E-bike motors explained: these are the differences


E-bikes have several types of motors for pedal help. What must you take note of as quickly as you purchase an e-bike? We record the variations for you.

Over time, electrical bicycles have advanced significantly. Not solely do they appear spectacular, the {hardware} has additionally been repeatedly improved. Along with a extra pure biking expertise, this additionally results in the arrival of extra highly effective engines. It’s exactly on this space that confusion typically arises amongst shoppers: in any case, an e-bike motor has been providing the identical 250 watts of energy for years, proper? True: however the discrepancy might be discovered within the effectivity with which motors do their job.

That effectivity partly relies on the kind of engine. Once we discuss ‘sort’, we’re at all times speaking about the place the motor is situated on the e-bike. There are solely three flavors: rear, entrance and center. You may learn all the things concerning the several types of engines, the ability and the professionals and cons on this article.


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Various kinds of engines

To start out with the several types of engines. As indicated, producers have a alternative of three variants: rear, mid and entrance engines. They’re due to this fact situated respectively on the again, within the center and on the entrance of the electrical bicycle. Nevertheless, that’s solely a minor element: every sort of engine has its personal traits and plus and minus factors.

Rear wheel motor

Rear motors, also called rear wheel motors, are extra typically discovered on cheaper bicycles. Nevertheless, it’s doable that manufacturers additionally equip dearer bicycles with a rear-wheel motor. For instance, take a look at the Cowboy in VanMoofbicycles, which at all times get rear-wheel motors. What characterizes these engines is that they’re comparatively mild and unobtrusive. Producers of e-bikes place this motor the place you usually discover the gear hub.

Rear-wheel motors are additionally characterised by their pure pedaling expertise. When pedaling, it feels such as you’re getting a ‘push within the again’, with out being pulled ahead. Rear-wheel motors are additionally fairly quiet: so quiet that you do not understand you are biking on an e-bike.

  • Benefits: light-weight, pure pedaling/biking expertise and extremely quiet;
  • Cons: typically on the expense of gears (or with derailleur that requires extra upkeep) and decrease effectivity on the vary of your battery.

Mid engine

Then there are the mid-engines. These are sometimes additionally probably the most highly effective motors you will get on e-bikes. As well as, the biking expertise with the mid-engine is probably the most pure of all sorts of e-bike motors; the assist is in actual fact straight linked to the underside bracket, which you progress. We additionally observe that mid-engines typically include a power sensor, which implies they will adapt significantly better to your ‘want’ for assist than different engines on this record.

Cortina E-Lett
It’s nearly inconceivable to inform from the Cortina E-Lett that it has a rear wheel motor – © Cortina

With mid-engines you might be typically certain to increased value ranges. We additionally observe that the common mid-engine makes a comparatively great amount of noise. Do you need to cycle unseen electrically? That can be not doable with a mid-engine: the position makes your bike instantly recognizable as an e-bike.

  • Benefits: numerous energy, most pure biking expertise, direct response to request for assist;
  • Cons: tied to increased value ranges, produces (comparatively talking) a whole lot of noise.

Entrance wheel motor

An engine that’s threatened with extinction is the entrance wheel engine. An engine that, as many describe them, actually drags you alongside as a bike owner. Followers of the front-wheel engine say it is particularly helpful for pulling off at site visitors lights, the place the engine gives loads of energy. It’s also quieter than the aforementioned engines and comparatively low-cost to buy.

That lower cost tag additionally comes with drawbacks. With a front-wheel engine, there’s a better probability that you’ll slip in corners. There is just too little weight on the entrance wheel, in order that it will probably out of the blue tackle a lifetime of its personal. The motor can be comparatively heavy and the motor doesn’t rapidly adapt to the specified assist energy because of the lack of a power sensor.

  • Benefits: a whole lot of energy when accelerating, very quiet and really inexpensive;
  • Cons: hazard with slippery street floor, heavy handlebars, biking not precisely pure.

