Introduction
E-bikes have become quite popular for quite some time. Their popularity is not only due to the cleaner and more sustainable environment that they promise but better and more economical operation as well. Different factors contribute to the better economics of e-bikes. The lighter weight of e-bikes as compared to traditional fuel-powered bikes is also a contributing factor to this fact.
In this article, we’ll explore different aspects related to the weight of e-bikes such as how much do ebikes weigh? How to reduce their weight and why it may be a good idea etc.
How much do e-bikes weigh?
To increase the cost economy of their e-bikes, many users search for tried and tested strategies. But in my opinion, before looking for any such methods one must be aware of how much e-bikes weigh in actuality so that he may plan the consequent strategy to reduce the weight accordingly (if required).
Well, the answer to the above question is not a generic one as the ebikes weigh over a range rather than a discreet number.
The weight of ebikes in general is somewhere between 40 and 80 pounds.
The weight of an ebike differs not only as per its purpose of use but also on different factors such as motor weight and size, size and weight of battery as well as material used in the ebike.
How to weigh an ebike accurately?
To find out how much e-bikes weigh, one may need to weigh different kinds of e-bikes separately and accurately. To weigh an ebike one needs to place it on a weigh scale that must be large enough to accommodate the ebike. For an accurate reading, extra accessories might be removed from the bike. Also, the e-bike must be placed in an unfolded manner for precise weighing so that all the weight is shifted to the scale.
Why knowing the weight of your e-bike might be a good idea?
Knowing the weight of your e-bike can be a good idea if you are keenly looking to improve the fuel economy of your bike i.e. the mileage per charge cycle. This is because the distance traveled per charge is inversely proportional to the weight of the bike. The lesser the weight, the more the mileage.
Besides there are other benefits of reducing the weight of your e-bike as well.
- Reducing the weight of your e-bike might be a good idea if you want to make it more suitable for portable purposes. For example, bikers who live in apartments or in multi-storeyed buildings may find it convenient to carry their bikes. Same for those who opt to travel to different countries on the bike and may be required to carry the bike to some place, an elevation in particular.
- Reducing the weight of your e-bike might make it more energy efficient. This makes sense simply because a lighter ebike takes not only less energy from the battery but during the pedal assist mode, the rider will have to exert a smaller force on it in order to move forward.
- The control or maneuvering of lighter e-bikes is relatively better than the heavier ones. This is particularly true for sharp turns and steep drives such as the ones on an uphill track. This makes the cycling experience an easier one.
- There might be weight-related restrictions in some areas dedicated to the bikers. In such a case, it might be a good idea to reduce the weight as much as possible as a precautionary pre-emptive.
How to reduce the weight of your eBike?
Reducing the weight of your e-bike might be quite a simple task. A few steps in this regard are listed below :
Use lighter materials
The weight is attributable to the material of construction. In order to reduce the weight of your e-bike, you may first narrow down on the accessories and then look for the ones that can be replaced with those made up of lighter materials.
For example, choosing an e-bike made up of a carbon fiber frame or one with Aluminum as the material of construction would be a better option for riding than an e-bike made of steel.
Lighter batteries
Apart from the material of construction, the major contribution to the weight of an e-bike comes from that of a battery. To reduce the weight of an e-bike, lighter batteries might be chosen. Of all the battery types available commercially, Lithium-ion batteries are the lightest as well as the most economical ones.
Lighter accessories
There might be other considerations for this as well such as reducing the weight of accessories, customizing the chainring, etc.
