As the cost of living continues to rise and the price of utility bills crippling families nationwide, you might be considering what you can live without. Or perhaps what you can afford not to charge anymore. As gas and electricity prices are extortionate compared to just a couple of years ago, many of us haven’t even put the central heating on yet. If you are someone who owns an e-bike, you might be wondering how much that actually costs to charge every day. Whilst it’s a great way to get into the city and take the stress out of your commute, how much are you actually spending on the electricity to charge it? Let’s answer the question of how much does it cost to charge an electric bike.
What Is An Electric Bike?
We should start with what an electric bike actually is. If you haven’t got one, you might not really know the benefits (or perhaps downfalls once we get to costs!) of owning an electric bike.
Basically, an electric bike is a bicycle which has a motor to help the rider propel along. These motors obviously need to be charged and this is what we are going to look into. There are a huge number of makes and models of bikes available all over the world. Whilst pedal power has been one of the most convenient ways of getting to and from places, for many years, the addition of a motor means the rider gets a helping hand (or foot!) as they pedal.
The Cost Of An Electric Bike
Of course, there is the initial outlay to buy an e-bike in the first place. These can be as expensive as £8000+, but as affordable as £300. Depending on what the user is looking for, there are lots of options to look into. At the core though, they are all the same with the idea of extra propulsion from a motor.
Some companies have brought out conversion kits that can be added to standard bicycles. These can be picked up online for just a couple of hundred pounds. Perhaps a more affordable option if you already have a bike!
How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Bike?
As there are different makes and models, using different types of motors, we are going to talk averages when we look at the length of charge for an e-bike. From flat, most will take around 4 hours to completely charge. They will usually be at 80% capacity within about 90 minutes.
How Long Do Electric Bike Motors Last?
In terms of how far you can go per charge, you are looking at a maximum distance of 100-120KM on a full charge of your bike. Some will take you 15 miles, others have high capacities and will take you much further.
The great thing about an e-bike is that even when the motor is flat, you can continue to ride. The motor is simply assisting your pedalling. So once the battery is flat, you can continue to ride the bike as a normal bike, before getting to a charging point.
If we are talking about how long an e-bike motor will last in its lifetime, it’s somewhere between 3 and 5 years before it’ll need to be replaced.
How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Bike?
The actual cost of charging the motor of an electric bike will vary depending on the bike you actually have. You’re looking at somewhere between 5 and 10p for a complete charge. Obviously, if you have a higher capacity, it will take more ‘juice’ to charge your battery completely. It’s worth looking at the type of motor the bike has if you are in the market to buy one.
You should also take into consideration how often you’re going to actually need to charge it. If you are charging once a week and only using it for short journeys, you’re not going to spend much on charging. If you are using it until it is flat every day and charging it overnight, it’s an extra expense to consider.
Final Thoughts
Electric bikes are great for those who want that extra assistance whilst pedalling to places of work and other destinations. However, the additional cost will likely be too much for some people in the first place. That’s without even taking into account the expense of charging it. With the costs involved, you should definitely take time over your decision and see if an e-bike is really for you, or if it’s just a fad you are going to regret after a couple of months.
