Skip to content

How does an e-bike work?

Riding a premium e-bike, such as a BESV, is a fantastic experience. These bikes are designed to make your ride as pleasant and comfortable as possible. The electric motor, the battery and all other components work in harmony to not only give you extra support, but to make this support feel as natural as possible. Do you want to know exactly how an electric bike works? And how all the components of a BESV work together? Then this article is for you.

How does an e-bike work and what is the difference with a normal bicycle?

Wondering how an e-bike differs from a regular bicycle? On a top-notch e-bike, or “pedelec,” you’ll feel like you’ve suddenly become a stronger cyclist. That’s because e-bikes come with some special features that regular bikes don’t have. The key components are the electric motor and the battery, which give you a boost as you pedal. This is called “pedal assist.” When you start pedaling, the motor kicks in, making it easier for you to ride.

If you stop pedaling, the motor also stops, and you won’t get any extra help. In that sense, it’s just like a regular bike—if you don’t pedal, it won’t move. All our e-bikes have a speed limit of 25 km/h (about 15.5 mph), so you can ride safely without needing a helmet or a driver’s license. You can even adjust how much help you get from the motor using the controls on the bike.

Want to go far without breaking a sweat? Use the highest setting. Looking to get a workout? Dial the support level all the way down!

Key Components of Your Electric Bike

An electric bike is more than just a battery and a motor. It also comes with a variety of sensors, a display screen, extra-strong brakes, and special gears. All these parts work together to make sure you have a safe and comfortable ride. Let’s take a closer look at how each component functions.

Understanding the E-Bike Motor

The electric motor is the heart of any e-bike. It takes the electrical energy from the battery and turns it into motion, giving you that extra push when you’re cycling. When you’re choosing an e-bike, there are three important things to consider about the motor:

  1. 1. Where the Motor is Located: It could be in the bottom bracket, the front wheel, or the rear wheel.
  2. 2. Power and Maximum Torque: How strong is the motor, and what’s its peak performance?
  3. 3. Noise Level: How loud is the motor when it’s running?

Many of our high-end e-bikes come with a Shimano Steps motor located in the bottom bracket, while some models feature a Bosch motor. These motors are not only powerful but also quiet. Plus, having the motor in the center bottom part of the bike helps with balance, giving you better control while riding.

Sensors

To ensure that the motor provides exactly the right amount of support at the right time, the bike is equipped with sensors. There are always two. One sensor measures the speed of the bike. The second sensor (a rotation sensor or a power sensor) measures how hard or how fast you are pedaling. Together, these sensors ensure that the motor knows exactly what support you need.

The bicycle battery

The battery is the power source of your electric bike. On most BESV bikes the battery is nicely integrated into the frame, so it is not noticeable and the weight distribution is optimal. You charge the battery at the power point, after which the stored electrical energy is transferred to the engine while cycling. How many kilometres you can ride with a full battery depends on the battery capacity. This is expressed in Wh. The larger the battery capacity, the further you can ride with pedal assistance.

 

Display

To operate your e-bike, it is equipped with a display. On this display you can also see all kinds of important information at a glance, such as how fast you are going, how many kilometres you have travelled and what the status of the battery is. Some models are also equipped with Bluetooth, so you can link all this information to your Smartphone. Smart!

Powerful brakes

Because you can ride an e-bike quite fast and it is also a bit heavier than a normal bike, it is extra important that it is equipped with a powerful braking system. That is why our e-bikes are equipped with powerful hydraulic disc brakes. These guarantee a short braking distance, even at top speed.

Gears

Just like many traditional bikes, electric bikes are equipped with gears. You can choose between hub gears with a closed chaincase and a gearing system with a derailleur. Hub gears require less maintenance, and are therefore ideal for city bikes. Recreational and sportive bikes are equipped with derailleurs. These are lighter and often offer more gear options.

Do you want to learn more about how an electric bike works, or do you have questions about a specific part? Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Select the fields to be shown. Others will be hidden. Drag and drop to rearrange the order.
  • Image
  • SKU
  • Price
  • Stock
  • Availability
  • Add to cart
  • Description
  • Additional information
Click outside to hide the comparison bar
Compare