15 Reasons to Buy an eBike 

15 reasons to buy an ebike

If you’re looking to improve your fitness, save money on gas, and have fun on the road, then you may want to buy an eBike. Since 2020, eBikes have exploded in popularity, selling twice as often as traditional bicycles and representing the fastest growing sector in electronic transportation.  

It’s not a hype; eBikes are popular for good reason—many, in fact. Keep reading for an overview of these fun vehicles and 15 reasons why you should buy an eBike. 

It’s not a hype; eBikes are popular for good reason—many, in fact. Keep reading for an overview of these fun vehicles and 15 reasons why you should buy an eBike. 

What’s so cool about an Ebike?

An electric bike promises you all the freedom and whimsy of a traditional bicycle with more speed and greater ease at a fraction of the effort. As an alternative to transportation by car, eBiking promotes better cardiovascular health and a greener, cleaner environment. 

What does an eBike have that a regular bicycle doesn’t? In simple terms, an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, and a sensor that reads your speed and tells the motor to turn on or off. Depending on the type of bike, you may have to pedal in order to trigger the sensor and activate the motor. Some eBikes are equipped with a throttle and don’t rely on pedal-assist to power the bike. 

Whether you’re just starting out biking or you’re a cycle-to-work pro, you’ll love the electric biking experience. Here are 15 reasons to buy an e-bike and join the movement!

15 Reasons to Buy an E-Bike

First and foremost, the main reason to buy an eBike is that they are fun to ride. If you’ve ever wished you could give your bicycle a super power to glide up a hill, then the eBike is that dream come true. Despite its super powers, however, an eBike requires no special training to operate—it’s as easy as riding a bike!

So if an easy-to-use gravity-defying bicycle isn’t of sufficient interest to you, keep reading for 14 more reasons to buy an eBike!

2. It’s good exercise

Granted, compared to a motorless bike, you won’t burn as many calories on an eBike. However, most eBikes require some amount of consistent pedaling, and you can always choose to pedal harder or faster for more of a workout. 

Research suggests that riding an eBike can beneficially increase your heart rate and oxygen consumption to the level of moderate exercise. In fact, people who ride an eBike burn an average of 350-400 calories per hour! Certainly, compared to driving a car, eBiking is much better for your health.  

3. It’s easy on the joints

For people with arthritis, eBikes provide a source of exercise that won’t aggravate existing inflammation in the knees. The circular activity can help stimulate muscles and build strength in the legs, back, and core without the pounding that comes with running or walking. 

4. It’s zippy — reaching speeds of up to 28 mph 

Now, compared to a car, no, commuting by eBike is probably not faster. But compared to a conventional bicycle, a motorized bike could cut several minutes off your commute and significantly reduce the effort expended to get there. 

How fast can an eBike go? For most eBikes, the motor tops out at 20mph, while some bikes registered as Class 3 can get up to 28mph. If you’re going downhill, you might even reach higher speeds than that! 

5. You can cycle to work without needing a change of clothes

Cycling to work is fun and invigorating, but it inevitably means you arrive sweaty and in need of a shower. For many people, bike commuting is a bit too strenuous for everyday transportation. An eBike gives you the best of both worlds: a greener daily commute with the ease of a motor vehicle. 

6. It’ll take you further

When the limit to your range is battery life and not your own fatigue, you’ll inevitably ride for longer. You may find that your eBike opens up entirely new routes—ones with steep hills, for instance—that you wouldn’t have attempted on a regular bicycle. 

7.  It’s kind to beginner riders

Although e-biking does require some physical fitness, it’s low-impact and less intimidating to new riders than conventional cycling. By helping power a hilly climb or a long ride, a motorized bike erases the barriers that keep many people from starting cycling. Not everyone has access to a flat bike path, but a motorized bike helps level the playing field despite its topography. 

8. You can adjust the assistance

As you get stronger and more fit—or more inviting of a challenge—you can reduce the amount of assistance your eBike gives. Whether it uses pedal assist or a throttle, most eBikes include control buttons you can use to increase or decrease the motor assistance. An eBike therefore provides progressive resistance, tailoring your commute to your present fitness needs and goals.  

