikes? We hope so. We want eBikes to be more commonly used in society and the first step to that is educating people about the facts around eBikes. If you know someone who would benefit from reading this article, please share it with them!