Guide to Buying Electric Bikes in the United States

When choosing an electric bike, one of the first things to consider is local policies in the United States. On October 15th of last year, the Department of the Interior announced final regulations for the use of electric bikes in public places: electric bikes with speeds below 45km/h are classified as non-motorized vehicles, with the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as bicycles. After understanding the policies, let's take a look at the factors to consider when choosing an electric bike!

Safety

Safety is mainly reflected in the braking system. There are currently four types of braking systems in use:

Disc/brakes: equipped with disc brake pads, using hydraulic or linear transmission, with a large braking resistance arm and excellent braking effect that is not easily affected by weather conditions. High-end bikes use hydraulic disc brakes.

Hub (drum) brakes: using mechanical transmission, with a smaller braking resistance arm than disc brakes, with the resistance arm outside the wheel, low in price, and with good braking effect.

Coaster brakes: also using mechanical transmission, like drum brakes, but with the resistance arm inside the wheel following the rotation of the wheel and obstructing the rotation of the wheel during braking.

V brakes: using linear transmission, relying on pulling two brake pads to rub against the wheel rim to brake, similar to the principle of linear disc brakes, with a low price and easy susceptibility to the state of the wheel rim and brake pads affecting the braking effect.

In summary, disc brakes are the best, but the cost of dual disc brakes may be higher, and there may also be some safety risks. Currently, general braking for electric bikes is a combination of front disc and rear drum brakes, which is enough. The disadvantage of drum brakes is that during high-speed travel, the braking effect may be worse due to weak heat dissipation.

Endurance

The endurance of the battery is also an important parameter to consider when purchasing an electric bike, and it is related to the following:

Motor: the core driving part of the electric bike, mainly divided into brushed and brushless motors. Currently, due to maintenance and other considerations, brushless motors are mainly used in electric bikes on the market.

Battery: usually divided into lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are a type of battery that uses lithium metal or lithium alloy as the negative electrode material and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. Lithium-ion batteries are small, lightweight, have a long life, and are more efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly than traditional lead-acid batteries, making them very suitable for elderly and female friends. The disadvantage of lithium-ion batteries is that they are slightly more expensive. Sealed maintenance-free lead-acid batteries have the advantages of low price, large capacity, and mature technology, and are also the main power source for electric bikes on the market today. The only drawback is that lead-acid batteries are heavy and have a short life.

Currently, the most commonly used parameter for batteries is 48V12AH; 48V batteries can drive the vehicle with a smaller current to extend the battery's endurance, compared to previous 36V and 24V batteries. 12AH represents the current and power provided by the battery. In simple terms, the larger the number, the longer the mileage that can be driven.

Frame Material

The frame material of electric bikes is generally made of high-carbon steel or aluminum alloy. Aluminum alloy frames are lighter and resistant to rust, corrosion, and deformation. High-carbon steel frames are heavier and more prone to rust.