Can You Ride an Electric Bike Without The Battery?-All You Need to Know
Electric Bikes are becoming more popular day by day. New buyers are always eager to know everything before purchasing a vehicle. Many of our followers want to know that is it possible to ride an Electric Bike without a battery.
As you know, e-bikes use a rechargeable battery that stores power when connected to an electric outlet. However, you can ride the vehicle without the battery.
You must be wondering how it is possible. We need to dive deeper as some other things are also related to a such riding. Let us understand in detail.
Does Riding without the Battery Harms an E-Bike?
In fact, an electric bike is an upgraded version of a manual bicycle. It adds an e-power system to go faster. Riding without a battery does not harm your vehicle in any way.
You can simply drive it by pedaling. However, it uses your body’s energy but is also a good way of exercising.
Is it Hard to Ride an E-Bike without Electric Power?
E-bikes have some modifications in the design when compared to manual cycles. For example, they are 2-3 times heavier than the standard bikes. Therefore, you need to exert more force on driving it without the power.
Drawbacks of Riding an Electric Bike without Electrical Assistance
Although you can ride the bike without electrical assistance yet consider the following drawbacks and hurdles;
- Motor resistance is one reason to make pedaling harder. Some bikes have crank drive hub motors that are more resistive.
- The motor does not disengage and pedaling power is used to run it.
- Moreover, the ease of driving also depends on the system. Your own fitness level and weight also determine the convenience.
- Some of our team members put in little effort and rode the vehicle easily. While others found it very difficult because they are not regular exercisers.
Clever Hacks to Ride Conveniently
The overall weight of an electric vehicle is more than that of a manual one. It is because of the heavy frame and extra parts. However, here are some clever hacks that can make your ride convenient;
- We noticed that removing the battery reduces the weight up to 12 lbs.
- Further, weight can be decreased by detaching the motor. However, remove these parts if you intend to use the vehicle manually for the long term.
- The metal frame also adds to the weight. Try and adopt manual driving if you feel comfortable.
- Experiment with different gears and choose to ride at the most comfortable speed.
Why Use an E-Bike without the Battery?
In certain situations, you have to use the vehicle without power. Most bikes have pedals that can be used for manual driving. Here are some of the reasons why to use the bike in manual mode;
1. Battery is Expired
The most common reason is an expired or dead battery. You do not want to spend money on purchasing a new battery or a new bike.
But, you still need the vehicle for commuting. So, the best option is to ride it manually without the electric power.
2. Manual Work Out
Riding a bicycle is a healthy practice. You can get two benefits at the same time. Travel to your destination meanwhile doing a workout.
Instead of installing exercise machines at your home, drive the bike by pedaling. So, discard the power system and use your body’s energy.
3. Airline Traveling
Some users are too obsessed with their bikes. Hence, they want to carry them out on a picnic. Traveling via airline will require keeping off all sorts of batteries. Because there is a risk of explosions in the cargo area.
Although you can include an e-bike in your luggage yet after removing its batteries. Then, buy or rent a new battery from the local shop at your destination.
4. Chairlift Riding
Chairlifts are common in mountains. They are used both for fun and traveling purposes. However, they have a certain weight limit. So, you will need to remove the battery of your bike to reduce its weight. Because it is the easiest part to detach.
Bonus Tips: Increase the Lifespan of Your Bike and Battery
By following a few simple rules, you can increase the lifespan of your vehicle, especially the battery.
- Regularly clean the battery space after removing it from the vehicle. This is to avoid any debris accumulation. Use an electric spray cleaner for reducing the risk of corrosion.
- Store the detached battery in a cool and dry place. Protect it from dirt, moisture, and heat.
- Moreover, charge the detached battery once a week to keep it intact. You may want to attach it again after some time.
- Reduce the load such as backpacks on your bike while traveling. Otherwise, mileage and speed will be affected.
- Always check the tire pressure before riding. Because low pressure causes friction and decreases in speed. Hence, the battery will deplete earlier.
- Do not connect the charger immediately after returning from a ride. Let the vehicle gain room temperature.
- Try different riding modes and gears to check the efficiency. Lower speed is good for going downhill or on a smooth road. Likewise, switch to turbo mode while climbing or going against the wind.
- Do not deplete the battery to 0% and recharge at any time. Similarly, avoid overcharging it. Both habits damage the part and decrease its lifespan.
- Do not ride in extreme/turbo mode and the maximum speed for a long time. You will end up wearing the parts before time.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Electric Bikes
Here are some important and frequently asked questions. Go through them for more information.
What is the range of an electric bike?
The distance that can be traveled in one charge is called the range. The range of electric bikes can be between 20-100 miles. However, the capacity depends on other factors such as the rider’s weight, terrain, tires, and motors.
How long does an E-bike last?
The lifespan of an e-bike depends on the sturdiness of its different parts such as the frame, battery, and motor. The motor can last up to 10 years or 10,000 miles. However, proper maintenance can increase the lifespan.
Do electric bikes have types?
Electric bikes are of 3 main types based on the motor and pedals. Throttle or power-on-demand mode does not require any pedaling. Bikes with assistance mode have pedals that need to be engaged manually. The third type includes both pedals and throttle.
Also read: Can I Install Smaller Wheels on an A Bike?
Closing Remarks
Riding an electric bike without a battery is totally possible. However, it requires more pedaling power due to the heavy frame, motor resistance/engagement, and some other reasons. So, it is hard to ride a bike without electrical energy. But, still, you can use your bike manually if you feel comfortable.