FAQs E-BIKES

Pedal-assist electric bicycle

It is the electric bicycle par excellence, the most common type and the only one considered to be considered legally considered a bicycle for all purposes (it can circulate on bike lanes, on forest tracks, does not require registration, does not pay road tax, does not require a driver's license, etc.). In this In this case, the electric assistance can only be activated by the cyclist's pedalling and, in Europe, the motor power cannot exceed 250W. In addition, the motor cannot assist beyond 25 km/h, although it will be possible to ride faster if the cyclist continues pedalling autonomously.

 Next, we will try to provide as much information as possible about electric bicycles in a generic way and we will focus on the types of E-Bikes that MOMABIKES has available to the customer.

So, what is an electric bicycle or E-bike? We can define an E-bike as a two-wheeled vehicle driven by pedals that has an electric motor and that allows to complement the energy exerted on the pedals by the cyclist himself. It is very important to point out that, in order to comply with current European legislation, the electric assistance can only be activated by the cyclist's pedalling and, furthermore, the motor incorporated in the E-bike cannot exceed 250W. Also note that the motor can not assist beyond 25 km / h, ie, we can go faster (if the legs allow us) but it will always be by the force exerted by the cyclist on the pedals.

 

Electric bicycles PEDELEC/EPAC up to 25Km/h

The acronym EPAC (Electronically Power Assisted Cycles) translates into Spanish as pedal-assisted pedal bicycles. The EU regulation establishes that the electric motors of these bicycles cannot exceed 250W and their speed is limited to 25 km/h; and from that speed, it will stop assisting. This does not mean that a higher speed cannot be reached, but this will depend on the cyclist's own pedalling. 

These must follow ISO 4210-2014 and EN 15194, which is why many manufacturers attach ISO stickers to their bikes.

In addition, for legal purposes of circulation, EPAC bicycles are considered in the same way that any conventional bicycle without motor, according to the Royal Decree of the Ministry of Industry: RD 339/2014.

This is why, by means of the software included in the bike itself, the manufacturer can electronically limit the power and speed of the motors to fall within the established legal framework of the EPACs.

 

What type of motor do MOMABIKES electric bicycles have?

Motor to wheel axle

This is the most frequently used system, because it is generally the cheapest and easiest to fit on a bicycle. It has a drum shape that is located on the axle of the front or rear wheel. In the case of our bicycles, they will always be located on the rear wheel. The main features to highlight are:

• The force of the motor acts on the wheel axle, which will rotate at higher or lower revolutions depending on the speed of the bike. At a lower speed, for example on a climb, the motor will work at a lower rpm, which means less torque and a higher consumption of the pedal systems. If the rider does not make a good contribution with the legs on difficult terrain, this could lead to an increased risk of the motor overheating. For urban use and gentle rides this is not a problem.

 

• They offer minimal friction when pedalling, so that their system is the most optimal. This allows the rider to make active use of the bike and pedal often without assistance, with a great feeling of freedom.

 

• Allows bikes to be fitted with a greater diversity of drivetrain and gear components. The fact that the motor is not located on the bottom bracket axle bottom bracket allows any common configuration of chainrings and sprockets. This can be especially useful when the rider wants to have many gears to pedal without assistance.

 

Autonomy

How many kilometres can an electric bicycle cover? This is the big question we ask ourselves when we want to buy an electric bike. This depends on many factors.

Firstly, the energy stored in them, which we quantify in watt hours (Wh) and we obtain by multiplying the volts of the battery (V) by the ampere hours (Ah). For example, a 48V13Ah battery has an energy at full charge of 624Wh and a 36V16Ah battery has an energy of 576Wh.

Secondly, the power of the motor, which is what will mark the consumption of the energy mentioned above. Although a bicycle for legal use in the EU can have a motor with a maximum rated power of 250W, it will not consume the same working at the limit of its capacity in a climb of more than 20% (it can have peak consumption of about 150% of its rated power) as circulating in a place without slopes. In turn, this will also depend on the cyclist's work, i.e. if on a 20% slope the cyclist does most of the work pedalling with a low level of assistance, the consumption will be lower; in the same way that if the cyclist rides on an area with a low slope, but with a high level of assistance and without effort on the part of the cyclist, the work will depend mostly on the motor and, therefore, this consumption may rise.

Thirdly, factors such as the cyclist's weight, position, pedalling cadence and the number of times he/she starts and stops have a lesser influence, since starting causes consumption peaks. Also the type of terrain (slope or flat), the surfaces (asphalt or road), the wind and the type and geometry of the tyre will have a greater or lesser influence on the consumption of the motor.

For all these reasons, it is difficult to accurately estimate the range of the bike. The information we provide on the range of our products is based on a person of 75kg who makes a normal use of the bike, for example, mountain bikes with a combined use of roads with climbs and descents, urban bikes with trips in the city with a lot of start and stop cycles, etc. We do not advertise maximum ranges, but real and tested, without looking for a particularly low consumption. We have obtained real autonomies of 120km in tests with 2,000 meters of slope optimizing the use of the aid, but not taking it all the time to the minimum, looking for the maximum efficiency sure we could reach 200km.

Something that stands out about MOMA electric bikes compared to the competition is precisely the autonomy. 100% of professionals who have tested them have been satisfied and impressed with this data. For us, autonomy is essential in this type of vehicle and we work every day to improve it, as far as possible, opting for batteries with a large energy storage capacity and efficient motors that consume as little energy as possible.

Do I have to pedal if I use an electric bike?

Yes, MOMABIKES only sells electric bikes with pedal support. This means that the pedal support will only be activated when you pedal.

How long and how far can I ride an electric bike?

 

 

What are wh?

A watt-hour (wh) is a unit of measurement that measures the capacity of the battery. The higher this figure, the greater the distance that can be covered. However, the quality of the drive unit, the setting of the bike, the terrain and the weight of the system must also be taken into account.

Can I remove the battery from my electric bike?

The batteries of all MOMA bikes can be removed without tools; you only need the key to open the retention system.

How long does it take to charge the battery of an electric bicycle?

Currently, most batteries (500Wh) take between 4.5 and 5 hours to charge to 100%, and less than 3 hours to reach an 80% charge.

Will my e-bike battery be charged when I receive my bike?

The battery of your electric bike will arrive with very little charge, it is important that you charge it fully before use. 

How do you wash an electric bike?

We advise you to clean your e-bike with a damp cloth without touching the electrical parts to avoid damaging them. Under no circumstances should you use a hose or a pressurised water jet.