Choosing the right motor for your e-bike can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to consider: wattage, torque, frame size, and more. We’ll walk you through the basics of electric bike motors so you can shop confidently.
You may have noticed that electric bike motors are available in different shapes, sizes, and mounting points. Some are attached to the bottom bracket of the bike frame, and some will mount on the rear hub. Others, you can find a place on top of the front wheel hub. If you want to use a specific motor or battery combination with your existing frame, double-check that it’s compatible with your chosen power source before buying.
Brushless Hub Motor or Mid Drive?
Mid-drive motors are a great choice if you’re looking for a powerful motor to help you get up steep hills. They have more torque and are especially good at climbing steep inclines.
Mid-drives are also the most affordable option. They’ve been around since the early days of electric bikes and tend to be less expensive than hub motors. You may not need all that extra power, though. On the other hand, a hub motor might be better for you if your commute involves mostly flat terrain and fast speeds.
Wattage is not the same as motor size.
Wattage is not the same as motor size. Wattage measures how much power the motor can use, whereas size refers to how significant the whole thing is. For example, a 500-watt motor might be big and heavy, but it could still quickly move you up hills! Likewise, a 200-watt motor might be small enough to fit inside your bike frame.
What is torque?
Torque is the force that turns your pedals. You can measure Torque in Newton meters (Nm), equivalent to a unit called foot-pounds per second (ft/s). As you pedal, a certain amount of force turns your crank and the chain around. The more Nm you produce, the faster you can go. You can increase torque by increasing RPM, or revolutions per minute.
Torque and speed dictate range.
Speed is how fast your bike can go, and it’s directly related to torque. Torque is the force applied by an electric motor to move your bike forward. As you ride, this force increases as your speed increases until it eventually reaches a level where it’s holding back more than helping you move forward. So the faster you go, the less torque you need. If your goal is to travel long distances at high speeds, then choosing an e-bike with a smaller motor may be better suited than one with a large one.
The bottom bracket determines what size of motor your frame will accommodate. It’s the part of the frame that attaches the crank arms to the frame and comes in many different sizes.
The diameter of a bottom bracket is in millimeters (mm), so you can use this measurement to determine how large a motor you’re able to fit on your bike. A smaller diameter means a smaller motor will fit; if you want to use a larger one, you’ll need one with a larger diameter.
It’s essential to choose an electric bike motor that is right for you and your bike. Choosing the wrong motor can make your e-bike more expensive, more challenging to ride, and less comfortable. To make sure you get the most out of your purchase, think about what kind of riding experience you want from your electric bike before choosing a motor. The sections below offer tips on choosing an electric bike motor based on our expertise in building e-bikes.
Final Words
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing an electric bike motor. However, to make the best decision, you must have all the information to make an informed choice that will satisfy your needs and budget.
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