When considering an electric bike with a long range, many factors come into play. How do you select the best one for your needs? What aspects should you focus on before making the purchase? Clearly, the distance an electric bike can cover depends largely on the amount of energy stored in the battery—essentially, the battery's size—and secondly, on how much energy the bike consumes while moving. Ideally, you might think a large battery paired with a low-powered motor would be perfect. However, this simplicity can be deceiving. Who would want to ride at a sluggish pace for two whole days straight?

In reality, most people use their electric bikes for short commutes or leisure rides. This raises the question: does an electric bike with a long range make sense in everyday life? Surprisingly, it does—within certain niches. Tourism is one such area where a long-range electric bike proves invaluable. Imagine venturing far away from civilization, say 30 to 60 miles, without worrying about running out of power in remote areas like forests or mountains. Now that we understand the purpose and target audience for these bikes, let’s delve deeper.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a long-distance electric bike?

The benefits are clear. These bikes offer a range suitable for nearly anyone and are generally quite reliable. Reliability is crucial since, as mentioned earlier, these bikes often operate far from urban areas. Having the battery die mid-journey or experiencing motor failure in the wilderness is unacceptable. Keep this in mind: if you encounter an electric bike that doesn't resemble a two-wheeled military Humvee but claims to have a long range, don’t take it at face value. Physics is straightforward: achieving high reliability often means adding redundancy—thicker materials, more metal, or cutting-edge technology—all of which naturally increase the cost.

Now, let’s address the drawbacks. Long ranges require large batteries, combined with robust designs, leading to significant weight. This explains why these bikes tend to look more like motocross vehicles. Additionally, powerful motors can handle heavier bikes, allowing riders to tackle rough terrains and carry extra gear. However, the motor also requires extensive wiring, which increases the overall bulkiness. Due to these design considerations, long-range electric bikes end up being heavy, powerful, and unwieldy. Consequently, pedal-only operation isn’t feasible on such models.

Delfast boasts an electric bike that has traveled over 100,000 miles and is still going strong!

Nothing lasts forever, and neither does your electric bike. Each component of an electric bike has a finite lifespan, determined by its design, materials, usage intensity, and environmental conditions. Factors such as occasional recreational use, skiing downhill, aggressive mountain biking, high-speed cruising, off-road adventures, harsh climates, heavy loads, and commercial applications all impact longevity. While these scenarios rarely coincide, some bikes manage to exceed manufacturers' expectations. Take, for instance, the Delfast courier electric bike!

The bike I’m referring to has been part of our courier service for 3.5 years. On average, it covers around 124 miles per day. Over this period, its total mileage reached approximately 160,000 miles. The brake pads and tires were replaced multiple times. The remaining battery capacity sits at 80%, the motor remains intact, and the frame shows no signs of wear. However, the shock absorber had to be swapped out once. Regular maintenance ensures that the shock absorber should last a long time. Another remarkable record has been set by this Delfast e-bike!

While the official Guinness World Record lists a range of 226 miles, the unofficial record here is a durability milestone—over 150,000 miles in courier service. Moreover, this bike has been used year-round, enduring temperatures ranging from -25°C to +35°C, whether under the scorching sun, in the rain, or in snow! Conclusion: when picking an e-bike, remember that lighter models and components often come with reduced durability compared to heavier counterparts. Opting for a lightweight option involves trading off endurance for portability. Therefore, if we generalize these principles, we arrive at the following conclusions:

Low weight + Reliability + Acceptable range = High Price (or Very High Price)
Reliability + Acceptable Price + High range = Heavy Weight
Low weight + Low Price = Low reliability, low range.

We’ve established that the lifespan of any bike is finite, yet this doesn’t mean it can’t endure exceptionally long periods—just like the Delfast e-bike!