E-BIKE FAQs

Pedal-assisted electric bicycle

It is the electric bicycle par excellence, the most common type and the only one considered legally a bicycle for all purposes (can circular on bike lanes, on forest tracks, does not require registration, does not pay road tax, does not require a driving license, etc.). In this In this case, the electric assistance can only be activated by the cyclist pedaling 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 travel at higher speeds if the cyclist continues pedaling 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.

Therefore, what is an electric bicycle or E-bike? We can define an E-bike as a two-wheeled vehicle powered by pedals that has an electric motor and that complements the energy exerted on the pedals by the cyclist himself. It is very important to highlight that, to comply with current European legislation, the electric assistance can only be activated by the cyclist's pedaling and, in addition, the motor incorporated in the E-bike cannot exceed 250W. Also indicate that the motor cannot assist beyond 25 km/h, that is, we can go faster (if our legs allow us) but it will always be due to the force that the cyclist exerts on the pedals.s.

 

PEDELEC/EPAC electric bicycles up to 25Km/h

The acronym EPAC (Electronically Power Assisted Cycles) translates into Spanish as pedal bicycles with assisted pedaling. Community regulations establish 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 pedaling.

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

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

That is why, through the software included in the bicycle itself, the manufacturer can electronically limit the power and speed of the motors to fall within the established legal framework of the EPAC.

 

¿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 most economical and easiest to mount 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 more or less revolutions depending on the speed of the bicycle. At a reduced speed, for example on a hill, the engine will work at a lower revolution, which translates into lower torque and greater consumption of the pedal systems. If the cyclist does not make a good contribution with his legs on difficult terrain, this could pose a greater risk of engine overheating. For urban uses and gentle walks this is not a problem.

 

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

 

• Allows you to build bicycles with a greater diversity of transmission and gear components. The fact that the motor is not located on the shaft bottom bracket Allows any usual configuration of chainrings and sprockets. This can be especially useful when the cyclist wants to have many gears available for pedaling without assistance.

 

Autonomy

¿How many km can an electric bicycle travel? This is the big question we ask ourselves when we want to buy an electric bicycle. This depends on many factors..

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

Secondly, the power of the engine, which is what will determine the consumption of the energy mentioned above. Although a bicycle for legal use in the EU may have a motor with a maximum nominal power of 250W, it will not consume the same working at the limit of its capacity in an incline of more than 20% (it may have peak consumption of close to 150% of its nominal power) than circulating in a place without slopes. In turn, this will also depend on the cyclist's work, that is, if on a 20% slope the cyclist does most of the work by pedaling with a low level of assistance, consumption will be lower; In the same way as if you are riding in an area with a slight slope, but at a high level of assistance and without effort on the part of the cyclist, the work will depend mostly on the engine and, therefore, this consumption may increase.

Thirdly, factors such as the weight of the cyclist, their position, their pedaling cadence and the times they start and stop have a lesser influence, since consumption peaks are caused when starting. Also the type of terrain (slope or flat), the surfaces (asphalt or road), the wind and the type and geometry of the tire will have a greater or lesser influence on engine consumption.

For all these reasons, it is difficult to accurately estimate the range of the bicycle. The information we provide about the autonomy of our products is based on a 75kg person who uses the bicycle normally, for example, mountain bikes with a combined use of roads with ups and downs, urban bikes with city trips with Quite a few start and stop cycles, etc. We do not advertise maximum autonomy, but rather real and tested ones, without seeking especially low consumption. We have obtained real ranges of 120km in tests with 2,000 meters of altitude difference, optimizing the use of the assistance, but not keeping it to the minimum all the time, seeking maximum efficiency, we could surely reach 200km.

Something that stands out about MOMA electric bicycles compared to the competition is precisely their autonomy. 100% of professionals who have tried 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.

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

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

¿How long and how far can I travel with an electric bike??

 

 

¿What are wh?

A watt hour (wh) is a unit of measurement that measures battery capacity. The higher this number is, the greater distance can be traveled. However, the quality of the transmission unit, the bike's setup, the terrain and the weight of the system will also have to be taken into account.

¿Can I remove the battery from my electric bike?

The batteries of all MOMA bicycles can be removed without the need for tools; You will only need the key to open the retention system.

¿How long does it take to charge an electric bike battery??

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

¿The battery of my e-bike will be charged when I receive the bicycle?

Your electric bike battery will arrive with very little charge, it is important that you fully charge it before using it. 

¿How to wash an electric bicycle?

We advise you to clean your e-bike with a damp cloth and without touching the electrical parts so as not to damage them. Under no circumstances should you use a hose or pressurized water jet.