Everything you want to know about
ELECTRIC BIKES
How does an electric bike work?
Electric bicycles are the advanced form of bicycles, but they differ by adding many parts to them, such as the battery, motor, controller, and many other main parts and accessories. As for their work, it occurs by means of the handle and pedals, but the purpose of adding electricity to them is to increase human strength and not replace it completely, as these bicycles operate according to the movement of the handles and pedals like a regular bicycle, but there are many electrical components that control these bicycles, and the most important component is the motor that operates It powers the bike and the battery, which in turn delivers energy and power to the motor.[1] In general, its working methods come in three forms that differ slightly from each other, which we will explain to you as follows:
- You can operate the bike by pedaling only like a regular bike, and this bike will come with three or eight gears, and the internal transmission group helps you move without additional resistance resulting from the engine
- Operating the bike using pedal assistance. In this case, your bike is powered by both human and electrical energy. Once you turn on the start button, electrical energy generated by the engine will be available, and you will change speeds by switching gears. These gears are three: low, which saves 30% of the power, and medium, which saves 60% energy saving, and high save 100% energy.
- The bike is operated using electricity only. In this mode, you do not need to step on the pedals to start the bike. When you start your bike, the engine will work to propel the bike, and the task of the pedals will be to increase the speed and stop the bike.
Learn about the most important parts of an electric bike
An electric bike has several main components that make it up, and below we will explain to you the most prominent.
- Batteries: They are the main power source for the bike, and some of them last for 5-6 years if they are of good quality.
- Electric motor: It is the part that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to move the bike, and all electric bike motors at the present time are magnetic motors.
- Swivel arms: They are axial motors that produce the torque necessary to rotate the bicycle wheels.
- Throttle or aspirator: This regulates the amount of power delivered to the engine.
- Control unit: It is one of the basic components of the bicycle, which converts direct current voltage into three-phase alternating current, and constantly adjusts the voltage going to the motor, which starts from zero and reaches between 12-24-48 volts.
- Sensors: This is the part that allows you to control the engine power with your hands.
- Bike Computer: Provides you with all the necessary information to know what is happening on the road and inside the bike.
How do you charge an electric bike?
The electric bike battery is one of the most important parts of it, and to protect it from damage you must charge it correctly and properly, and among the important tips for this we will list them for you as follows:
- Only use the original charger that came with your electric bike, or any other original charger from your bike manufacturer.
- Connect the charger correctly, and fully charge the bike for 24 hours before taking it out on the road and using it.
- The method of charging the battery varies slightly depending on the manufacturers. To begin proper charging, open the charging place in your bike’s battery. The cable will have two ports. Connect one of them to an electrical outlet and the other to the bike’s battery.
- Electric bicycle batteries have an LED indicator that turns red when charging, and turns green when the battery is full.
What are the most common electric bike malfunctions and ways to solve them?
Electric bicycles have witnessed a high demand in the recent period, and like other machines and vehicles, there are malfunctions that affect the bike, especially if you do not take care of it and maintain its regular maintenance, and the most prominent of these malfunctions are:
- Sensor malfunction: This is the most common malfunction in bicycles, and it can be easily repaired at the beginning of the malfunction, as a light signal appears on the battery indicator, and the pedals do not work properly. To fix this problem, you can replace this sensor or disconnect it and reinstall it again to solve the problem.
- Incorrect connection of the battery and its parts: This malfunction leads to incorrect operation of the bike, and in some cases the electric bike does not work at all. You can find out if there is a defect in the battery installation by using a test for the presence of electrical voltage through any electrical device. The problem is solved by disconnecting the battery or its main parts and installing it correctly.
- End of battery life: One of the main problems with an electric bike, and you can know this from the light signals that the bike emits, and from the battery specifications and the number of its default charging cycles.
Here are the most notable disadvantages of an electric bike
Owning an electric bike is a good thing, but it has some disadvantages that may affect its performance. The most prominent of these disadvantages are:
- There is a constant need for electric charging, as most electric bicycles travel about 32-56 km per charge.
- Expensive, as most bikes are priced between 2000-3000 US dollars.
- Heavy. An electric bike weighs between 18-32 kg, which gives it weight when operating and walking compared to regular bikes.
- Replacing the battery costs a large amount compared to the price of the bike, as the price of a new battery ranges between 500-800 US dollars.
- The bike needs a lot of attention and regular maintenance, and its spare parts are expensive.
- Some people consider electric bikes to be for lazy people who don't want to put in the effort of shifting pedals with their feet.
You may be interested in: Tips when choosing an electric bike
Electric bicycles have attracted more people to own them in the last few years, and in many countries the percentage of people owning electric bicycles is high, and if you are thinking about owning one of these bicycles, there are important tips that you should know before purchasing a bicycle, which we will explain to you as follows:
- The first step is to accurately determine your need for bicycles, and ask yourself how many times you will use this bicycle per week or day, whether you will carry luggage or children with you, how much you weigh and how far you walk. The answers to these questions will greatly help you in choosing the appropriate bicycle for you.
- Choose the type of motion sensor with speeds that are appropriate for you, as it is important for determining the number of times you step on it and controlling the speed and slowness of stepping on it.
- Check carefully the type of bicycle battery you own, and do not be fooled by the manufacturers’ advertisements and promises. The higher the voltage, the better the battery will be. It can be said that lithium and nickel hydride (NiMH) batteries are less expensive and last for a long time.
- Make sure that all safety equipment is included with the bike you will buy, the most important of which are a helmet, protective vest and colored tape.
- Buy a bike with good brakes, because the electric bike is light in weight, so strong brakes are important at high speeds.
- Before you make the decision to buy a bike, we advise you to try it out. You can try it out itself or rent one of the same type and try it out for a day on the road.