The best electric bikes today have truly come of age. Here at Optibike, we proudly manufacture the world’s premier long-range electric bike, known also as the fastest electric bicycle available. In our continuing blog series based upon Jim Turner’s electric bike eBook, we share with readers more insight into our own “green revolution”; that of eBike ownership. In this latest installment, we emphasize the true cost of owning and driving your very own motorized bicycle. These innovative and highly efficient machines provide great incentive to make urban automobile use obsolete, help the environment, and get in shape while having fun.

The economic reality is that modern electric bicycles are durable, require little maintenance, and can now travel for up to 50 miles or more on literally pennies worth of electricity. The true cost of driving an electric bike has to be understood in terms of kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity use. A 100-watt light bulb that burns for 10 hours uses one kwh of electricity. In the US, one kwh of electricity typically costs 10 cents. So, if your eBike has a 500-watt motor, it will run for two hours on one kwh of electricity and cost you 10 cents. If you’re averaging 20 mph in terms of speed, you can travel for 40 miles on just 10 cents worth of electricity. Money is easier to understand than kwh. Most cars can travel 40 miles on two gallons of gasoline. At say $4.00 a gallon, that’s $8.00 in cost. Electric bikes, as we have shown, can travel the same 40 miles for just 10 cents. So for $8.00, you can travel about 3200 miles on an electric bicycle! It is also important to note that gas prices fluctuate, while the cost of electricity has remained far more stable.

Why fill up your tank, when you can charge up your eBike? It’s time to forgo your car, and choose a more health-oriented, environmentally more friendly, and economical way to commute, run errands, and recreate. Want to learn more about the Optibike advantage, and discover how you can ride the best electric bike almost for free? Contact Optibike today, and get on board the green revolution!

Electric Bicycles Need High Energy Batteries, Not High Power Energy is the amount of power used over time.  An electric bicycle must be more efficient with the use of energy than a gas car. With an electric bike, a battery with high-energy, not high power is preferred. This gives the vehicle the ability to travel long distances.

Some batteries put out a large amount of power, but they don’t have very much energy (they have low watt hrs). That means the vehicle will accelerate very quickly, like a high horsepower Corvette, but will not go very far, because the size of the gas tank is small (low watt-hrs).

Electric Cars and Bikes Have Different Needs In hybrid cars, where the engine is constantly filling the battery, power density is more important than energy density. The high power density lets the gas motor recharge the battery quickly. The gasoline in the hybrid car is providing the energy, not the battery. Even though the electric bike is a hybrid between the human and the electric motor, it is not like a Prius in power needs.

In the electric bike, the person and the battery are both contributing energy and the battery is not re-filled by the rider. This requires a high-energy battery for an electric bike.

All electric bicycles are charged like a laptop, with a wall charger. You could charge the battery by peddling, but that would defeat the purpose of the electric bicycle. If you had to peddle to fill the battery, you’d be using all your energy to fill the battery and you wouldn’t get any boost to your speed or range.

To learn more about electric bikes and the e-bikes Optibike currently offers, contact us at 303-443-0932. And follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our E Bike Blog, to learn more about the benefits of electric bikes.

Excerpted from “The Electric Bike cBook” by Jim Turner. Available FREE on I Pad and Kindle.

Whether for weight loss, keeping fit, commuting or fun and adventure, electric bicycles (e-bikes) have seen a recent surge in popularity. The days of strapping a heavy and noisy  motor to the rear wheel with a conversion kit are well behind us. The best electric bikes today are true works of engineering art.

Modern technology combined with precision components  allow e bikes  to cruise for much longer distances at higher speeds.  If you’re in the market for a new e-bike, or simply want to learn more, you’re in the right place.

Here at Optibike, we design and manufacture the best electric bikes, and this is part of a blog series based on founder Jim Turner’s Electric Bike Book to help you learn what to look for in a motorized bike. Our first two installments introduced the reader to types of e-bikes, initial purchasing considerations and bicycle motor drives, today we talk about batteries.

