An electric bike, also called an electric bike or an e-bikes, is a hybrid bike with an internal electric motor employed to power propulsion instead of fuel. A battery powered electric bike uses the same batteries that electric scooters use, but provides an internal electric motor that allows for an independent and smooth driving experience. Most e-bikes use gasoline as the primary fuel source, however an increasing number of e-bikes are being retrofitted to run on electricity. This allows e-bikes to be able to travel long distances with a constant charge of energy. The cost of retrofitting an existing electric bike to operate on electricity is quite high, however many homeowners and businesses are now taking advantage of this opportunity and are retrofitting their existing electric bicycles to accept the new technology. Many electric bike retrofitting projects have been successfully completed and are providing local areas with convenient and cost effective transportation options.
The first step to retrofitting an electric bike is to purchase or rent a battery pack or “stack” from an electric bike retailer or dealer. A typical electric bike requires a standard bicycle motor with approximately three to four horsepower. The number of horsepower required depends on the size and weight of the rider. Bikes that are retrofitted to operate on electricity will generally have a much larger motor capacity than those designed to operate on regular bicycles. In addition to purchasing or renting a battery pack, the owner must also retrofit the standard bicycle motor to allow it to operate on the battery pack.
The next step is to purchase or rent a complete electric bike kit from an e-bikes retailer or dealer. These kits include all of the necessary components necessary to convert the bicycle into an electric bike. In some cases, the kit will supply a throttle mechanism that allows the user to create a single speed drive system. In other cases, the kit will provide a gearbox to allow the user to use a clutch system. The user can then upgrade the kit to allow for a higher speed than the single charge capacity of the motor provides.