Electric bikes are not only affordable to purchase but also inexpensive to operate and maintain. Most importantly, they’re environment-friendly and absolutely perfect for congested urban cities. In case you’re also planning to get an e-bike, you might wonder how much does a good electric bike cost? Well, we will discuss just that in this blog. But before we do that, let’s have a look at the factors that impact the cost of an electric bike. What Factors Impact an Electric Bike Cost? An electric bike has a lot of components that you don’t find on a conventional bicycle (such as the motor and the battery) and it’s basically these components that determine the cost of an e-bike. For the wide majority of electric bikes, the ‘electric components’ make up around 75-80% of the cost while the conventional bicycle parts such as the frame, wheels, spokes, and drivetrain make up the rest of the cost. Here are the most significant factors that determine how much an electric bike will cost. Battery The battery of an electric bike is the single, most expensive component. Lithium-ion batteries, which have been the industry standard for quite a long time, may cost anywhere from a few hundred euros to well over €1000. The cost of the battery depends on its charge capacity, which is measured in Ampere-hours or Ah. A battery with more Ah gives you more mileage and vice versa. When buying an electric bike, we recommend you opt for a battery based on your mileage requirements. If you plan to use your e-bike for commuting to work or college, you can go for long-range options such as the C20 Pro we carry. Otherwise, if you’ll be using your bike for quick runs to the grocery store or will be riding it in the neighborhood, you don’t need to overpay for a bigger capacity battery that you won’t be even using. Motor The second most expensive component is the motor and its price varies with its size and type. Bigger motors, such as 500W or 750W, have more nominal power output, which means they can supply more power at a continuous rate. The type of motor, however, makes a big difference. The mid-drive motors, that rotate the cranks, are extremely expensive when compared to the hub motors, that directly rotate either your front or rear wheel. It’s because mid-drive motors use advanced technology and complicated internal controllers… and also because they need the bike frame specifically built around them. Hub motors, on the other hand, use a simple technology and can go with any electric bike. Mid-drive motors are far superior than hub motors but, as we mentioned before, they cost way too much. Even the cheapest mid-drive electric bikes start from €3000 and there’s no limit to where the price can go on the higher end. But as we said earlier, you only need to buy what you actually need. If you aren’t looking something for hardcore mountain biking, you don’t need the capability offered by a mid-drive unit. Just go for a hub unit and save your hard-earned money. Sensors The pedal-assist sensors have an important role in an electric bike. As their name suggests, they ‘sense’ your pedal input and based on that, they regulate how much assistance your electric motor will provide you at any instant. There are two types of sensors that electric bikes use today: torque and cadence. Torque sensors measure the pressure on your pedal or, in other words, how hard you pedal. While cadence sensors measure your pedal speed or if you’re pedaling at all. Torque sensors have a higher sampling rate than cadence sensors, which translates to better performance… but like mid vs hub choice, they’re extremely expensive and are almost always paired with a mid-drive motor. Likewise, cadence sensors work better with hub motors. They’re not only inexpensive but they also offer the added advantage of throttle compatibility. Accessories As you’d expect, the more accessories an electric bike has, the steeper its tag would be. Moreover, the quality of accessories also matters a lot. For instance, a color LCD display will cost more than a white and black one or an LED panel. Likewise, if an electric bike has a mobile phone holder, a charging port, or front/ rear lights, expect it to cost more than the one that misses on these features. Other Factors All the factors that impact the cost of a conventional bicycle, such as frame material, build quality, paint finish, to name a few, apply to electric bikes as well. The type of drivetrain, for instance, is one such major determinant. Be it an electric bike or a conventional bicycle, a belt drivetrain is way more expensive than the chain and derailleur system, particularly when you want to go multi-speed with a belt… as you then have to use either internal gear hubs or crank-based gearboxes. The frame material is another significant determinant. Steel is the cheapest, carbon-fiber is the costliest, and aluminum lies midway. It’s lightweight than steel but sturdier than carbon fiber and is, therefore, perfect in every way. Likewise, having a rear rack, fat tires, front fork, dual suspension… all have an impact on the final tag you’d be paying for an electric bike. How Much Does a Good Electric Bike Cost? Electric bikes start from as low as €500 and go as high as €12,000. You can find even more expensive options. Optibike’s R22 Everest, for instance, costs €19,000 and the world’s most expensive electric bicycle – the BlackTrail BT-01 – costs an insane €80,000. If it seems outrageous, it is. But don’t worry, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a good electric bike. These are just a few exceptions and even the most well spec'd torque-sensing mid-drive electric bikes with high-end components cost around €6000. For the lower price bracket, as we mentioned earlier, you can find one even in €500. But are such electric bikes any good? Well, that totally depends on your use case. If you’re a beginner looking for your first electric bike or a student who wants some help in moving around campus, buying a budget electric bike, such as the T14, makes total sense. It will be light on the pocket… and it will do the job! Likewise, if you don’t need the high-end specifications offered by torque-sensing mid-drive electric bikes, you don’t need to spend so much money. If you ask us, cadence-sensing hub-drive electric bikes lying in the €1000-€1500 budget range offer a fine balance between affordability and capability… and they are, therefore, perfect for the majority of riders. These bikes are suitable for every single thing you might want from an electric bike – be it commuting to work, exploring the beyond, conquering the trails, or simply riding to the beach. In other words, they do the job… without breaking the bank! As far as operating cost is concerned, that depends on how much kWh your battery has. For instance, the C20 has a 36V 10.4Ah battery, which comes out at 374.4Wh or 0.374kWh. The operating cost can be determined by multiplying it with the cost of one unit of electricity, which would come out to be less than 5 cents when we assume the electricity cost to be €0.13 per kWh. It means, you’ll be cruising for up to 80km in just 5 cents! Likewise, the maintenance cost is negligible as well… and your major maintenance drill would be lubing or oiling your drivetrain every month or so. How Much Does an Engwe Electric Bike Cost? At Engwe, we offer electric bikes at varying prices to suit all types of buyers. We believe electric bikes can pave the way to a greener future by lowering emissions from the transportation sector and that’s why we strive to make them accessible for everyone. Our electric bikes come with lightweight folding aluminum frames, brushless geared rear hub motors, efficient Lithium-ion batteries, and Shimano drivetrains. We keep our prices affordable by keeping up with all the latest innovations in the industry and by following a direct-to-consumer approach. Even the lowest-price product in our lineup, the T14, has specs and build quality that rivals the bikes that cost twice as much. Our electric bikes are reputed to offer a great value for money… and for any given price point, you won’t be able to find a better electric bike than what we carry. For instance, for the riders who want a long mileage without resorting to ultra-expensive mid-drive electric bikes, our €899 C20 Pro can be a great option. With its massive 19.2Ah Lithium battery and super-efficient 250W motor, it can go up to 150km before requiring another recharge. For those who want a high-performance option to defeat even the most rugged of terrains, our Engine Pro with a base tag of €1,429 can be worth considering. It has a formidable powertrain fueled by a 768Wh (48V 16Ah) Lithium-ion battery, Shimano 8-speed transmission, dual hydraulic brakes, dual suspension, and 4” fat off-road tires for exploring what’s inaccessible to others. If you want something in between, the EP-2 Pro with its starting tag of €999 can be perfect for reliable and comfortable personal mobility. We have plenty of other options too… you can explore our complete line-up here!
