Frequently asked questions: e-bike

An e-bike gives you an extra push with every turn of the pedals, which makes cycling lighter and more comfortable. It feels like riding with the wind at your back. The motor switches on the moment you start pedalling. On most e-bikes you have to keep pedalling to get that assistance.

Yes, you can. Without assistance from the motor you can use it like a normal bike. Bear in mind that it will be heavier to pedal than you are used to.

The newer lithium-ion cells should not stay at too high a voltage for too long. To extend the life of the battery, take it off the charger as soon as possible once it is charged. Try not to leave it on the charger for more than 24 hours.

The watt-hour (Wh) figure of an e-bike tells you the maximum amount of energy available to it. Put simply, the range is the number of kilometres you can ride on a full battery without recharging along the way.

Bear in mind that the range is affected by outside factors such as your weight, the weather, the road and the total weight of your bike. That makes it hard to give an exact figure.

Under Dutch law you may ride at up to 25 km/h on a bike with pedal assistance. There are also e-bikes that assist up to 45 km/h, such as a Stromer. For those you do need a vehicle registration certificate.

If the indicator on your bike no longer matches how full the battery is, you can usually reset it by riding the battery completely empty 4 to 6 times. Keep a note of the kilometres you ride while you do this. Now and then the indicator does not reset, and then you can use the trip counter as your charge gauge instead.

A higher capacity (Ah or Wh) does not put a heavier load on the motor. The voltage stays the same, so you will not ride any faster. You simply ride further on the battery. Think of it as a bigger fuel tank: you have assistance for longer on one charge.

A front-wheel motor can occasionally fail because of manufacturing faults, currents that are too high or water damage. It does not happen very often. If it is still within the warranty period, contact your dealer first.

You can often recognise a faulty motor by a rattling noise or a jerky feel. Check the wiring yourself first, to rule that out as the cause.

The motor of an e-bike almost never breaks down. Almost never, because an electric bike motor has wearing parts too. The motor turns a great deal, so there is a chance of wear to the bearings, for example, or of a manufacturing fault showing up.

Is the motor still under warranty? Contact your dealer first. If they cannot help you any further, get in touch with us and we will look at what the options are for you.

Cold weather can reduce the capacity of your battery. In summer you will not notice this. It does not harm the battery either. It comes from the increased internal resistance of the e-bike battery, which temporarily shortens the range.

No, you do not need a number plate for a standard e-bike. You now see a lot of fast e-bikes on the road, known as speed pedelecs. They can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h. For these bikes a number plate and a helmet are required.