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Recent estimates predict that the E-bike market will reach $38,6 billion by 2025, as it is growing by 9.01%. An e-bike works by using a small motor and a battery to provide electrical assistance.
The battery is one of the most important parts of an E-bike. With all that motor assistance, it drives you up the hills. The question is, can an e-bike still be used if the battery runs out? I know you are wondering what your e-bike would be like without the battery.
E-bikes can be operated without batteries and the motor won’t be damaged. Yet, without batteries, riding the electric bike will be more difficult, especially when riding up inclines or on rough terrain.
Check out this article to learn more about the effects of riding your e-bike without a battery.
If an E-Bike is used without a battery, will it suffer?
Your bike’s safety is a legitimate concern. When riding without a battery, you do not cause any harm or damage to your bike. You will, however, need to be prepared for a very different bike riding experience. Factors contributing to this include:
Motor resistance
Motor resistance is a major reason why you’ll have a difficult time maneuvering your battery-free e-bike. Some brands of e-bike motors, Bosch being one, prefer direct-drive hub motors, which come with some resistance by default. As a result, pedaling becomes quite annoying.
It may be more difficult to drive your e-bike without a battery on its own, but it will also depend on the terrain you’re riding on as well as the model of your e-bike. Your fitness level also affects how quickly you pedal – experienced drivers will have an easier time maintaining speed as a result.
Even some people can drive for long periods without any assistance.
E-bike weight
It seems logical that taking out a heavy part such as the battery would reduce the bike’s weight. However, you’ll find it harder to work with because you have to pedal on your own since there is no assistance from the power source. Your pedaling effort is the sole contributor to propelling your bike forward.
Electric bikes tend to weigh about 50 pounds, compared to traditional bikes that weigh 18 pounds. Batteries (and motors) are what make an electric bike so heavy. This weight is managed, though, by the motor, making it almost insignificant.
Therefore, you will have more work if you get rid of the battery. If you are riding downhill, you might not be feeling this, but it is a lot worse when you are going uphill.
E-bikes without a battery: 5 good reasons
With an electric bike, you can easily get a boost from the motor, which makes your work easier. With the battery, you are able to ride for longer periods of time without becoming exhausted, thereby increasing your stamina.
How can you justify omitting the battery from your e-bike? Let’s look at some of the real reasons:
Air travel with your electric bike
The first reason would be to travel with your e-bike. E-bikes with batteries installed cannot be flown by any airline.
For safety reasons, almost all airlines only allow electric bike batteries of certain capacities on the plane. E-bike batteries are usually over this capacity limit on most standard models available on the market.
You cannot take your battery with you if you’re traveling by plane with your e-bike, however, you are allowed to pack the bike into the luggage compartment without the battery. You can simply replace the battery when you arrive at your destination.
Flat or forgotten battery
A flat or forgotten battery is the next reason why you would want to remove the battery of your e-bike. It’s possible that the battery may not be fully charged, which means you’ll have a dead battery after only a few uses.
You might ride for a long period of time, exceeding the battery’s range. So you can always remove the battery and continue riding if your battery runs out and there is no time to wait for it to recharge.
Another possibility is that you forgot to install the battery when you removed and recharged it.
Access to trails via chairlift
Your destination may be chair-lift assisted or gravity oriented, so it may not matter that much. However, if you ride trails with chairlifts, it is possible that the actual weight capacity of the chairlift will be exceeded by the weight of the e-bike with the battery. You will be able to access the chairlift by taking out the battery and lowering the bike’s weight.
If You Need More Exercise
Bike riding is an excellent way to stay active and keep your body in shape. However, if you use motor assistance, the amount of exercise you get is reduced. Bringing your fitness to the next level can be done by removing the battery and using it only occasionally. It goes without saying that pedaling is more difficult when you don’t have the battery.
Bike Weight Over the Max Capacity
You might want to consider shedding the battery to avoid adding extra weight to the bike. You will find that the battery adds most of the bike’s weight when you weigh it with and without the battery. The extra weight may have to be removed sometimes in order to meet weight limits set by airlines and other services.
Riding an E-Bike without Battery
Electric bikes are safe to ride without batteries, but you should be aware of some safety tips. Keeping the battery area clean is essential, especially when driving off-road. In the event that your battery is running low, you can ride in Eco mode, zero power, or switch to the lowest setting.
Battery Maintenance Tips for Electric Bikes
Depending on the electric bike, batteries can last between 30 and 100 miles, and some electric bikes have a range of more than 50 miles. Among other factors, an electric bike’s range is determined by factors such as rider weight, speed, battery size, grade of terrain, and motor power efficiency.
Occasionally, you may find your battery completely dead, which means you must ride without it. The following tips will help you extend the life of your battery and get the longest range possible.
Maintain proper tire pressure
Your electric bike battery’s range is affected by the tire pressure on your bike. If you ride on hard surfaces, low tire pressure will increase friction surfaces.
You might lose speed as a result. When the tires are inflated sufficiently, power is transferred effectively, so you maintain a fast speed while cycling.
Try different terrains
You can also extend the range of the battery by trying out different terrains. Battery drain occurs only after a few kilometers when cycling on single tracks or climbing steep hills. You’ll get the most out of your battery if you choose smooth turns and gentle gradients.
Battery should never reach 0%
Battery performance is optimal between 20 and 100 percent. If the battery life decreases, battery performance will decline. Before riding, the battery should have about 20% power. It is important to note that power stores need the right temperature outdoors to charge correctly. It is best not to charge batteries until they are at room temperature, particularly during the winter.
Don’t overcharge the battery as this can lead to it discharging, resulting in a lower capacity. A battery that is discharged too often can result in poor charging cycles, which will eventually damage it.
Getting rid of excess weight
The battery range is affected by the weight of an electric bike. The greater the rider’s weight, the shorter the range. Reduce the weight of your backpacks if you have any heavy ones. This will make a difference when climbing hills.
Batteries shouldn’t be jet washed
It may seem insignificant to point a mesh wash at your battery, but it could have a negative impact. You can rather spray near the battery terminals with an electrical contact cleaner. It will protect your battery and keep it from corroding.
Cycling in Different Modes
The battery will not last all day if you ride an e-bike in turbo mode all day. To optimize battery efficiency, one needs to try out different modes.
When you’re cycling on trails and roads with faster speeds, choose low and mid settings. For climbs and other difficult roads, it is best to use turbo mode. Many bikes display power output on the screen.
Have a smooth ride
By pedaling correctly, the battery range could be extended. You will run out of power faster if you press hard on the pedal and use the wrong gear. By selecting the right gear and pedaling continuously you can avoid this.
Flow-through turns rather than hammering through them. The more you accelerate from zero, the greater the work the battery has to do, and the faster the battery will drain.
Conclusion
You can definitely use your electric bike without a battery. The thing to keep in mind, however, is that in the absence of an electric motor, you might have a hard time pedaling with the whole weight of the bike. Be sure to maintain the battery to prevent this from happening.
