There is a lot of back and forth between advocates of the 48V and 36v ebike battery systems. These are all fair concerns for rookie riders to have. In the post, we’ll talk about each of these points. But first, we’ll fill you up on some of the most often-used e-bike terminology and technical details.
Measured in Battery Volts
The voltage of a battery measures its ability to produce an electric current. More juice would be available from a battery if the voltage were greater. Easy to grasp if you get your head around it. The critical current drawn from a 36V e-bike battery is approximately 15 amps, whereas the range for a 48V e-bike battery is 10–40 amps. For the same speed on a 36V e-bike, you’d have to put in more leg work. Your battery life may shorten as a consequence.
Amp-Hours
Current is measured in units called amps. The capacity of a battery to deliver a certain current for one hour is measured in terms of amp-hours. Let’s put it in terms of a single amp-hour to make things easier to grasp. One hour of riding will use one amp of electricity at this pace. The battery’s endurance decreases directly to the vehicle’s speed. For continuity, a one Ah battery can give 2 amperes for half an hour and 3 amperes for a third of an hour until it dies.
Watts
It is the metric most frequently reported on e-bikes and should be a major factor in choosing the finest e-bike battery. The wattage of a battery is calculated by multiplying its voltage by its current. In other words, that’s the most juice the electric bike’s battery can take. The number of Watt-Hours indicates how much power an electric bike’s battery can supply over one hour.
Range
The mileage of an electric bike is comparable to that of a car. Even though they are all made by the same firm and seem identical, the mileage per gallon ratings for these vehicles vary widely. The range of an e-bike is a representation of the amount of power (in watts) it can provide for an hour before the charging drops to critical levels. Even two identically equipped vehicles from the same manufacturer will achieve different mileage, and the same is true of e-bikes. An electric bike’s range equals its battery’s average watt-hour capacity.
Is There a Preferred Battery?
After hearing all the jargon and numbers, you might conclude that a 48V battery is the best option for your e-bike. The real answer is more nuanced. Consider your specific needs and preferences when deciding on an e-bike battery. Let’s look at everything that goes into picking the right e-bike battery for you.
Conclusion
We have concluded that it depends on the individual. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of batteries. A 36V e-bike battery is adequate for flat-surface cycling and is relatively inexpensive. The price of a e-bike battery is higher than average. But if you need that extra juice, it’s well worth the effort.