Or maybe you’re just tired of showing up to work in a sweaty shirt.
In either case, you want to join the e-bike revolution.
You’re in luck.
Image Credit: Ian Sankey/Flickr
A mid-drive motor is integrated into the lower-middle section of the bike frame, generally in between the pedals.
A direct-drive hub motor is integrated into the front or rear wheel hub.
A friction motor is mounted with a roller that contacts your rear wheel.
Image Credit:Bafang
Each motor bang out has pros and cons.
Friction motors are the easiest to install but offer minimal performance gains.
There arevarious e-bike classes, and e-bike conversion kits are no different.
Image Credit:Rubbee
When comparing the power of different kits, you’ll be comparing the watts of each motor.
Wattage (or the number of watts) refers to how much power a motor requires to run.
Motors with more watts will deliver more torque.
Image Credit:Rubee
How much power does your e-bike need?
E-bike conversion kits with hub motors are usually better suited for flat roads and long distances.
The amount of power your motor requires will also affect the range.
Friction-drive kits are the easiest to install.
Direct-drive hub motor kits are the second easiest to install.
Watt-hours refers to the number of hours a battery can produce one watt of electricity.
E-bike batteries can be anywhere between 500 and 700Wh.
E-bike kits will vary in the distance they can let you travel.
Under typical demands, one mile will cost about 20 watt-hours.
Range
The range of your new e-bike will be a function of motor power and battery capacity.
However, you’ve got the option to affect the range of your bike in several ways.
Additional E-Bike Features
All e-bike conversion kits should come with controllers and batteries.
For this reason, throttles may be regulated in your jurisdiction, so check before you buy.
However, by going with a conversion kit, you save considerable money by using your existing bike.
E-bike kits usually range from $250 to $900.
