e-Bike

e-Bike

With eBike, e-bike or pedal-assisted bike, we refer to many models that differ in functionality and intended use. However, all electric bikes are equipped with a motor, battery, control unit, sensors, display and controls to select the assistance level of the motor with respect to the ride. The heart of an eBike and the feature that marks it out from all other bikes is definitely the motor. The pedal-assisted bike combines the movement generated by muscle power with the power of the motor to produce less fatigue on the part of the rider. The motors provide pedalling assistance at different levels which can be selected according to need and intended use by means of controls on the handlebars. The motors differ first of all by type according to where they are positioned on the bicycle. We have Hub Motors, positioned in the hub of the front or rear wheel, and the most common Central Motor: in this case the motor is located near or even directly adjacent to the bottom bracket shell. There are also solutions where the motor is housed inside the seat tube or other external components and transmits the movement through gears that connect it to the bottom bracket. The battery also determines the price and characteristics of an electric bike. You can find batteries integrated in the frame or added to the tubes (usually to the down tube or seat tube). City bikes often have the battery integrated in a kind of rack on the rear wheel. But what is really important in a battery is the range. In a pedal-assisted bike it is essential to know how many kilometers you can rely on the help of the motor. The three components that make the operation of an eBike possible are the control unit, the sensors and the display with handlebar controls. The power unit: It receives data from the sensors, processes it according to the required assistance level and supplies the motor with the necessary power. Sensors: detect this data and transmit it. They are of different types and some are the ones that transmit data to cycle computers to assess personal performance. The number of pedal strokes per minute: these are measured by cadence sensors, sensors that measure by means of magnets placed near the bottom bracket. Then there are speed sensors, again based on a magnet positioned on the wheel that is detected at each turn by the sensor. Cut-off sensors: If we brake, it is obvious that the energy generated by the motor is of no use to us, so in order to save the battery it is a good idea to temporarily switch off the motor when the brakes are applied. Finally, the draft sensor. Depending on your technical level and needs, there are different types of sensors that measure muscle strength: from the torsion that passes through the central pivot, to the chain, or sensors that estimate the deformation of the right rear dropout. An integral part of the system and a fundamental tool in e-bikes is the display. A key tool, the display provides a variety of information: the state of charge of the battery, the level of assistance we have selected and whether the engine is on or off. Finally, the controls on the handlebars allow you to select the level of assistance you need at the moment. All the components of an e-bike, from the frame to the drivetrain, from the tyres to the brakes and suspension, have their own characteristics depending on your discipline, style and desire to go further.