9. It can get you out of traffic

In many parts of the country, bike commuting isn’t a reasonable option, whether that’s from road conditions or frequently adverse weather. However, where biking is possible, an eBike can help you avoid (and reduce!) traffic congestion. In many cities, you’ll be able to hop onto a bike lane or even a sidewalk to bypass bumper-to-bumper traffic.

10. It’s better for the environment than driving a car

When you buy an eBike, you’ll support the electric vehicle economy, helping reduce carbon emissions and air pollution by taking cars off the road. Although your source for electricity might not be carbon neutral, with an eBike you’ll use far less energy from harmful fossil fuels than a car will.  

In addition to all these personal and health benefits of riding an eBike, there are some other great qualities that just may convince you to go out there and buy an eBike.

11. You won’t have to replace the battery very often

Electric bike batteries last a while, with a lifespan of 3-5 years. The most common types of batteries are made from lithium ion or lithium polymer. You’ll get more mileage out of your battery depending on how you care for it, including storage and charging habits.

12. Charging the battery is easy and affordable

A single charge on an eBike battery lasts 25–70 miles, depending on how you ride. That might not seem very far, but luckily these batteries don’t take a long time to charge or even require a special outlet. Charging rates vary, but on average it takes 3-6 hours to fully replenish an eBike battery.  

Unlike electric vehicles or motorcycles, eBikes don’t require a special type of outlet to power the charge; a standard 110 volt outlet will do (in the US). 

Best of all, charging an eBike costs mere pennies—5 cents on average per full charge. That means the cost of replacing your car with an eBike for daily commuting is a paltry $21 per year according to a study by ecocostsavings.com 

13. You can fold it up for easy storage

Think you don’t have the space for a new bike? You don’t have to have a four-car garage to be able to buy an eBike. Some eBikes are designed to collapse along the frame to a footprint of less than 3 feet square. Even if all you have is a free corner under the stairs, a folding eBike makes storing your bike as easy as riding it.

14. You can find one to fit most any lifestyle 

E-bikes come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate a wide variety of riders. You could ride to work on a standard commuter eBike, pedal in style on a comfy cruiser eBike, or compete for speed on a mountain eBike. Whether you prefer drop or straight handlebars, wide or narrow seats, beefy fat tires or slim road tires, there’s an eBike out there for you. 

15. It’s relatively affordable

When it comes to electric vehicles, eBikes are among the most affordable. The majority of eBikes cost less than $5,000, but you can find a decent one for $1,000 or less, depending on its features. 

In many parts of the country, you may be able to get a rebate or tax credit for buying an eBike. In fact, twelve states have already passed or are proposing to pass legislation to incentivize electric vehicle purchases, including eBikes. Check out this guide to state rebates and credits as of summer 2022.

And if you can’t buy an eBike…

Despite the government rebates and competitive market pricing, an eBike might not be within reach of your budget. Before assuming it’s not for you, consider two more ways you can enjoy the benefits of an eBike without the four-figure price tag.

Ebike Conversion Kit

For the more technologically-gifted, you could opt to convert your bike instead of replace it. With an eBike conversion kit, you’d install a motor, battery, sensor, and all the other components to power your bike to greater speed and ease. 

E-bike conversion kits run the price gamut, from cheap ripoffs to expensive rigs. In general, however, a conversion kit will cost you about half the price of a new bike. It’s a great option for someone interested in electric vehicles but unwilling to shell out thousands of dollars to get started.

Bike Share Programs

If you live in a major city, you may be able to pay a monthly fee to access a fleet of electric bikes, like Lime Bike Share or NYC’s Citi bikes. A few communities in California are proud to offer a bike lending library on a regular basis to individuals otherwise at risk of transportation insecurity.

There are other pop-up libraries, including the year-round Local Motion in Vermont, that will loan you an eBike for a day or two to try before you buy. 

No matter where you live, odds are the eBike revolution is coming to you soon, if it hasn’t already. Why not join the movement? You’ll love the health benefits, the fuel savings, and the opportunity to really crush those hills.  

Tim Fraticelli DPT, MBA, CFP®

Tim Fraticelli is a Physical Therapist, Certified Financial Planner™ and founder of PTProgress.com. He loves to teach PTs and OTs ways to save time and money in and out of the clinic, especially when it comes to documentation or continuing education. Follow him on YouTube for weekly videos on ways to improve your financial health.