The growing popularity of new eco-friendly mobility solutions such as electric bikes is an undeniable fact which is also reflected in the increasing demand for raw materials needed for their production. However, traditional solutions such as bicycles are also retaking their lost place in society that has created a difficult situation for many who want to be a part of the green revolution and do something for the environment. This article clears the differences between an ebike & a bicycle so that you can select the two-wheeler that best suits your needs & wishes.
Main Differences Between Ebike vs Regular Bike:
There are considerable differences between an ebike and a regular bike, which would be better elaborated by going through the differences of each component. The bullet points mentioned below will help you get a better understanding of the differences between the two bikes:
Battery:
Electric bikes are accompanied by a battery which serves as a power source and plays a crucial role in how fast an ebike would be. Bicycles, on the other hand, are battery-free and can only be manually propelled by the rider.
Motor:
It is common knowledge that ebikes are only called ebikes because of their small but power-dense battery and motor. Regular bikes don't have any kind of motor, the only aid they have are the gears that make traversing through different terrains easier.
Pedal:
Pedals of both ebikes and regular bikes are exactly the same as far as the looks are concerned. The difference lies in their working mechanism, ebikes because of their pedal-assist feature require less effort on the pedal than regular bikes. This is the reason why some electric bikes are also referred to as pedal-assisted bikes.
Gears:
The availability of riding modes further opens up avenues for ride customization which is a whole new experience for riders trying an ebike for the first time.
Speedometer:
Speedometers are pretty basic on regular bikes and they only show a limited set of parameters, though some high-end bicycles do have fancier speedometers that are better capable of guiding a rider. However, it is an entirely different case for electric bikes because their speedometers have to show information such as battery status, riding mode, and the status of other functions such as pedal assist. Since ebikes have to show such information, therefore, their speedometers/odometers are larger in size and more intuitive.
What About Appearance?
There are some visual differences between ebikes and regular bicycles, though, only a keen eye would be able to spot them instantly. The motor is the most visible & important component in any ebike, but its placement varies from ebike to ebike, nevertheless, it is easier to spot the motor than a battery that is often integrated into the frame of an electric bicycle. Apart from these two distinct features and a relatively larger display in between the handlebars, both the ebikes & bicycles are largely similar as far as their appearance is concerned.
The same goes for electric folding bikes and foldable bicycles, their handles, wheels, and brakes all are largely similar. Their hinge mechanism is also largely the same, though, the hinges on an electric folding bike might be relatively beefier since ebikes are bulkier.
What About Speed Differences?
Speed is one of many departments where ebikes have a clear edge over regular bikes. The pedal-assist feature provides an instant boost as soon as the rider starts pedaling thereby increasing the total speed of an ebike. Moreover, some ebikes are capable of running on electric power alone but the speed in such a mode is usually limited to just 20 mph(32 km/h). On the other hand, mainstream bicycles & their riders only have the potential to take their bicycles to a maximum of 15 mph(24 km/h), but keep in mind that this is just an average figure. Thus, electric bikes can easily beat regular bicycles, provided their batteries have ample juice in them.
What About Pedaling Experience?
The pedaling experience of an ebike is more or less the same as a regular bike, but an ebike requires significantly lesser effort from the rider due to its electric assistance that kicks in as soon as you start pedaling. It would be fair to say that the pedaling experience on an ebike is less cumbersome & tiring especially on steep & rough terrains thanks to the pedal-assist that reduces the toll on the legs, lungs & the heart of a rider.
Government Rules & Regulations:
Regular bikes are ahead of ebikes when it comes to rules & regulations because bicycles have been around us for decades. Their long presence & simplicity has made their rules much more explicit, lax, and straightforward, which unfortunately isn't the case for electric bikes. Not only is there ambiguity surrounding the laws of ebikes, but there also exist increased restrictions regarding their usage due to their ability to reach higher speeds. Nevertheless, electric bikes still don't require any registration or driving license and they can be used in pretty much the same spaces where regular bicycles are allowed to be used. Restrictions are only limited to certain areas or cases which can be verified by going through the province or the state laws in which you live.
What About Maintenance?
Bicycles have the greatest advantage of being very low on maintenance and it is the same case with electric bikes. Both the battery and the motor in an ebike are maintenance-free which makes the maintenance schedule of an ebike fully identical to that of a bicycle. The electric points in an ebike don’t require re-greasing or taping very often, which is why maintenance of both the bikes can be completely regarded as the same.
Health Benefits of an Ebike:
An ebike offers the same health benefits as a regular bicycle but it even extends those benefits to people who cannot ride a bicycle because of a certain disease or just because of old age. Every health benefit of cycling that includes muscular strength, greater heart & joint well-being, improved mental health, better blood flow, decreased fat and cholesterol levels is provided by ebikes. The motor or pedal assistance makes your job easier, preventing exhaustion and muscle fatigue which can especially be helpful for older age groups.
Electric Bike vs Regular Bike: Which One is Right for Me?
Both the electric & regular bikes have their advantages, but there can only be a single winner. The needs vary from person to person, but ebikes have emerged victorious in the battle between ebikes vs regular bikes for the following reasons:
Ebikes are the latest trend which is undoubtedly one of the main buying decisions. Despite being the latest trend, they are relatively affordable which is a great plus point since many new technologies in the market aren’t affordable.
Unlike electric cars that have huge batteries, ebikes have a smaller battery that can be charged easily at home without special arrangements and in a matter of a few hours.
Electric bicycles are better suited for older people and they can also be a great stepping stone for people who are planning to buy an electric motorcycle.
Last but certainly not the least is the versatility of ebikes that has, for some owners, diminished the need for cars which ultimately saves expenses, cuts noise & traffic levels, and provides clean air for the surrounding residents to breathe.