Cheap Electric Bicycles and Electric Powered Bicycle Batteries

Jan 3, 2011
Helen Smeaton

Cheap Electric Bikes - Powacycle.co.uk with permission

Learn what cheap electric bicycles offer, how much they cost and weigh and what the typical recharge times are on electric bicycle batteries.

If you want to join the cycling revolution and you’re looking for cheap electric bicycles, this article shows you what you will get for your money and whether a cheap electric-powered bike will be suitable for your requirements.

Electric-powered Bicycles

Electric-powered bicycles are growing in popularity as many people look to the bicycle as a form of transport, both for economic and eco-friendly reasons. The power is provided by a rechargeable battery, that can either provide complete motor power or part-pedal, part-motor power, known as pedal-assisted cycling.

If all you want to do is use the bike for local shopping trips or the occasional short cycle to work in good weather, then a cheap electric bike may be for you. But before you rush out to find the lowest price on the market, it’s important to understand why some motor-powered bicycles cost only a few hundred dollars and others several thousand; the main reason being the battery technology used.

Which Electric Bike Battery – Lithium-Ion or Lead Acid?

The newest models of electric bikes sold in the US and Europe use Lithium-Ion battery technology. This article on choosing an electric bike battery explains things in more detail, but basically, Lithium-Ion batteries are light (around 10 lb), last longer and, most importantly, have a fast re-charge time, sometimes as low as 30 minutes.

You won’t find these batteries on cheap electric bicycles, however, as they use lead acid battery technology, common to the millions of cheap electric bikes sold in China. The problem with lead acid batteries is that while cheap, they are very heavy (typically 30 lb) and they take between 6-8 hours to fully recharge. If you want to cycle more than 20 miles in a day, you therefore have to build in battery recharge time, not to mention carrying the charger to your destination or having to work hard to pedal a heavy bike if required.

E-Bike Brands and Cost

A few mainstream bicycle brands now make electric or e-bikes, namely Giant, Schwinn and Trek with their Ride+ new bike range; their bikes are mid-range in price starting from around $1600/£1000 as they use Lithium-Ion battery technology. Most other electric bike companies are specialty niche suppliers, often with experience in the motor trade. You can research prices and models available online and find prices on specialty brands like the German-made Hausmann and Kalkhoff models, which also use Lithium-Ion batteries, or look for cheaper options using older battery technology.

For Lithium-ion technology at sub $1000 price-points, also take a look at Prodeco Technolgies, a company offering a quality range of folding e-bikes, manufactured in the US.

Prices on electric bikes with heavier lead acid batteries start at around $800/£500 from a company like Powacycle. It’s worth comparing electric powered bike models at a glance on the Powacycle website as you can quickly see that the cheaper the bike, the heavier the overall weight. The Milan2 model, for example, weighs 31 kg, almost twice the weight of a normal bike; not an easy bike to carry upstairs for storage.

The other factor to consider if you buy a cheap bike is how expensive or easy it is to find electric bike parts. Better quality brands will always offer a replacement parts service; you may find this does not exist with cheaper electric bicycles.

Buy an Electric Bike

It’s probably worth buying a cheap electric bike if you only plan to use it for short journeys rather than regular commuting and if you’re not concerned about bike weight or battery recharge times. Do some online research to compare the battery technology you get for your money and get advice from a specialty e-bike retailer before committing to a purchase.

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Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information