The key to any electric bicycle is the battery and how much energy it can hold. An e-bike needs a battery with a high energy  capacity to go far.

In the past decade, electric bike batteries have advanced significantly. While an E bike lead acid battery of a decade ago weighed 34 pounds, the same energy lithium battery today weighs only 6 pounds and is 1/3 the size. This reduction in weight and size, lets modern Ebikes be lighter and travel further.

In the past most electric bikes used lead acid batteries. These batteries were very heavy and bulky. Next came Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. These were a big improvement over lead acid. They weighed about half a lead acid and had half the size. Now, most e bikes use Lithium Ion batteries. These lithium batteries are a giant leap forward, as the weight and size shrunk another 50%. What a change in a few years.

One major confusion many people have is between energy and power. The amount of energy in a battery, is similar to the size of the gas tank in a car. The power of a battery is like the horsepower of the car engine. You need energy to go the distance and power to accelerate.

A good electric bike needs a balance between energy and power. If the battery can deliver lots of  power, but has low energy density,  it will not travel far.  Energy is measured in watt-hrs and power in watts. So you can see that energy is Power (watts) for a period of time, hence watt-hrs.

Today, there are two main types of lithium battery chemistry.

1. Lithium Cobalt type used in Tesla, Optibike and laptops.

2. Lithium Phosphate used on some hybrids and other e bikes with hub motors.

The lithium cobalt battery has almost 2X the energy density of Lithium Phosphate, which means the e bike with w a lithium ion battery will travel further and be lighter than one with Lithium Phosphate. This is why both Optibike and Tesla use Lithium ion batteries.

Lithium Phosphate batteries have the ability to produce lots of power, so they are good in hybrid cars, but deliver less range in an electric bike. Many hub motors use Lithium Phosphate batteries, to deliverer the current needed to accelerate and ride up hills. They are then limited in range. Due to the efficiency of the Optibike Motorized Bottom Bracket drive system, Optibike can use the higher energy Lithium Ion batteries and travel twice as far.

 For long range touring purposes, Optibike pioneered the use of Lithium Ion batteries with Cool CarbonTM technology, producing the highest energy capacity of any electric bike. Optibike began using Lithium ion batteries in 2008 and currently is building its fourth generation.  Battery technology indeed has come a long way.

The overall energy  rating in Wh of a battery is the biggest factor in determining range, but only if a handful of other factors are held equal. How well a battery performs in terms of range is ultimately determined by other conditions as well , and these should be brought into the buying decision fold:

• The speed the rider is traveling.

• The steepness of the terrain.

• The weight of the rider.

• The combined aerodynamic drag of the rider and bike.

• The efficiency of the motor drive system, as detailed in our last blog post.

In addition to considerations based on type of e-bike, intended use, motor drive and battery type, there are still other influences factoring into a purchasing decision. We’ll detail these in Optibike’s continuing blog series helping you with what to look for in an electric bike. Want to learn even more? Jim Turner, Founder and President at Optibike, has authored an informative and entertaining look at the rapidly expanding world of electric bicycles. Get your free copy of the eBook today.

If you are planning to ditch your regular mountain bike and looking to buy the best e mountain bike, then you should first know about some basics.

Material of e Mountain Bikes

The best e mountain bike could be available in 3 different materials. These are steel, aluminum and carbon fiber. Each material has its own pros and cons. in terms of cost, the cheapest material is steel while carbon fiber is most expensive.

Parts of e Mountain Bikes

The best e bike consists of multiple parts. The most prominent parts of any e mountain bike are the electric motor and battery pack. These are also upgradable. So if you want more performance out of your existing e bike, you can increase the size and power of the motor. It will boost the speed of the bike. Batteries can be upgraded to a lithium as these don’t run out of charge so quickly.

