E-Bikes are a tremendous amount of fun, and I believe they are doing so much good for the cycling industry and the planet. It’s nice to see fewer cars on the road, even nicer to see more diverse groups of cyclists that can ride together. E-Bikes make this all possible, and cycling has never been so much fun.
When you first get an electronic bike, you tend not to think about the cost of charging it. It wasn’t my first thought anyway. I just couldn’t wait to get out and ride it. It’s a surprising amount it costs to charge an E-Bike, and in this article were going to tell you how much and some tips to save money when owning an E-bike.
How to Calculate the Cost of Charging an Electric Bike?
Depending on where you live, it will cost a different amount to charge your electric bike battery, and also, depending on what E-Bike you have makes a difference as well. So don’t worry, we have a calculator to rescue us here.
Your bikes battery kWh (Kilowatt Hours) x your cost per kWh for electricity = the cost for a charge
Let’s say, for example, you have a Cannondale Adventure Neo 3, a hybrid bike. With that, we will do some calculations. It has a 400Wh battery (Battery Capacity), and the current price for electricity is 0.279Kwh. The calculations will look like this.
0.4KWh (400Wh) x 0.279Kwh = 0.1116
Rounding it down to 11 cents for me to charge this electric bike up from a socket in my house. This is very cheap, and I was incredibly surprised to find out this fact about an electric bike, and it made me like them even more than I did before. This bike in full ECO mode will go nearly 65 miles, which could be 11 cents for 65 miles of cycling.
The Average Cost to Charge an Electric Bike for a Year
Let’s say you choose to scrap the car and use an electric bike instead for your commutes and your travels. How much does it cost per year to use? Let’s say the average car user does 10,000 miles per year which is a fairly generous amount. Gas is $3.9, and at 30mpg, you will spend $1300 to drive 10,000 miles.
If you were to do that on a bike, you’re looking at less than $17, depending on your electricity provider. Your actual costs might be different. We do appreciate that there’s much more luxury with a car, and certain trips are more challenging to make on a bike. For some people who live in a city and run a vehicle, the savings are incredible switching over to a bike.
How Long Does an Electric Bike Last?
Firstly this can differ hugely between brands of bicycle. Typically most batteries are lithium-ion (96%), and that’s what we base these statistics on. An excellent top brand bike that uses a battery from the likes of Shimano Steps or Bosch will last for roughly 5 years. Cheaper, less known brands you will only get a few years out of. It also comes down to how you look after the battery too. Some top tips for prolonging the life of your battery are;
- Don’t Overcharge it
- Make sure it has a full charge every so often (5%-100%)
- Don’t let it get too hot or too cold
- Make sure you use it regularly
Are Electric Bicycles Worth It?
Electric bicycles are totally worth it, and as electric bike batteries and technology advances, we can get excellent bikes for such a little cost. E-Bikes are getting more people into the sport and leveling the playing field so that super-fit riders can cycle with beginners, and everyone can feel challenged.
When it comes to electric bikes, you do get what you pay for. If you spend a lot, it will perform better and last much longer. Speaking to your local bike shop and trying a few bikes is always a great idea to get a feel for what you are about to purchase, as although bikes may look similar, they typically can be very different to ride.
Once you find your dream bike, I would highly advise on some electric bike insurance and keep on top of the servicing as these bikes accelerate rapidly and can slow down very quickly. They seem to get through brake pads quicker than regular bikes, and an electric bike depends on its stopping ability just as much as its ability to go.
How to Reduce the Cost of Charging Electric Bikes?
So just say you want to save a bit of money, and you want some ways to get the actual cost down. Here are a few tips that we do to make it cheaper to run an electric bike.
∘ Charge the bike at work
Really simple, but charging the bike at your work is cheaper. Even if you had to pay, business rates are lower than personal rates.
∘ Charge off-peak
If you’re on a tariff where you pay more midday, then charging it overnight will be much cheaper, and also, it’s good for the battery to give it a decent charge and not to keep just topping it up.
∘ Look after your battery health
By looking after your battery and keeping it efficient, you will find you will get more miles, and it will be much cheaper to run.
∘ ECO Mode
Running your E-Bike battery in Eco mode will mean you will get more out of each charge and save money because you need to charge it much less.
∘ Change electricity supplier or use Solar Power to charge
Some of us look for a cheaper supplier or use a renewable energy source to charge our bikes, such as solar panels. This will save you money, and also renewable energy helps the environment further.
What E-bikes Are the Best to Buy?
I am a huge fan of electric bikes, and there are so many in the market to pick from. The best way you can go is to use a named brand bike. You often see bikes at 25% of the cost stating they can do the same, but I’m yet to find an electric bike that lives up to that. There are many types of E-Bikes on the market, such as hub motors, mid-drive motors, 2WD motors, and typically many will look like a non electric bike.
You will want the quality components of a top name brand and the warranty. The battery life will be better, and buying from a company that is great at non electric bikes means you will more than likely get an incredible electric bike. Buying from a bike shop isn’t the worst idea, so you get to test ride it before you spend your hard-earned cash.
Conclusion
Electric bikes are a lot of fun and very cheap to run. They also help reduce our carbon footprint. I believe they will have a significant impact on the world, and they will prolong the life of our planet. Investing in one now is an excellent idea, and it will give you many happy, cheap miles.
