What Are E-Bikes & How Do They Work?

What Is An E-Bike?

E-bike is short for electric bicycle

So, how does this differ from a motorcycle you might ask?

The first and most obvious difference is the appearance—no one would mistake one for the other.

That’s right, an E-Bike in St. George UT or anywhere else is simply a regular bicycle suped-up with various electrical components like a battery, controller, and motor. These components are integrated seamlessly into the bike’s design.

How Do E-Bikes Work?

bike rentals zion national parkOur St. George E-Bikes work just like regular bicycles and they essentially have the same parts as well. 

The purpose of the electric component is to augment the human power that goes into riding them, rather than totally replacing it as is the case with a motorcycle. 

This is great for people who don’t want to deal with the hassle of long, uphill climbs, headwinds, and other obstacles.

In short, E-Bikes allow you to travel farther and faster without all of the extra work.

What Components Go In An E-Bike?

Motor

There are many different power ratings available for E-Bike motors ranging from 200W to 1000W and beyond.

The higher the number, the more weight the bike can pull with greater ease.

The motor’s design and location plays a role in how an your St. George E-Bike will work.

It’s most common for E-Bikes to have the motor integrated into the front or rear wheel. It then pushes or pulls the wheel along.

There are also E-Bikes with mid-drive motors integrated with the gears and crank, which offers a number of advantages like better hill climbing, handling, and overall performance.

Battery

It’s important to choose the right battery for your E-Bike, as it can greatly affect its range, style, and weight.

The battery plays a very important role, as it powers the motor which provides you with all of the advantages of the E-Bike.

Controller

The controller is how you operate the electric aspect of your electric bike. It’s usually located on the handlebar and comes in two main styles—pedal-activated and throttle based. The former doesn’t need to be engaged, it simply works whenever you start pedaling—the latter works via a simple throttle mechanism, usually a twist-grip or thumb-press style, which allows you to engage the electric assistance if and when you need it.

Do E-Bikes In St. George Require A License?

easy rider rentalsThis kind of innovation to bicycles is still relatively new, so many people are confused as to whether or not they need a license to even operate them.

The short answer is this: As far as Federal law goes, electric bikes are still considered regular bikes so long as their maximum speed is 20 miles per hour and the motor power is less than 750W.

All of the St. George E-Bikes you’ll find at Bicycles Unlimited fits this criterion—no license, registration, or special insurance required.

The state of Utah does not require a license or registration. Fill out the form below to get in touch with our bike shop in St. George UT 84770. We’ve been around for many years and are ready to help you with your electric bicycle needs.

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