Buying a Spare Battery

If you are apprehensive of upgrading to an e mountain bike because the battery running out may disrupt your experience, then you can always carry a spare one. It is easy to buy a spare battery that can be used as back up if the existing one suddenly runs out. It is quite similar to having a power bank for your smartphone.

Compare multiple brands and models to buy the best e mountain bike and enhance your biking adventures. If you don’t want to compromise with your e-bike performance, then Optibike, an award winning manufacturer of electric mountain bike should be your first choice. Award winning Optibike is  the oldest manufacturer of electric mountain bikes in America.

Throughout the US, electric bicycle sales are at an all-time high, and the distribution chain has kept pace with start up companies leading the charge in this “green transportation” revolution. One would naturally assume that the large brands of traditional bicycle makers have evolved to become market leaders among manufacturers of eBikes, but that isn’t the case. There has actually been some resistance among these companies to enter the motorized bicycle arena. Schwinn, Trek, and Specialized are an exception however, with each offering rear hub, electric drive models. Overseas, where electric bicycles have garnered more popularity, big brands such as Derby and others sell eBikes, but they are often designed and manufactured to Asian and European specifications. In China for example, there are hundreds of companies churning out about 20 million units a year for export to European, Asian, and US markets. As the old adage goes, “you get what you pay for”, and these models make up a large portion of online and big-box retailing.

Instead, a select number of startup companies are your best bet in terms of quality, selection and customer service. Today, there are boutique manufacturers, such as Optibike, offering a wide variety of the best electric bikes to be found. The majority of electric bicyclebrands follow the same production process. They typically manufacture their own frame, then outfit it with the necessary components: electric drives, batteries, brakes, derailers, cranks, wheels, etc. The Optibike advantage relies instead on the incorporation of exclusive, patented technology. Our mid-drive motor, the Motorized Bottom Bracket, is capable of 1,000 watts of power. We design and build design our own Lithium-Ion batteries, power control systems, custom frames, and more, all in the USA.

Among electric bicycle brands, the choices are numerous. Optibike proudly manufactures the longestrange electric bike, and the fastest electric bicycle on the market. Want to learn even more about the basics of eBike technology their full potential? Download our free eBook, or Contact Optibike today.

Whether your electric bicycle is purchased through an independent dealer, a box store, online or factory direct, the following is a partial list of questions you need to be asking yourself before making any purchasing decisions:

Consider your budget, cost allowances, and if any financing is available.

• Modern e-bikes encompass a wide range of pricing options; from economical and simple conversion kits with hub-drives, to pedalecs, on up to mid-drive, throttle-assisted luxury models. There are many electric bikes for sale to fit any budget. Check into any available financing options, you might be surprised. Many factory direct dealers, such as Optibike, even offer deeply discounted refurbished models. Optibike is also the only one of its kind to offer the widest selection of bikes by performance and price. See our full list of e bikes here.

Factor in the ease of maintenance, and the availability of qualified ebike technicians near you.

• With a big box retailer, or an online purchase, your service options may be limited. By purchasing through an independent dealer, or factory direct, you have access to their service departments. Optibike’s in-house electric bike service department works with owners and bike shops around the world if you are in need of service, parts or repairs.

Educate yourself about what sort of warranty is available on your ebike purchase.

• Warranties are as varied as the array of electric bikes on the market. You tend to get what you pay for, and once again, factory direct, or through an independent dealer is your best bet. In fact, Optibike is the only motorized bicycle company to offer a 45 day satisfaction guarantee on its full line of ebikes.

And finally, take a good look at the e-bike technology behind the frame, suspension, wheels, brakes and other components making up the electric bike you’re interested in. They should be produced by known and trusted manufacturers. You should also take the time to research where your ebike is designed, manufactured, and its country or origin. Again, the old adage applies here, you get what you pay for. Be on the lookout for knockoff components. We want to wish you the best of luck in making your purchase, and enjoy the freedom that only electric bikes offer the rider.

