Frequently Asked Questions About E-Bikes and Ordering

What's the difference between a regular bike and an electric bike?

• Electric bikes are a new and promising alternative form of urban transportation. They provide all the advantages of a regular bicycle: fun exercise, free parking, zero emissions, and freedom from gridlock, while eliminating one of the bicycle's more serious drawbacks, lack of power. Imagine pedalling up a hill as comfortably as riding down, that's what the e-bike experience is all about. In most situations in the city, riding an electric bike will be faster and cheaper than either car or public transit.
   
  Fundamentally, an e-bike is just a regular bicycle with an electric motor to provide additional assistance, fueled by electric energy stored in a lithium battery. You can pedal normally and just use the motor to help out on hills and headwinds, or use the motor all the time just to make riding easier. The experience is entirely different from riding say a gas scooter or motorbike. Here the electric assistance is perfectly smooth and silent, and it complements rather than supplants human power.
  
  

  There are three classes of electric bikes:

  Class 1: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. 
  Class 2: eBikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted. 
  Class 3: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.

Are electric bikes waterproof? Can they be ridden in the rain?

• Electric bikes can be used during rainy conditions, but you should take care not to soak the electric motor, computer controller, or battery. When you get home from a wet ride, the entire bike should be wiped down with a dry cloth to remove excess water.

  Please be cautious, because riding any bicycle in rainy conditions can be hazardous, and you should only do so if you feel comfortable controlling your bike. Take turns more widely and slowly than normal, look out for puddles (which might be deeper than they appear) and please always wear a helmet.

Will the extra weight make it difficult to pedal without the motor?

• The short answer is yes but not much. The effect of weight is largely exaggerated in how a bicycle performs. A heavier bicycle is slightly harder to ride uphill, somewhat faster to ride downhill, and pretty much the same on the flat as a lightweight one.

  The addition of a motor and batteries can add anywhere from 15 to 30 lbs to a bike and has surprisingly little effect on its rideability.  You definitely do notice the weight if you have to pick the bike up and carry it for any reason though, and it can be a bit unwieldy.

Do I need a license or permit to ride my electric bike?

• None of the e-bikes we sell require any form of license or registration. That means your electric bicycle gets treated like a normal bike and is free of regulations and allowed on all bike paths. More powerful and expensive ebikes do, however, require a license.
  
  

• Electric bicycle (e-bike) laws are different in every state, and can be confusing for consumers, retailers, and suppliers. This map represents how e-bikes are interpreted in each state’s vehicle code for use on the road, bike lanes, bike paths, or other paved or hard-surface bicycle infrastructure. The vehicle code does not apply to electric mountain bike access on motorized and non-motorized trails typically used for hiking or biking. eMTB access is not addressed in state vehicle codes. Always consult with your local land manager for eMTB access questions.

How much power does an e-bike use?

• The average power that a typical cyclist will deliver is on the order of 150 watts, or 1/5th of a horsepower. If you're curious, most modern exercise bikes will display the exact wattage and you can get a feel for how much power you're producing with the legs.

  A fit individual can sustain 350 watts for about 10 minutes and up to 600 watts for a few seconds, but for continuous riding between 100-200 watts is typical. You might think then that 150 watts would be all you need for an ebike, but if you ever ride a 150 watt bike it will feel unimpressive. When a cyclists hits a hill, they switch to an easy gear and the speed drops to 10-15 km/h as they work hard and move at a slow pace. However when an electric bike does the same thing and slows to walking speed on the hills it seems way underpowered. To maintain nice speeds over 30 kph while going uphill requires on the order of 400-500 watts or more. On the flat, 400 watts (about 1/2 horsepower) will move a typical bicycle about 40 km/h.

Does the e-bike recharge the battery when pedaling or braking?

• This is one of the most commonly asked technical questions we get and it shows that the advantages and capabilities of electric drives are widely known. The answer is that yes, on most hub motor ebikes it is possible to recharge the batteries from pedaling. BUT, only when you are moving at a speed faster than the motor can attain itself.

