No one can say electric bikes have taken over the bike industry, but they do pose a lasting impact. Because of how convenient and cost-effective e-bikes are, many are shifting from regular bikes to battery-powered lines. However, one thing that most people wonder is how much does an electric bike cost?
The cost of e-bikes differs based on many factors, such as functionality and features. Also, there are other costs associated with owning and maintaining the bike. But, if we just take the buying price of an e-bike, it can range from $600 to as high as $10000.
Stick with us as we explore the cost, both purchase and maintenance, and a few pro tips on riding e-bikes efficiently.
How Much Does An Electric Bike Cost?
When it comes to electric bikes, the price is affected by two major factors; Electric motor and battery. Differences in battery range, size, and boost will determine how much an e-bike will cost. I cannot address each bike individually, but I will slit them into price ranges. This way, you know what to expect with whatever budget you have available.
600-1000$
When it comes to consumer goods, you get what you pay for. If you want to get a bike within this range, you shouldn’t expect top-quality components and insurance. The most you might get is “motor” coverage which won’t exceed 1 year.
In addition, bikes within this range tend to have off-brand parts, making replacement a hassle. Now I ain’t saying that there aren’t good quality bikes within this price bracket. There are quite a few good-quality e-bikes under $800 that you can consider.
Many good brands also fall in this category. You can find some cargo bikes with passenger-carrying capabilities in three modes. The mode includes a fully electronic mode, where you accelerate using a “speed throttle.” There is also an unassisted mode where you do the work and an E-bike mode that assists as you pedal.
1000-4000$
This is a safe price range when purchasing an e-bike. Bikes within this range are durable, have well-known manufacturers, and have better insurance packages. Not to forget spare parts that are easily purchased.
Some of the products come with a quick charge feature that can boost it from 0% to 100% in the space of 4 hours. What’s even better is the fantastic range you get from some of them when using the fully electronic mode. For example, 45 miles is standard on fully electric, while assisted pedaling bumps it up to 90miles.
$4000-10000+
Bikes in this range offer the best performance money can buy. Typically you will find mountain e-bikes here because they have extra components that help off-roading. Components like reinforced frames, superior suspensions, and stronger batteries ensure you get the best riding experience money can buy.
But no matter what, always wear a helmet for electric bikes when using these high-powered guys.
With a price like the above range, you can find bikes with a 1600Watt battery designed to cover large distances before needing another charge.
What Is The Service Cost Of An Electric Bike?
If this topic was about manual feet powered bicycles, our answer would have been next to nothing. However, electric bikes have more features than regular bikes; it is only right they cost more to maintain.
Not to worry, it’s not as expensive as you might think unless you have a particularly faulty bike. Here’s what to expect;
Ebike Charging Cost
Electric bikes typically weigh more than manual ones. If you decide to ride one without the aid of a battery pack, you will realize pulling that extra weight doesn’t come easy. This is why you always ride with assistance from the electric motors.
Electric bikes are very economical when it comes to charging costs. Let’s assume you use a 500W battery, which would be equal to 0.5KW. For this exercise, we would also assume you reside in the U.S.A, where the approximate cost of 1KW is $0.12. The cost of a full charge will be 0.5KW x $0.12 = $0.06.
Battery Replacement
Batteries don’t last forever. After some time, you would notice they don’t retain energy like they used to. We measure batteries in “charge cycles”; this is the number of times a battery can be charged 100% before its performance reduces. Lithium batteries are the best battery types you can buy; it needs to last for at least 1000 cycles for a battery to be considered reasonable.
A battery pack with a thousand cycle rating would last for 3 years before its performance starts deteriorating. Nowadays, a good Lithium battery can go for 600-700$ depending on the manufacturer. Just make sure you don’t overcharge the battery, as it can lead to a performance drop.
Maintenance of the Mechanical Components
An e-bike, at its core, is not that different from a manual bike; it’s still the same fundamentals. The chain, brake pads, and tires are the major parts that might need change and servicing over the years. If you’re a “grease monkey,” your overall maintenance bill would be much smaller because the only expense would be the parts.
Consumers who buy e-bikes generally like to move fast; this might lead to a frequent need to go to the service center. The parts you would need to change the most are the brakes and tires.
Maintenance of Electrical Parts
The good news is an electric bike has few electrical parts. The motor, display screen, and cable are all you need to bother about when it comes to electrical parts. And these are covered by your warranty which can last anywhere between 1-3 years, depending on the manufacturer.
What Is The Yearly Maintenance Cost Of An Ebike?
Using the chart below, let’s look at what you might spend to maintain your electric bike in a year.
| Services required | Approximate cost per year |
| Mechanical servicing | 100$ ($0 if you know how to do this yourself) |
| Bike parts | $150 |
| Battery replacement | 0$ for years 1-3
700$ after 3 years. |
| Insurance | $0 (not required) |
| charge | 500W battery will cost 0.06$ per charge.
$21 per year(charging 7 days/week) |
| Average annual bill | $271 for the first 3 years
$700 for the 4th year, then it goes back to $271 |
Tips To Reduce Electric Bike Cost
- Use renewable energy if possible to charge your bike. Renewable energy sources such as solar can bring your charging expenditure to zero.
- Don’t be scared to fork out more money for a high-quality battery. This will help in the long run because high-quality batteries manage energy better.
- Look for energy providers that offer the best rates possible.
Tips To Increase E-bike Life
- Store your bike in a cool environment. Heat is not good for the battery pack and can reduce the life span.
- Some bikes have detachable batteries. However, if you detach a battery to charge, ensure the room is cool and dry.
- Try as much as possible to prevent the battery from going completely flat before charging it. This reduces the battery life.
- If you plan to store your bike for long periods of time, leave the battery charge 20% to 80%. Leaving a battery at 100% when you don’t plan to use it for a while is bad for battery life.
- Don’t charge your bike longer than necessary. Common errors such as overnight charges contribute to battery deterioration.
- If your factory charger stops working, get another from the manufacturer instead of buying cheap knockoffs. They cause more harm than good.
Conclusion
How much does an electric bike cost? An e-bike is worth the investment, no matter the cost. For instance, investing in an electric bike is a good decision if you’re a trail rider. Bikers like this tend to ride uphill more than they do downhill; this can be a grueling task without electric assistance. Using an electric bike makes this easier as it boosts power to the wheels with each pedal.
Furthermore, you can ensure the best out of your new bike by following the tips I mentioned. So, what are you waiting for?