Want to learn even more about the electric bike revolution? Jim Turner, President at Optibike, has authored an informative and entertaining look at the rapidly expanding world of electric bicycles. Get your free copy of the eBook today.

In previous posts, we broke down types of ebikes,  some initial considerations to think about, and advances in motor drive and battery technology. With this new knowledge in hand, perhaps you’re ready to go “all in” and purchase the best electric bicycle for your needs. You’ve familiarized yourself with the technology, identified your intended use, and have narrowed down brands and models. Now you ask, where can I finally buy the ebike of my dreams? We have the answers for you, in addition to some other important purchasing considerations.

Today, throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world, electric bicycle sales are at an all-time high. As a result, the distribution chain has evolved to keep pace. For the sake of brevity, we like to categorize ebike availability into four primary outlets:

1.   Independent bicycle dealers

2.   Factory direct

3.   Online retailers

4.   Big box retailers

Due to sheer numbers, independent dealers are the lifeblood of the industry, and there are a growing number of traditional bicycle shops now offering electric bicycles as an alternative, though selection can be limited.

With the rise in popularity of ebikes, a new breed of stores is selling electric bikes exclusively. In fact, there are about 500 of these specialized dealers in the U.S. alone, and in our opinion. They are operated by experts in ebike technology, and can guide you further in making your decision. You can even take a test drive.

The ElectricBikeReport.com is a great resource and offers a dealer locator to help steer you in the right direction. The ultimate buying experience however takes you straight to the source – factory direct. At Optibike, for example, your ebike can be hand built to your specifications, or you can shop for a pre-built or refurbished ebike and take it home the same day. Contact us to learn more.

If you can’t get to a dealer or factory showroom, big box and online retailers are an option. Known more for simple conversion kits, imports and budget branded models, big box retailers such as Walmart are as close as next door, and can put you on an electric bike the same day. These bikes are low cost and low qulaity. But, as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for in terms of selection, quality and service.

Want to learn even more? Jim Turner, President at Optibike, has authored an informative and entertaining look at the rapidly expanding world of electric bicycles. Get your free copy of the eBook today.

It can be difficult to choose between different brands and models in a bicycle market now crowded with ebikes. How do you know what to look for? In the first installment of Optibike’s blog series built around “The Electric Bike Book”, we introduced you to electric bikes and gave you some initial considerations focused on intended use. Once you’ve answered these questions, you need to become familiar with one of the biggest factors impacting intended use, the electric  bicycle motor. Technological advancements in motors determine where, how often and how long you can enjoy your riding experience.

There are two main types of electric bike propulsion systems, hub motors and mid-drives. Hub motors are mounted on the hub of the rear or front wheel on ebikes, and account for about 90% of the electric bicycle motor sales. A battery supplies the motor with power driving the hub and propelling the wheel. They are a fixed gear system. They are the simplest, least expensive means of providing electric assist. They can be manufactured cheaply overseas, and easily  attached to bikes.

Mid-drives are the highest performing type of bicycle motor and are a more elegant solution, but with this comes increased cost. By utilizing the bike’s gears as gears for the motor, mid-drives are exponentially more efficient. The Motorized Bottom Bracket TM (MBB), developed and patented by Optibike, allows for the longest range and fastest electric bike on the market.  MBBs are placed where the bicycle cranks are located, and are compact. Battery powered by up to 1100 watts, they drive the front sprocket and go through the gears on the rear wheel. The result is a long-ranging, lighter and more powerful, efficient ride. The advantages of the MBB electric bicycle motor is explained further in this video presentation.

So the question becomes, is one type of bicycle motor system more preferable? They both have their pros and cons.

• Hub motors are simpler and can be easily retrofitted onto an existing bike.

• Hub motors do not involve gears on the bike, so efficiency drops when climbing hills.