  Recharging from pedaling is not really the intent of the electric drive as it is with, say, a hybrid car. In general, with an ebike you draw a net amount of power out of the battery pack to assist you riding. You then replenish this energy from the wall outlet, rather than by working extra hard later on in the trip. 

  The topic of regenerative braking comes up quite frequently, and the point here is not to recharge the batteries from your pedaling energy, but to recharge them from stored kinetic energy when you come to a stop. With any direct drive hub motor or geared ebike without a freewheeling motor, you will get regen currents when you are moving faster than the unloaded speed of the motor. So even though it won't bring you to a stop, it does act as a speed governor of sorts for long downhills, dumping the extra energy back into the pack, whether you want it to or not. In most cases it's quite rare that you would actually achieve speed greater than the unloaded speed of the motor for any length of time.

Is there a warranty on my e-bike?

• Yes there is. The specifics of the warranty vary depending on the manufacturer. You can find more details on our PRODUCT WARRANTY page. If any part arrives damaged or faulty, a replacement part will be shipped to you for free.

What if I need a new battery, tire or some other part?

• We sell some new batteries and parts on our website. Check out our PARTS & ACCESSORIES page. If you don't find it there, you can always email us and tell us what part you need. We will order the part for you from the manufacturer or direct you straight to the appropriate product page.

How long can the battery last before it needs to be replaced?

• This varies depending on the type and power of the battery, but almost all will last at least 500 full charges which will get you thousands of miles. Most people never use up an entire battery, so it is not something that should effect your decision making. After 500 full charges, you will probably want to get a new and better e-bike anyway.  

How far can I go on one charge?

• That depends entirely on the bike. It can range from as low as 20 miles per charge for a lower end e-bike to as high as 50 miles on some e-bikes such as the Green Bike GB-5.

How much does it cost for me to charge my bike?

• It only costs about $0.15 of electricity to fully charge a battery. That’s less than 1¢ per mile…

Does my e-bike need regular maintenance?

• Electric bikes are very easy to maintain. When it comes to the motor and battery, you can basically set it and forget. The battery may eventually need to be replaced, but that is thousands of miles into the future. Besides charging your battery when necessary, all you need to do is check the tire pressure regularly and keep the bike chain lubricated like any other bike.

FAQ's About Your E-Bike Order

How much does shipping cost?

• We offer FREE shipping on all orders over $699. Find out more about our SHIPPING INFORMATION.

What shipping service is used?

• Bikes are shipped via UPS, FedEx, USPS or DHL depending upon the manufacturer. A small number of bikes are shipped via freight, and they will say so on the shipping tab of the product page. To check the average number of days to recieve a package by ground service, go to https://www.ups.com/maps. Find out more about our SHIPPING INFORMATION.

What condition will my bike arrive in?

• Your bike will come pre-assembled. Bikes come with their frame and back wheel attached, and the only assembly required is attaching the front wheel (2 minute job), and in some cases securing the handlebars and pedals. All bolts and screws are torqued to manufacturer specifications when the bike arrives. Here is a brief rundown on the assembling process: ASSEMBLING AN ELECTRIC BIKE.

What is the your return policy?

• We offer a reasonable return policy, which can be viewed at: RETURN POLICY

Do electric bikes come with a warranty?

• Every bike ordered from eBikeJOY! is brand new and includes the manufacturer's warranty. Specific manufacturer warranties are listed on product pages or can be viewed on their respective websites. Check out our WARRANTY INFORMATION page. If you have any other questions feel free to contact us support@ebikejoy.com

When will I receive my free gift?

• When placing an order you may qualify for a free gift. A product description that includes the information in the order details is a free gift from us that is our way of saying thank you to our customer's. These item's are not guaranteed however, and are only available as supplies last. These item's are included in the price of your order and will either ship with the order or be shipped separately. Orders that utilize coupon code sales do not qualify for any free gift promotion.

Contact us if you have any further questions on our e-bikes or your order. Please call 888-753-2453 #1 or EMAIL US with your question. 

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