An electric Bike is a bike whose strength is drawn from battery power. This power comes through peddling or using a feature called regenerative braking.
Not all Electric bikes charge when you pedal, but when using the regenerative braking feature, one can charge while riding on it. This enables the biker to control the bike’s speed using their feet, just like with a regular bike.
However, for an Electric bike for sale, it’s easier to accelerate compared to other bikes because of its high power generated and stored in the battery while in use.
The energy gets lost or is reduced whenever you pedal, but then the throttle helps it regain the power and save enough to recharge the battery later.
A Limited Number of Electric Bikes Recharge as you Pedal
This could be a marketing strategy to sell out the electric bikes. The reason behind this is because only a few high powered bikes possess this feature.
But before making any purchase, consider its features because not all of them recharge while peddling. If you are interested in getting a bike with this feature, ensure that you get the right manufacturer who will not only sell but offer warranty in the event of non-performance.
But if you get one, then it is possible to preserve the energy and at the same time reduce the wear and tear of the brakes, as well as extend the lifetime of the battery.
Things you Need to Know About Electric Biking.
What is Regenerative Braking?
While this may seem complicated, it is wise to understand the regenerative braking process. This feature is found in electric bikes that help capture a portion of its energy and return it to the battery, to be used later for recharging. However, it is essential to note that regenerative braking will only account for 5-10% of the energy used for recharge.
But, one can increase this volume mainly when ascending in a slope. However, it is essential that if you are using the electric bike, get to know the size of the motor so that you will be able to understand the extent to which one can effectively use the speed and cause no harm.
This is a tried and tested feature not only for bikes. Regenerative braking has been in place for several decades, and hybrid and folding electric bike and skate boats have also been using it. This has been an effective method of regenerating the energy lost while the machine is in use.
How does the Peddling Come in?
Now that we have discussed regenerative braking, the question arises; how does the bike charge when you pedal? One may be left in a dilemma; Is it the braking or Peddling that helps in the recharge process?
Well, as we said, regenerative braking will only help one to recover the lost energy, and this energy is stored back in the battery. This saved energy is what is used to recharge the bike. But It is important to note that when you pedal, some energy is transferred directly to the motor, which keeps one moving and accelerating the bike to an acceptable speed.
To What Extent Can We Classify the Regenerative Braking for Electric Bike as a Marketing Tool?
To be truthful, this is not a marketing tool. Regenerative braking plays a huge role by regaining the energy while braking and storing it in the battery for later use. However, it is only limited to conserving the energy for about 6-10 % and, as such, may not be fully adequate to term it as a material regenerative technology.
Again, the motor required to use the regenerative braking system efficiently is known as the Direct Drive Motor, which is rarely used to manufacture bikes and, as such, is hard to find. One of the significant disadvantages of this kind of motor is that if the battery exhausts all the energy, you will have to use manual Peddling, which has a high level of resistance and is different from using the standard motor that uses a gear.
Regenerative heat generates a lot of heat, damaging the battery, and its life span is shortened. However, you must stick to the temperatures advised in the manufactures manual if you want your batter to remain for a more extended period.
But then, since this feature is only available to those bikes with larger motors, it may be fought by companies that only manufacture small bikes since they do not have the feature. This is where it can be conceived to be a marketing tool.
The Myth that exists in the Regenerative Braking System.
There is often a myth that is presumed to be accurate; The fact that the regenerative braking system damages the braking system easily. This is not so, and many of those who use this feature have had their brakes stay for long before engaging in new ones. This is because they are built with optimal consumption of energy in mind.
Regenerative Braking in addition to the Geared Hub Drive for Electric Bikes.
As mentioned, any bike that has regenerative braking uses a motor known as the direct drive motor that facilitates faster speed. The Geared Hub Drive + the Regenerative Braking is the new geared hub battery that possesses all these characteristics and gives leeway to charging while peddling.
Are there benefits that are associated with Regenerative Braking System for Bikers?
Indeed yes. For instance, one will have energy preserved inside the battery anytime you set on the road. This then translates to a longer lifespan of the battery in question.
Since the regenerating breaking gets more energy when braking, we advise one to use a route that demands more braking so that the energy can be regenerated and stored for later use.
Final Words.
To sum it all, not all electric bikes charge on the go because this feature is still new in the market, and as we would say, the technology has not been embraced fully.
Though, as technology continue to rise, this technology will be fully embraced and the non-regenerative energy bikes could as well be phased out.
