Lee Hill
Are you fed up with charging your electric bike again and again? If yes, get a self-charging electric bike.
Electric bikes are gaining immense popularity and attention recently, and this attention is translating into excellent sales. You can easily purchase an electric bike from the variety of options available in the market. The speed and the distance covered by the electric bike are usually the significant concerns of the buyer.
Everybody wants an electric bike that has high speed and a reasonable distance covering range.
The amount of stretch you can cover on your electric bike depends on the battery’s capacity and output installed in your electric bike. An electric bike that charges while pedaling is a perfect solution for increasing the bicycle range’s mileage or distance.
Will an Electric Bike Charge While Pedaling?
Can you find an electric bike that charges while pedaling? Well, the short answer is no. Till now, such technology does not exist in electric bikes. You can easily get an electric bike that charges while you brake but not while you pedal.
However, you can purchase electric bikes that help you move forward while you pedal. These electric bikes are known as pedal-assist bikes.
A pedal-assist electric bike provides power to you while you are pedaling your bicycle. According to the people riding an electric bike feels similar to riding a regular bike.
The main difference is that you can travel on a pedal-assist bike for a more extended period and cover more distance in a shorter period.
Pedal-assist bikes mainly cater to the people who want to travel conveniently and want to perform physical activity. Pedaling on a pedal-assist electric bike helps you get some physical activity for your arms, legs, thighs, feet, etc.
Difference Between Pedal Assist And Throttle Assist Electric Bikes
A pedal-assist electric bike requires you to pedal to give more power to the motor. Driving or riding a pedal-assist bike feels similar to riding a regular bicycle. Simultaneously, a throttle assist bike does not require you to have any physical activity for moving the bike. Riding the throttle assist bike feels similar to riding a motorcycle.
If you are into personal fitness and like to indulge in physical activity, you would like to purchase the pedal-assist electric bike. On the other hand, if you are looking for a faster and convenient transportation mode in urban areas, you would purchase the throttle assist bike. Throttle assist bikes are for leisure riders and people who like to enjoy the journey.
You can use a pedal-assist electric bike as a throttle assist bike, but the opposite does not work. Proper throttle assists electric bikes do not have pedals that you could use for driving.
Self Charging Electric Bikes
You can purchase electric bikes that recharge their battery while driving. You may not get a significant increase in your battery life as these bikes recharge the battery when you apply your brakes. The main idea behind these bikes is that they use momentum and kinetic energy to create electric energy.
According to the people, this principle is not very successful for electric bikes as the rider’s weight combined with the electric bike is far less than the weight of a car or motorcycle. Regenerative braking is useful and successful in bigger vehicles.
The main force that opposes you while riding an electric bike is the air drag or resistance. The electric bike generates less power when you apply your brakes because it is not as heavy, and therefore needs less force to bring it to a halt.
Especially on flat and straight surfaces, this feature is not very effective, and you can create higher amounts of energy and momentum when climbing up or moving down steep terrains. Buying these electric bikes can be effective if you live in hilly regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do electric bikes recharge while driving?
Some models of electric bikes can recharge while you are driving them. These electric bikes usually work on the principle of regenerative braking. This feature recharges the battery of your bike when you apply the brakes. The kinetic energy created while stopping the bike is converted into electric energy using special motors and systems.
The electric energy created by the brakes is either stored in the battery for further use or immediately given to the motor for instant use.
Can you pedal an electric bike?
Yes, you can pedal an electric bike. Most of the electric bikes that are available in the market have multiple modes of operation. You may not find an electric bike that charges while pedaling, but you will find an electric bike that moves forward at a faster speed as you pedal.
The electric bikes that move faster as you pedal are also commonly known as pedal-assist electric bikes. Pedal-assist electric bikes are a bit different than throttle assist bikes. Throttle assist bikes are entirely electric; you can use them just like regular motorbikes. It completely depends on your needs and demands whether you want to buy a pedal-assist electric bike or buy a throttle assist bike.
How long does the battery of an electric bike last?
Typically, a high-quality lithium-ion battery will last about two to four years. The lifetime of your battery also depends significantly on the usage. You can increase this lifetime by taking proper care of the battery. Lithium-ion batteries can even lose their capacity slowly and gradually when not in use.
Final Verdict
We can conclude from this article that electric bikes that charge while pedaling are not available so far. Although we have electric bikes that charge the battery while you apply the brakes, these bikes work on the principle of regenerative braking. Manufacturers use this feature as a tool for selling more units of electric bikes.
However, we do have electric bikes that get faster and increase the power output as you pedal.
These pedaling electric bikes will help you to reach your destination quicker with less strain and fatigue. Riding a pedal-assist electric bike does not require a lot of effort.
