Skip to content 
The range of an electric bike is how far you can ride it on one charge. A common problem is figuring out how to assess electric bike range. All electric bikes are advertised as having a particular range. However, these advertised ranges are often inaccurate. In fact, sometimes they are downright exaggerated, and may even be four times higher than the reality. Here is a guide to help you figure out the true range of an electric bike.
Here is a guide to help you figure out the true range of an electric bike.
Factors to Consider that Impact E-Bike Range
If you think about it, it is impossible for electric bike range claims to be totally accurate. There are too many factors that make the range different from person to person. These factors include:
- how much the rider weighs (you will get longer range if you weigh 100 pounds than if you weigh 400 pounds);
- what level of assistance the rider chooses;
- the terrain they’re cycling over (you will get less range in the French Alps than you will get in the Sahara Desert);
- the amount of luggage they’re carrying;
- how fast they go (1/3 faster = 1/2 the range);
- how hard they’re pedaling;
- how many times they stop and start (hill starts in particular will drain power);
- wind conditions;
- temperature (they will get about 15% more range from a battery on a warm sunny day than they would in winter);
- tire pressure (as with regular bikes, soft tires = less efficiency = less distance for power expended);
- what kind of battery they’re using;
- how old their battery is (batteries lose power over time);
- size of their bike motor (big motors are fun, but obviously they drain more battery power); and
- how fast they’re going.
For example, if you decide to engage no assistance at all because you’re on flat terrain and you’re feeling strong, your electric bike range is as far as you can go before you collapse. For some people this might be 200 miles, and for others it could be 20. On the other hand, if you engage the highest level of assistance constantly, and are in very hilly terrain, you can eat through your battery charge pretty fast.
