Useful guide to electric motor for bike

What is an electric motor for bike?

An electric motor for bike is an electrical component that generates torque in an e-bike’s engine and spins the shaft to initiate motion. For hybrid ebike, users still need to pedal bike to move in most cases. However, since the shaft is connected to the chainring, it supplements pedaling, so you don’t need as much power to get e-bike moving.

Different types of motors for bike

As you must have figured, if you are an e-bike enthusiast, electric motor for bike comes in various types, each functioning uniquely for the same purpose. However, there are two main motor types for this purpose:

• Hub motors: This is arguably the most common motor for bikes, and you’d most likely see it on the typical e-bike. It is most known for its positioning in the center of the bike’s wheel, where it helps modify the speed and general functions. This motor type requires only a little maintenance, and it can help reduce the bike maintenance tasks as well. The main disadvantage of this motor is that it mostly features only one gear, which may not be ideal for hill climbing.
• Mid-drive motors: This type of motor is typically positioned around the middle of the bike, where it affects the bike’s speed and functionality via a chainring connected to the back wheel. It is often considered an upgrade to hub motors, and its biggest advantage is its gear ratio. It features multiple gears that can be inter-switched to suit the biker’s needs.

Which type of motor is best for electric bikes and why?

Both motor types are excellent for e-bikes and can perform at optimum levels. However, the mid-drive motor functions at an advanced level, making it slightly superior. Also, the mid-drive motor solves some of the significant problems users would generally encounter with hub motors, so it is arguably the best of the two.

Are e-bike motors AC or DC?

Except for special needs, which can be very rare, e-bike motors are usually DC-powered and use brushless DC for operation. Brushless motors are not the most common electric motors, but they are the most suitable for e-bikes. They convert the electrical energy into mechanical energy using permanent magnets and electromagnets, thereby implementing the permanent magnet brushless DC supply.

How electric motor for bike works

The simple answer is that electric motors work by converting the electric energy generated in the motor into more usable mechanical energy. The motor usually consists of wires wrapped around a stator, which acts as an electromagnet when triggered by current from the battery. When the stator is triggered, it reacts by distributing the current in circular sequences that interact with the rotor (a series of permanent magnets) to start a spin.

After the spin is generated, it is transferred to the back wheel via a chain ring (for mid-drive motors). E-bikes also have a system known as the controller, and it is charged with regulating the amount of current dolled out from the battery into the motor.

Pros and cons of electric motor for bike

The benefits of electric motor for bike has never been in question because they are pretty obvious. But what you may not know is that it has its disadvantages too, albeit only a few. here are the most significant pros and cons of electric motors for bikes.

Pros

• It helps to reduce the energy required for pedaling.
• It makes the e-bike more practical and fun to ride.
• It helps improve the functionality of other parts.
• It helps regulate the speed and gives more control to the rider.

Cons

• Depending on the wheel size, the electric motor for bike may be installed in different locations on the bicycle, which will cause the center of gravity of the front or rear wheel to shift, affecting the ride, especially if it is a front hub motor.
• Cost of maintenance can be on the high side.

How many volts is the electric bike motor?

Electric motors for bike comes in different voltages, depending on the size, function, and rider’s preference. However, the most common voltages are 48-volts and 60-volts, although the 36-volt motor is relatively common too. The major difference between these three is the power they generate and their overall performance.

For instance, the 60-volt motor performs significantly higher than the 48-volt, while the 48-volt motor also packs more power than its 38-volt counterpart.

What’s the average power range of an electric motor for bike?

Like many aspects of the e-bike, the average power range of the motor varies depending on several factors. On average, lighter electric bikes use between 250 to 400 watts, while it is between 350 to 750 for regular-sized bikes.

However, higher-end and heavier models can consume up to 1500 watts. With e-bikes, higher watts automatically translates to higher performance, and more mileage range. For instance, while 250 watts may be sufficient for an e-bike, 750 watts will ensure a much higher performance.

How to choose the best electric motor for bike

There’s no denying that the electric motor is one of the most critical parts of an e-bike, given that it contributes immensely to the functionality. Hence, it’s vital to select the most appropriate motor for e-bike. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing an electric motor for bike.

• Check to know where the motor space is located on the bike. The location of the motor is often one of the biggest determinants of the motor type.
• Check if the motor is compatible with the e-bike’s battery. Users can check the manufacturer’s manual to know which type of electric motor is recommended.
• Check the power range of the electric motor to see if it fits bike’s usage capacity.

How to match the electric motor to a battery

This is another important aspect to consider, but it is pretty much an easy task. Users just have to select a battery that matches or is slightly higher than the capacity of the electric motor. For example, if the user has a 12v 100w motor, there should be a corresponding battery with a 100w rating or slightly higher.

The matching of electric motor and the  battery needs to be judged based on the different electric bike models and bike battery voltage. Generally speaking, for 48v models, 48v30Ah, 48v50Ah batteries and 2000-3400w motors will make a proper match. For 60v models, 60v30Ah batteries, 60v50Ah batteries and 2500-4000W motors; for 72v models, 72v30Ah, 72v50Ah batteries and 3000-5000W motor are considered as suitable match.

Electric motor for bike is the best choice in the era of two-wheeler battery swapping!

It is not difficult to find that the biggest difference between electric bike with motor and ordinary bike is that electric motor for bike brings more power to the bike, saves effort for the rider, and is an efficient mode of transportation.

However, the supply of electricity has become a concern for people. They may worry about the situation that the bike runs out of power on the road, and bike with motor and batteries installed are basically heavier, which will cause inconvenience to the rider.

However, with the continuous development of battery and motorcycle industry, a new charging technology has been born, that is, battery swapping technology, which allows the rider to have no fear of mileage anxiety on the road and can replace exhausted batteries with fully charged ones at any time through battery swap station.

The emergence of the battery swapping technology quickly attracted people’s attention and proved to be a good choice for charging electric bikes and custom electric motorcycle. So with two-wheeler battery swapping stations, electric motor for bike is the best choice!

FAQs about electric motor for bike