Owning an electric bicycle is a little different than having a traditional bike. Electric bikes require a bigger initial investment and have additional maintenance and charging costs. Despite the extra cost, riding an eBike is a great way to explore the outdoors or your local bike trail. Here are some more details about the costs of owning and operating an electric bike.
Average Costs
The average price to buy an electric bike is between $600 and $2,500. There are also many eBike models that are much more expensive than $1,000, with some costing as much as $8,000. The typical eBike rider will pay around $1,500 for their ride. There are also extra costs for eBike owners, such as maintenance and charging. The price you choose to pay for an electric bike will determine the quality, specs and also design of the electric bike you choose to purchase.
Electric Bike Types & Price Ranges
There are different types of electric bikes on the market, and the price you pay for your bike may be dependent on the style and purpose. But most importantly is the type of motor you buy, size of motor, size of battery and also style of bicycle. These elements are what will determine the price of the electric bike you purchase. The category of bike, like mountain, road, cruiser, or hybrid, aren't really the main factors that dictate the price of an ebike, it's the material the bike is made out of and also the specs. Here is a broad range of how you can expect to pay for an e bike.
Mountain E Bike - $1,000 - $15,000: This is a very broad range but there are cheap electric mountain bikes and very expensive mountain e bikes. Usually the brand of bike will have a major impact on the price. But there are mountain ebikes that have very large, powerful motors, 1,000 to 2,000 watts. Since mountain ebikes can be ridden off road, the specs don't have to comply with regulations for the streets and bike paths. This is why the motor sizes can be so much bigger. Also, mid drive mountain ebikes will be much more expensive than a rear hub motor ebike.
Road E Bike -$1,000 - $6,000: Most Road Ebikes will use a mid drive motor. When we talk about road e bikes we are talking racing style frames. A similar style bike that riders would ride in a road race. These style of ebikes tend to have a mid drive motor since it is more streamlined and has better weight distribution for a road bike. This makes them more expensive. Also, many have the battery integrated into the frame driving up the cost as well.
Cruiser E Bike - $700 - $3,000: Cruiser E Bikes will typically have a rear hub motor. The rear hub motor is perfect for riding on streets and trails and it's more affordable. For a typical cruiser electric bike you don't need to pay more than $1,500 on average. But there are some features that drive up the price. Like fat tires and beefer frames.
Electric Trike - $1,000 - $5,000: E trikes can feature either a mid drive motor or a front hub or rear hub motor. The price depends on the motor, battery size, but also the design. There are many shapes and sizes of electric tricycles. Fat tire trikes tend to be more expensive, cruiser e trikes tend to be more affordable. There are also folding e trikes as well. An average price of an electric tricycle would be approximately $1,600.
But despite their higher price, electric bikes are the new favorite way for the public to commute, explore the outdoors, and get some great exercise. When buying an electric bike, it’s important to consider what kind of bike you’ll want so you can budget accordingly. Whether you need a lightweight e-bike for just an everyday commute or are looking for something high-powered with versatile use cases, there’s an electric bike out there for everyone!
The average cost of an electric bike is between $2,000 to $3000. However, prices range as low as $300 or as high as $8,000 or more. This all depends on the type of ride and the brand you’re purchasing from.
High-end electric bikes can even cost up to $10,000–these generally have unique or luxury features that increase the cost significantly. From a practical standpoint, the performance and utility of high-end ebikes will not differ greatly from more affordable alternatives. That said, some are willing to 4x the cost for a slew of bells, whistles, and gizmos. If a brand-new electric bike is not within your budget, you can also look into the used bike market for a good model that’ll serve you well.
There are also other ways to finance your electric bike purchase. For example, many employers offer commuter benefits that can be applied to electric bike purchases. Most ebike brands will offer some sort of financing option through a 3rd party like Affirm or PayPal at check-out. Make sure to conduct plenty of research and visit multiple stores to scout out the best possible deal.
Once you’ve got your hands on a good deal, you will need to account for additional costs that come with owning an electric bike, such as maintenance and charging.
Like traditional bicycles, electric bikes wear out over time and require upkeep. They have some different components than conventional bikes, such as motors, batteries, displays, and controllers, some of which require extra attention.
Here are some typical maintenance costs you will encounter:
It is recommended to replace your battery every 700 to 1000 charges. Depending on the model and type of battery, this can cost you between $350 to $800. You also need to account for charging costs–for every 1,000 miles, charging can cost about $1.28 to $4.28.
How far an electric bike can travel on a charge depends on many factors, such as the weight of the rider, the terrain, and the battery type and size.
Most electric bikes can typically travel between twenty to sixty miles on a single charge. Some high-end models, however, are designed to travel more than one hundred miles on a single charge. These bikes are ideal for commuters who travel long distances regularly but also come with a higher price tag.
Besides maintenance and charging, here are some important additional components you should invest in:
When exploring different bike options, it’s important to determine what you need the bike for. If you’re planning on purchasing your bike for commuting, try not to get carried away by purchasing a high-end electric mountain bike with additional features you may not need.
Save that extra cost and invest it in maintaining your bike, instead, so that it can serve you long-term. If you want to ride your bike through snow, singletrack trails, or rugged terrain, the extra investment in a high-quality electric mountain bike will be worth it.
At the end of the day, there’s more to the cost of an electric bike than its price tag. Maintenance, security measures, and charging are all cost considerations you should understand before purchasing your first electric bike. It’s also a good idea to have a basic understanding of how e-bikes work before making your first electric bike purchase!