Engine energy versus torque (Nm)

Properly, there are three several types of engines, every with its personal traits. But they’re largely the identical. They every supply a most energy of 250 watts, the e-bike most in Belgium and the Netherlands. Producers should not allowed to promote electrical bicycles with motors that exceed 250 watts of energy supply. At the least, not as an everyday e-bike. As soon as the restrict is crossed, we discuss pace pedelecs or S-pedelecs. To maintain an outline, at this time we stick with common e-bikes with an influence of as much as 250 watts.

So you’ll say that each engine is simply as highly effective. In apply there’s something to be stated about this: not the ability (W) however torque energy (Nm) tells you the way a lot energy a bicycle can actually supply. The Nm quantity determines how a lot energy a bicycle can supply when accelerating or when climbing a steep mountain or hill. Please observe: the utmost torque is usually solely accessible within the highest place (eg ‘Turbo’). In different modes, that is at all times barely diminished.

How a lot torque does an e-bike present?

How a lot torque an electrical bike gives additionally relies on its goal. Under we record what number of Nm (newton meters) are usually required for sure circumstances or functions of use.

  • City site visitors (inside built-up areas, flat panorama): 35 additionally 50 Nm
  • Commuting (combined flat and hilly panorama): 50 additionally 75 Nm
  • Commuting/Leisure (combined flat, hilly and mountain panorama): 75 additionally 90 Nm

How a lot torque an e-bike gives due to this fact relies on its goal. It’s also good to know that rear-wheel motors typically get caught at 50 Nm. Mid-engines, however, attain a most torque of 90 Nm attributable to their extra environment friendly operation on the underside bracket.

Upkeep of e-bike engines

E-bikes want upkeep identical to every other non-electric bike. Electrical bicycles do include an additional (electrical…) system that requires upkeep. We advocate that you simply outsource the upkeep of your bike to specialised bicycle mechanics as quickly as it’s essential. So by no means try to work within the electrical system your self.


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By the way, you’ll not must suppose so rapidly about upkeep for the engine. There are comparatively few wear-sensitive components in such an engine. On common, an engine is maintenance-free for about 5 to 10 years. The precise period relies on the variety of kilometers you cowl and which mannequin your e-bike is supplied with. Bosch has already been offering assist for mid-drive motors for 10 years.

Engines that require upkeep can typically be acknowledged by uncommon noises or most torque that’s decrease than traditional. As quickly as you discover this, it’s best to go to the bicycle restore store as quickly as doable to stop consequential harm.

Motors from Bafang, Bosch and Shimano

We’re additionally frequently requested which e-bike motor we’d advocate. Really, there isn’t a proper or mistaken reply to that. Each engine producer has its personal supply with private benefits and downsides. We like Bosch motors due to their clean operation and extra technical devices. These devices aren’t low-cost. A motor from Bafang or Shimano might supply the identical expertise at a lower cost tag. You could then sacrifice ‘smarts’, resembling connecting your smartphone to the e-bike system. The query then is: do you really want it?

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Bosch gives many good e-bike methods – © TechPulse/Jeffrey van de Velde

Our motto: exit with completely different e-bikes from completely different manufacturers, and uncover for your self the place your desire lies. Needless to say every producer can modify the bike barely in another way based mostly on their very own body and wheel ratio. So at all times take a check experience earlier than buying an e-bike – particularly with dearer fashions, the place you’ve got extra to select from, that could be a should.

Earlier than you select an electrical bicycle, ask your self the next questions to find out what you need from an e-bike (motor):

  • Which rides will you cycle with the e-bike, and what sort of panorama will you cycle by means of? Mountains and hills: select an engine within the highest energy class;
  • How a lot energy do you need to must put your self in mountains, hills and in opposition to the wind? Little: select an engine with a comparatively excessive energy (Nm);
  • What do you anticipate out of your e-bike system when it comes to smarts? Many: Slender your search space to good, related e-bikes.

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