For many people, ebikes might seem to have quite a high price tag when compared with their traditional, unassisted counterparts, but why exactly are ebikes so expensive?
The price of an ebike will vary greatly from model to model and it’s definitely possible to find more wallet-friendly options. But as a general rule, ebikes tend to lean towards the pricier side of things, and there are many reasons why this could be.
The “E” in “EBike”
So probably the most prominent reason why ebikes are so expensive is because of that little “E”. For anyone who doesn’t know, that E stands for electric which naturally means that ebike = electric bike (or electric bicycle).
It makes sense that a bicycle supported by electricity would be more expensive to manufacture and therefore more expensive to buy than a conventional bike, and this is exactly the case. The electric components of an ebike such as the battery and motor are much more complex than the simple mechanisms of a traditional bike and require more expertise to manufacture.
Motor
Mid-drive motors work together with the chain drive to augment your pedalling power rather than creating an all-new source of power, whereas hub-direct motors work by spinning around the axle of the front or rear hub. This is less effective than a mid-drive motor although hub-direct motors can also generate energy when you brake.
The third kind of motor, hub-geared, uses gears to reduce RPM (revolutions per minute) and increases torque, maximising efficiency. These are usually the most expensive kind but there is a lot of variation across different manufacturers.
Battery
Expensive Parts + Expensive Expertise = Expensive Bike (unfortunately).
Additional Accessories
Another simple reason for ebikes being more expensive than unassisted bikes is that they generally come with quite a few additional accessories that a normal bike doesn’t need. Such accessories include:
Battery Charger
Display
Motor Controller
Ultra-Effective Waterproofing
These are the four main additional features that will add to the price of an electric bike, and in the majority of cases, there’s no getting around them.
While this might seem like an inconvenience to your pockets, it’s worth considering that these accessories will enable you to enjoy your ebike to the fullest and are therefore very necessary.
Other Add-Ons
So now that we know what parts of ebikes contribute most to the price, are there any other factors? What about non-essential features?
Like conventional, unassisted bikes, ebikes also have a range of smaller add-ons that can be used to customise the style of your bike and add convenience. Some popular choices include:
Bottle Holster
Bag Rack
Lights
These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ebike accessories and it’s easy to see how the prices can add up! For the keen cyclist, the higher price tag of a kitted-out ebike is a worthy price to pay for making the ride as smooth, comfortable, and convenient as possible.
Another Perspective on Price
For many people, regardless of all the necessary and additional costs that make up an ebike, they still come out as quite expensive. It might help to see the matter from a slightly different point of view:
Ebikes cost what they cost, and what they cost is most likely going to be cheaper than a motorcycle or a car. They might be more expensive than a lot of unassisted bikes, but ebikes are more convenient and, in many ways, can’t really be fairly compared to unassisted bikes.
There is also such a vast array of unassisted bikes out there that many of the more high-end options will cost more than a standard ebike. Ebikes are not necessarily the priciest bicycle choice out there which is important to bear in mind.
Ebikes also have several important health benefits which could make the price even more understandable. You can read up on these benefits here.
To conclude
There are many reasons why ebikes might seem expensive, and there are definitely models out there that cost a seemingly disproportionate amount. However, most ebikes cost exactly what they should for the features and added convenience that they offer.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to your own cycling capabilities, what you plan on using your bike for, and how often you’ll be riding. These are the factors that will determine how worth-it an ebike will be for you.
That said, you don’t need to break the bank in order to get your hands on a quality ebike, and as long as you take proper care of it, you can expect to enjoy your ebike for many years and many rides!