• The weight of the hub motor is in the rear wheel resulting in  diminished handling.

• The MBB or mid-drive system is more natural bicycle hybrid system.

• The rider and MBB utilizing all the gears – allowing for hill climbing and faster speeds.

• MBBs are small and efficient, and do not adversly affect handling.

• MBBs are held in the frame of an ebike resulting in better weight distribution and handling.

In our opinion, if you are truly looking for an alternative means of transportation with long range, high speed, and superior handling, an electric bike with a mid-drive system such as Optibike’s MBB is the right choice for you. Reap the benefits to health and fitness, the environment, recreation and your wallet by jumping on your new ebike today. Want to learn even more? Jim Turner, Founder and President at Optibike, has authored an informative and entertaining look at the rapidly expanding world of electric bicycles. Get your free copy of the eBook today.

Here at Optibike, we manufacture the best electric bikes on the market, and as part of our blog series centered on founder Jim Turner’s “Electric Bike Book”, we want to help you make an informed decision. We begin our series with some clarification on the types of electric bikes available, them move into perhaps the most important purchasing consideration, how you plan on using your electric bike.

So, what exactly is an electric bicycle? When you mention the term to the uninitiated, there is bound to be some confusion. Ask around, and you will notice that among different persons, the term “electric bike” has various meanings and connotations. An ebike is actually a human-electric hybrid. The key elements are a bike with a battery, a motor and some type of means to adjust power. According to U.S. federal regulations, true electric bicycles are defined as weighing less than 100 pounds, with functioning pedals, an electric bicycle motor with less than 750 watts (one horsepower), a battery and a maximum speed without pedaling of 20 mph. This is to differentiate them from electric scooters and motorcycles.

When you are looking to buy, ebikes fall into two broad classifications, pedal-assist (called pedalecs) and throttle-assist (called power-on-demand). Pedalecs lack a throttle, instead using pedal  input from the rider to control the electric motor. In other words, when you pedal, the motor adds a certain amount of power that is adjustable. For this reason, they are somewhat limited in terms of power and speed. The fastest electric bicycles with the longest range are power-on-demand varieties. You control the power at will via the throttle with no pedal input required from the rider.

The best electric bikes deliver a fun, liberating riding experience, whose design and style options are limited only by individual tastes and rider needs. Our ebike company ranks the most important initial purchasing consideration as being “intended use”. How do plan on using the new electric bicycle you’re in the market for? Whether new to the technology, or a seasoned rider, here is a list of questions to be asking yourself before making any purchase.

• Do you primarily plan on riding on-road or off-road?

• Will you be using your bike on a daily basis or less frequently?

• What are your range requirements?

• Will you be primarily riding on flat terrain, hills or a combination?

• What are your battery recharging options during use?

• What is your weight and physical ability?
• What speeds to you want to travel at?

• Will you use your electric bike more for commuting purposes or recreationally?

How you intend to use your electric bike, and a combination of other variables such as rider weight, riding style and desired speed are all determining factors in selecting the ebike that is right for you. These performance criteria are driven by the two most important technological features driving today’s modern electric bicycles, motor drive systems and batteries, which we will explore in greater detail in the next post in our series of blogs. So, stay tuned!

Want to learn even more? Jim Turner, Founder and President at Optibike, has authored an informative and entertaining look at the rapidly expanding world of electric bicycles. Get your free copy of the eBook today.

For a gas-powered car, you buy energy in the form of gasoline. In an electric vehicle, you buy energy in the form of kilowatt-hours (kWh).

A kWh is a unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power expended for one hour of time, or 1,000 watt hours (Wh). This is the way you buy electricity in your house. Your house electricity bill charges you for the amount of kWh of energy you use in the month. The best electric bicycle will have a larger battery, measured in kWh.

Excerpted from “The Electric Bike Book” by Jim Turner. Available FREE on I Pad and Kindle. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about e bikes and the latest news from Optibike.