Electric Bike FAQs
What are Electric Bikes?
Electric Bikes (eBikes) are standard bicycles that have been fitted with or designed to incorporate electrical assistance in the form of a battery and motor.
They are not the same as a motorbike or moped and they do not require tax, insurance or MoT and can still be ridden on cycle paths and towpaths etc.
IMPORTANT - Please note that there are TWO main types of electric bike:
Throttle-Assist: Bikes that have a motor built into the wheel and are controlled with a throttle on the handlebar.
Pedal-Assist: Bikes that are driven from a motor near the crank that senses how much pressure you are applying to the pedals and assisting you directly onto the chain from there.
We recommend trying out both technologies to see which is right for YOU!
Click Here to Try an Electric Bike - No Obligation
How many miles will the battery last for? *
It depends on a few factors and conditions which are:
~ How much effort you put in yourself and the chosen bike assistance level.
~ The capacity of the battery (measured in Ah).
~ How 'hilly' it is where you're riding.
~ Rider weight.
As a rule of thumb, you realistically get about 20 to 30 miles out of a single full battery charge, but more if you're a keen cyclist or run a dual battery system available on some models.
* Please be aware that some manufacturers' websites quote unrealistic mileages (often quoting a fixed mileage for a bike) that are taken from a flat test track or a very capable rider using minimal power to acheive high mileages and this is simply not a realistic measurement for real world use and ignores some of the major contributing range factors stated above!
What is 'Ah'?
Ah (Amp Hours) basically denotes the capacity of a battery.
The higher the Ah rating, the longer the battery will last and therefore the greater the range.
E.G. a 14Ah battery will last 40% longer than a 10Ah battery.
The higher the Ah rating the better, although higher Ah batteries cost and weigh more.
Who can ride an Electric Bike?
Anyone over the age of 14 can legally ride an electric bicycle.
Does the battery recharge when you are cycling?
Currently, most electric cycles do not have regeneration due to the extra cost and weight of the technology; plus regeneration will only give you about 10% charge back into the battery at best - you consume far more power than you can realistically put back into the bike from riding / rolling downhill alone.
All of our bikes get all their power from a bike mounted battery which is recharged at home or work using a standard UK 13amp socket.
How much electricity does it use to recharge a battery?
It only costs around 5 to 10p worth of electricity to fully recharge a flat battery!
How long does it take to recharge the battery?
Around 3 to 5 hours from a completely flat battery to fully charged depending on battery capacity and charge rate, but we recommend keeping Lithium Ion batteries topped up regularly after use and never left for long periods of time without a top-up charge.
How fast will an electric bike go?
European law states that an electric bike can only assist you up to 15.5mph, although you can pedel or freewheel faster than this if you wish, like a normal bike.
Some bikes have lights powered from the bike battery - what happens when the bike battery runs out?
The lights will continue to work as normal for several hours after the bike has stopped assisting you, as powering a couple of lights takes a tiny amount of power compared to powering the bike's motor.
In rare situations when the bike has been under a great load up an extended hill on warmer days, the battery's thermal safety cut-out may enable that will stop all power to the bike and lights - this only happens under extreme conditions though.
I've heard the government will cover some of the cost of a new bike. Is this true and how does it work?
Yes it's true! Click HERE to find out more on the 'Cycle to Work' or 'eBike2work' scheme.
Are the electric bikes UK road legal?
Yes, all the electric bikes OnBike supply are UK road legal.
Do you deliver and if so, who much does delivery cost?
Yes, we will deliver electric bikes to any UK mainland address for £25 and will endeavour to get your order out for next working day delivery. Click HERE to read more about OnBike's delivery.
Click Here to Try an Electric Bike - No Obligation
Why Ride an Electric Bike?
Economy:
Electric bicycles are incredibly frugal compared with motorbikes and cars and only cost around 5 to 10p worth of electricity to fully recharge a flat battery!
They are treated just like ordinary bicycles for legislative purposes so there’s no need to worry about Log Books, MOT, Road Tax, Insurance etc.Most of the working non electrical parts are standard cycle parts so day to day servicing like tire or brake replacement will seem very cheap for people used to paying for car repairs.
Health and Hills:
It is said that a conventional bike will keep you fitter. That, of course, depends how much, if at all, it is being used. Because riding an electric bike is such a pleasure even in hilly country, or into the wind, their owners tend to ride them much more often than conventional bikes. The motor provides up to half the effort, but regular use means more exercise for the rider.
If you want some strenuous exercise you can always switch the motor to a lower assistance ratio or turn it off completely.
Fun:
They are incredibly good fun. If you have never ridden one before you will find you get all the pleasure and fresh air of a bicycle, without the hard work, and all the excitement of a moped or a scooter, without the fumes, mechanical complexity, noise and cost.
First time riders invariably come back with a big smile on their face and many have commented “It’s like riding a normal bike only with a big friendly hand giving you a push on the difficult bits”.
Perspiration may not be a serious issue when out for a leisurely ride, but it’s more important when cycling to work. An electric bike eliminates the problem and allows riders to wear their normal clothing and really enjoy the journey.
If you are or have been a regular cyclist but are beginning to find it a bit too much like hard work then you really must try an electric bike. Suddenly those trips that seemed a bit too long will have halved in distance and those hills that were a bit too steep will have miraculously flattened.
Green:
Using an electric bike is the best way there is to break the car habit. The average car journey in Britain is 5 to 8 miles and every day people in Britain make millions of small journeys to work or the shops and back that could easily be non-polluting bike rides - during rush-hour, a bike is twice as fast as a car - great if you hate jams!
An electric bike is completely emission free can be made genuinely sustainable by purchasing electricity from a ‘green’ supplier, or generating it via a roof-mounted windmill or solar panel. This will enable the vehicles’ fossil fuel consumption to be zero.
